I was in a repetition course (WK) of the military when another soldier told me that there were projects abroad in the civil service. He told me that one could for instance go to Africa to teach. It was the last time the military saw me...

The option of doing civil service abroad is not very well known. In 2012 only 162 of 15'000 people have done their service abroad. Personally I think, that it's the greatest thing ever. The reason why I am so enthousiastic about this program is that I really believe that it is a win/win(/win). 

Obviously, the person doing civil service can profit from it, as they can broaden their horizon and get a different perspective on the world, and a different perspective on their job and how it is practiced in a different culture. I know that the experiences that I will make will be completely different from anything I've known so far.

The school (or whatever the project is about) can profit as well: It is always interesting as students and also as teachers to meet people from a completely different cultural background and maybe get a different insight into some things. And in a country with an average teacher to student ratio of 1 to 80 an extra teacher cannot hurt.

Finally, I also think that Switzerland as a country can profit from such projects. I got the chance to meet around 20 guys who are doing their civil service abroad in a course that we all had to take about security abroad. The ones I talked to were all very inspiring and inspired people who I'm sure will transport a positive image of Switzerland into the world.

Usually, civil service makes you try something new. You can't work in a branch where you usually work. The opposite is true for civil service abroad - Switzerland only sends away experts, that have had experience in the field where they will do their service (compare to Merkblatt Auslandeinsätze). From the group I met during the course the range went from bricklayer over helping at a cheese factory, to an architect who is going to work with the locals on a project. In my personal opinion this money is invested much smarter than pumping it into the military for new tanks or jet fighters that in the end are going to help nobody.