What follows is a description of various projects that were based on the vision, initiative and engagement of individual members of the Solidarity Fund and that have been developped since the Fund‘s foundation in 1982.

Some of these projects still exist today as established and independent institutions whereas others were closed on completion after a number of years. 

All our projects have always aimed to connect two aspects with each other: on one hand we want to provide a basis for social development for disadvantaged people and on the other hand we aim to address concrete needs and hardship directly. 

The World Peace Academy was started in 2009 as an educational institution to foster a global culture of peace. 

Working together with the Advanced Study Centre of the University of Basel, the World Peace Academy offered a Master of Advanced Studies in Peace and Conflict Transformation for students of the whole world. 

The educational programme combined interdisciplinary peace research while communicating a constructive way of conflict transformation. In addition it offered a practical experience of multicultural community living and the development of personal competences for Peace work. 

Until 2013 over 100 students from 48 different countries could take advantage of this programme. 

In 2013 WPA was taken over by the Foundation swisspeace and the MAS study program continued to be offered by this new provider. 

In the ministering communities, people from different difficult life situations (mental health, substance misuse, disabilities) found a home. In a therapeutic & healing family atmosphere, team members and community members shared their lives in a holistic way. This dynamic sharing of life became a source of well being for many people in need and an experience of their human dignity and integration. 

Between 1981 and 2005 the following communities (named after the streets in Basel they were on) were founded and maintained for years:

“Am Bachgraben”, “Friedensgasse”, “Sonnenweg” and “Therwilerstrasse”. 

The Gassenküche (Soup Kitchen)  was started in 1989. Since then it has been providing essential support to people in need. In a friendly atmosphere, between 100 to 200 people from different backgrounds have been offered a friendly welcome and a warm meal as well as the possibility to get practical help and support. This initiative became a model for similar institutions in a number of other Swiss towns. The Basel Gassenküche is now operated by a separate charity.

Since 1997 C-QUEER offers weekend seminars, workshops and retreats for LGBT people. The idea is to offer themes that are relevant in a spiritual context for LGBT people based on a mystic progressive Christian tradition. In addition the founder Urs Mattmann offers therapeutic one to one work and Spiritual direction.  

Since 2005 Solidarity Fund member Urs Mattmann is based in London and available for one to one support as well as for workshops and seminars. Every  year he offers retreats in the Holland House retreat and conference centre in England. 

From 1998 to 2006 the Podere Fiorli offered space to anyone who needed a time out or phase of recollection, and who was looking for a new life direction, orientation and inner spiritual growth. Many found the support they needed in the frame work that the community, work experience and spiritual programmes offered.

For today’s availability and purpose see: Podere Fiorli 

In 1999 the „Institut für Friedens- und Bewusstseinsbilding“ in Basel was founded.  This institute aimed to foster peace through intercultural collaboration, interfaith dialogue and education projects. The activities were often delivered in cooperation with various partner organisations. New forms, ideas and concepts of social, cultural and political co-operation were developed. This included educational events with themes in the contexts of ethics, global conciousness and personality development. 

This public café was stared with the intention to give people at the margins of society a space to experience friendship and support and to thus break down their often experienced social exclusion. (1982 to 1985)