SwissCommunity

Camille Strack | “I liked most of all the contact with the animals and the beautiful landscapes”

11.04.2025 – Ruth von Gunten, educationsuisse

The Swiss Abroad Camille Strack grew up in France. Last summer, she lent a hand on a farm in Switzerland. Here she talks about the experiences that she gained thanks to the organisation Agriviva.

“I heard about Agriviva during a stay in Switzerland. That made me curious. I found all the necessary information on their website www.agriviva.ch, such as the addresses of the farms and their available placement dates, as well as information about the family, the farm and the tasks assigned to the young people. I started looking for a farming family around four months before the start of my placement.

Washing the milk churns was one of the tasks of Camille Strack. Photo provided

Finally, in June, I spent three weeks living with a farming family in the Bernese Oberland, near Interlaken. My day started early because breakfast was at seven o’clock and at eight o’clock we went to work. At 12 o’clock, the whole family had lunch together and then returned to work. The coffee break at four pm was very important to ensure I had energy for the rest of the day! My tasks were very varied; the most common jobs were salting the cheese using a machine and washing out the milk churns. I therefore actively helped with the preparation of the cheese.

The family spoke Haslerdütsch, a Swiss dialect that I wasn’t used to. It’s also not easy to understand, although it sounds soft and harmonious. We still managed to communicate, even if it was challenging at times. And I was able to improve my German!

I really enjoyed my stay with the farming family. It enabled me to boost my self-confidence and discover the world of work. I liked most of all the contact with the animals and the beautiful landscapes.

Photo: Agriviva/Fam Häcki, Immensee SZ, Sina

Here are two funny little anecdotes: There was a goat that lived in the same enclosure as the sheep. She thought she was a sheep and behaved in the same way. I also played chicken catch with the little children of the farmer’s family and we tried to get them to fly.

For me it was a rewarding experience to learn how to make cheese and milk cows. I was also able to take part in the “Alpaufzug”, when the cows, adorned with flowers and bells, return to the mountain pastures. And seeing marmots in the wild for the first time was incredible.

I would like to return to Switzerland to help on another farm, perhaps during the school holidays. I can recommend this experience to all young Swiss Abroad who would like to know what it is like to live and work on a farm in Switzerland.

Currently, I am completing my compulsory schooling in France. I am considering whether I should come to Switzerland for training, which would of course have an impact on my future career. The counselling session with an educationsuisse employee has already given me a general overview of the training and education opportunities in Switzerland. And looking for an apprenticeship in Switzerland is an option that I am seriously considering.”

Educationsuisse offers counselling to all young Swiss Abroad on all matters related to education in Switzerland.

educationsuisse, Education in Switzerland
Alpenstrasse 26
3006 Berne, Switzerland
Phone +41 31 356 61 04
info@educationsuisse.ch
educationsuisse.ch

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Camille Strack | “I liked most of all the contact with the animals and the beautiful landscapes”

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Camille Strack | “I liked most of all the contact with the animals and the beautiful landscapes”

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