When SwissSkills 2018 visitors stopped at the Migros stand to take a look at the huge wooden structure, they had no idea what was to become of it a few months later. Even we didn’t know at first, and we had built the stand. Now there will soon be a new orphanage in Moldova.
Sometimes one idea leads to another, one opportunity to another and one path suddenly goes a lot further than you expected. As far as the Migros stand is concerned, all these points apply. But let’s go back to the beginning: In 2018, we were once again commissioned by Migros to design and build a trade fair stand for SwissSkills. We decided to create a stand that could be explored and that would surprise and stimulate its visitors. The result was a complex, colourful, two-story wooden construction. This material made sense for several reasons. On the one hand, it is robust and yet easy to work with, on the other hand it is natural and thus seems inviting and appealing to visitors. However, there are two other very important issues: the sustainability of the wood and its reusability.
But what on earth can you do with so much wood? The fair was already underway and the stand was very popular, but soon it would not be needed anymore. We had no intention of simply throwing the wood away. So we looked among our network for someone who had an idea of how to reuse the valuable raw material and put it to good use. AVC, the action for persecuted Christians and the needy, was enthusiastic about our request and presented a plan. The organisation provides all kinds of humanitarian aid, operating in four continents and a large number of countries, including Moldova.
The living conditions there are very adverse and many people have already left the country in the hope of finding a secure income and a better future abroad. Those left behind are the weaker, underprivileged, older people and children. The number of orphans in particular has increased so much that many of them have to live in intolerable conditions, or even end up on the street. Thus the idea quickly arose of building an orphanage out of the wood from the Migros trade fair stand.
Just a day after SwissSkills was over, the booth was dismantled and the timber loaded onto a lorry, which left straight for Moldova.
Now, just a few months later, the interior build of the orphanage is in full swing and it is nearing completion. We look back on a unique, very emotional project and hope that it will become what every child needs: Somewhere to come home to.
