Das Herzbergteam

Eveline Bühler, Management Herzberg

Adrian Bühler, management of Technic and infrastructure

Reception

• Adrian Bühler
• Elena Dobre
• Margrit Bühler, accounting

Kitchen

• Sebastian Kos,
• Paolo Cometa
• Nanthiny Sivarajah

Service

• Monika Zumsteg
• Elena Dobre
• Julia Blöchlinger

Facility management

• Paolo Cometa
• Pierre Fresard

Housekeeping

• Mary Ernst
• Sybilla Troxler

 

The Herzberg team is supported by various people doing community service and people undergoing work training.

Our mission statement

Events

The Herzberg offers events that promote interpersonal relationships, ecological understanding and the exchange of ideas between generations, cultures and world views.

Educational concept

Tolerant behavior and responsible thinking and acting are encouraged. Our holistic approach to education is reflected in our involvement with music, the fine arts and crafts, experiencing and learning about nature, and dealing with the socio-political issues of our time.

The environment

The Herzberg is run in a holistic and environmentally friendly manner: Maintenance, cleaning and care of the surroundings are carried out according to ecological principles. The wholefood kitchen uses local fresh produce from organic farming and meat from species-appropriate production, including from the biodynamically managed Herzberg farm.

Mode of operation

The Herzberg operates on a cost-covering basis. Ethical and ecological principles as well as respect for the environment underlie all our actions. Cooperation within the team is based on partnership. The employees are involved in the decision-making processes: personal responsibility is encouraged at all levels.

 

The Herzberg is traditionally associated with its founder Fritz Wartenweiler. As a pioneer of adult education, surrounded by a circle of committed people, he advocated the idea of lifelong learning as early as the 1930s and implemented it at the Herzberg, among other places.

His commitment to a just world for all continues to be the guiding principle of the Herzberg Association, the Foundation and the House for Education and Encounter. The Association and the Herzberg Foundation are politically and denominationally independent.

 

Tolerance and openness are unshakeable cornerstones of the Herzberg mission statement and can also be experienced by our guests: the house is open to a wide variety of people and organizations - everyone should feel at home with us.

our comittments

The Herzberg is committed
Since the Herzberg was founded in 1936, the focus has been on social commitment in adult education and ecology. This commitment is put into practice in our organic kitchen, in the near-natural care of the surroundings and also in the social sphere with the employment project for refugees, work training for people returning to work and much more. The Herzberg course program enables "Education for All" with fair prices and discounts for students.

Would you like to do your community service at Herzberg?
Here near Aarau, those doing community service will find a place where they can do their work and a good working atmosphere in a motivated team. Contact Adrian Bühler for further details: a.buehler@herzberg.org

 

Work training for re-entry into the world of work
At Herzberg, people with addiction problems or who have been unemployed for a long time are given the opportunity to return to a regular working life.

 

Internships
In cooperation with Trinamo Aarau, the Herzberg offers young people internships to help them find their way in the world of work.

In collaboration with the Schürmatt Foundation and the curative education center for work and vocational preparation in Othmarsingen, Herzberg offers practical days for young people with cognitive and physical disabilities.

Employment project for refugees
The Herzberg has been a so-called BP, an employment project for refugees, since the beginning of 2017. The refugees are integrated into our team, improve their language skills through discussions during breaks and experience appreciation and a structured work process.

 

The history of the Herzberg - its origins, transformation and present day

1935-1936 Construction of the Herzberg adult education center

On the south side of the Herzberg above the Staffelegg pass, halfway between Aarau and Frick, in the Faltenjura between Gislifluh and Wasserfluh, an adult education center is built on the initiative of Fritz Wartenweiler, a pioneer of Swiss adult education.

   

Fritz Wartenweiler was a vehement advocate of lifelong learning, wrote many books on social issues and education and gave countless lectures on peace and awareness-raising.

What is inside me and what can I do with myself?
Am I authentic, genuine, transparent to myself?
True education is the education of strengths. It is not the result that is important, but the work that leads to it.

A few quotes from Fritz Wartenweiler that show what an alert mind he was.

1936-1939 Courses for young men 

as well as relief work for children in the Spanish Civil War. Reception and care of refugees before their onward journey.

 

 

1939-1945 Interruption of course activities

 Quartering of the military. Fritz Wartenweiler works with the Army and Home Section, giving over 6000 lectures on spiritual national defense.

1945-1955 Restart of course activities

1945-1955 Restart of course activities

 In addition to longer farmer education courses, primarily weekend conferences and weekly courses. Heimatwochen, Bäuerinnenwochen, Bach-Musikwochen and many foreign study weeks for pedagogues, teachers and directors of folk high schools.

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1953-1954 Construction and inauguration of the Herzberg farm

A tenant family is offered a livelihood. Later, further land purchases became possible in the course of estate regulation in the municipality and the construction of a road to the Asperstrihen.