Since April 2020, a few young people have been working to create new perspectives from electronic waste. What was just a leisure project a few years ago now has a measurable impact on Switzerland; on the environment, society and the economy.
Constituted as an association, entrepreneurially managed
Wir lernen weiter (wLw for short) is an association. The general meeting is the highest body. In addition, the operational team works daily to ensure that as many laptops as possible can reach people affected by poverty in Switzerland. Here is an overview of the individual components of the association:
The association
The Board of Directors
The operational team
Typical for Switzerland
wLw is made up of many members who fight together for one cause. The association's goal is that digitisation should not be an income-dependent privilege, but a fundamental right for everyone in Switzerland.
In addition to effectively refurbishing laptops, wLw also invests heavily in public relations, education and awareness.
The members of the association meet at least once a year for a general meeting, at which bills, budgets, association charges and other points are discussed.
Far more than once, however, they gather at various events where they work energetically and provide information.
Acting with foresight
The board of wLw steers the strategic direction of the association. People are elected to this body who can support the association with their respective expertise.
Currently, the Board of Directors consists of three persons:
Christine Mühlebach (Co-President)
Dalia Bohn (Co-President)
Beat Habegger (Member of the Board)
The Board of Directors meets at regular intervals to discuss strategic issues. This is done in close cooperation with the Executive Board, which provides information on operational matters.
At the front
But the work of the association does not only consist of meetings and assemblies. Every day, a team of several employees and volunteers takes care of refurbishing laptops and sending them all over Switzerland.
The operational team is led by Tobias Schär, who is also the founder of the association. He is responsible for the overall management of the day-to-day operations and thus for ensuring that the staff and volunteers receive/use the tools that enable the most targeted help possible.
wLw is run according to the philosophy of "social entrepreneurship". This states that good work must be structured and carried out with appropriate means in order to survive in the long term.
Current Statutes
All work of the association is governed by the association's statutes. Below you will find the most recent statutes, which were adopted at the general meeting on 1 April 2023.