Service Civil International
Oldest SCI member got 100 years
by Philipp Rodriguez (Nov 15, 2007)
This month the oldest member of SCI Switzerland, Emma Ott, become 100 year old. She lives in Bern in a home for elderly peop
Emma Ott in her first workcamp (4th from right) in Liechtenstein 1928
This month the oldest member of SCI Switzerland, Emma Ott, become 100 year old. She lives in Bern in a home for elderly people.
Until few years ago Emma Ott came regularly to every annual assembly of SCI Switzerland. Not only the age is impressing but also the fact that Emma came to SCI, when there were no annual assemblies hold yet. A committee with the SCI founder Pierre Ceresole organised every year one or two services, what we call nowadays a 'workcamps'.
Liechtenstein 1928
Almost 80 years ago Emma went to the SCI relief service in Liechtenstein In 1928 floods from the river Rhein in Liechtenstein covered fields and meadows with stones and mud and destroyed roads and numerous houses. During 5 months the volunteers cleaned the area and remove damages.
As usual that time, Emma worked as SCI sisters in the kitchen and the household of the volunteers.
Together with volunteers from 20 countries she worked in Liechtenstein in order to help and to practise international understanding as stated in the apeal of this service: „... durch gegenseitiges und gemeinsames Helfen unter den Völkern den neuen Geist zu schaffen, der schon den blossen Gedanken, mit bewaffneter Hand in ein anderes Land einzufallen, zur moralischen Unmöglichkeit macht! “
Swiss help for children in France 1942-1946
Like other SCI activists Emma voluntered 14 years later in the relief organisation in Southern France during World War II. After the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) many refugees fled to France, where they were detained in camps. Emma worked in the camps of Rivesalter,Gurs and La Hille. The situation in those camps was demanding. During the war also German Jews were detained and from 1942 on deported to Auschwitz. Although the distress of the refugees was relieved, the situation was a strain for Emma.
Also with 100 years, Emma Ott stays involved with SCI and its pacfists ideas all her live.