Gemeinde Municipality of Zollikofen Information for foreigners (08/2017) Welcome to Zollikofen! If you have arrived in Switzerland only recently and now live in Zollikofen, there might be many things that are new and unfamiliar to you at the beginning and we would like to make you feel at home in our community! This information booklet aims at making it easier for you to find your way in Zollikofen: On the following pages, you will find useful references, addresses and phone numbers. Please do not hesitate to contact the authorities in charge of your problem/the topic area concerned if you have any questions, and please do benefit from the variety of facilities available to you. We wish you a successful start! Zollikofen Municipal Council Department of the Mayor
2 Contents Preface 1. German / Help with translations 2. Important addresses 3. Insurance companies / organisations 3.1 AHV = Swiss old age, surviving dependants and invalidity insurance 3.2 Health and accident insurance 3.3 RAV Zollikofen = Local employment agency 4. A place to live 4.1 Looking for a place to live 4.2 Noise 4.3 Waste disposal 5. Health 6. Children and young people 6.1 School 6.2 Child care / Looking after children 6.3 Counselling / Local helpdesks 7. Leisure / Culture 7.1 Young people and adults 7.2 Local clubs and associations 8. Churches / Pastoral care 9. Emergency services
3 1. German / Help with translations In Switzerland, the spoken language is very different to the written language. Although High German is the official (written) language, there is a large number of local dialects existing in Switzerland. The local dialect spoken in Zollikofen is called Berndeutsch. German courses are available for both real beginners in German and for those intending to learn Berndeutsch. Volkshochschule Bern (the Swiss Adult Education Centre) and ISA Bern run courses in Zollikofen in cooperation with the Zollikofen Culture Commission. All related details concerning these courses are published in the programme booklets available in the reception area of the Zollikofen municipal administration, at the public library as well as in local shops and banks. For further information, please contact: Volkshochschule Bern, Grabenpromenade 3, 3000 Bern 031 320 30 30 Informationsstelle für Ausländerfragen (ISA) (Information office for foreigners affairs) Speichergasse 29, 3011 Bern 031 310 12 70 2. Important addresses and telephone numbers Department for Funerals Municipal administration 031 910 91 33 Retirement Home Wahlackerstrasse 5 031 910 26 26 BETAX Transport service for handicapped and 0800 90 30 90 elderly people Lost property office Municipal administration, Local residents 031 910 91 30 registration office Municipal administration Wahlackerstr. 25, Opening hours: 031 910 91 11 (Town Hall) Monday, Wednesday - Thursday 08:00 11:30, 14:00 17:00 Tuesday: 08:00 11:30, 14:00 18:30 Friday: 08:00 11:30, 14:00 16:00 Garbage collection (please see: Garbage) 031 910 91 19 Children s day-care Chinderhus Wirbelwind, Wahlackerstrasse 29, 031 911 67 66 centre Ms Patricia Zangger Day parents Coordination: Kibez 031 911 67 66 Parent counselling Bern- Phone consultation hours: 031 922 06 70 Land (rural areas) MON - FRI 08:00 11:00 am Cantonal Police Bernstrasse 160 031 368 77 01 Police administration Wahlackerstrasse 25 031 910 91 64 Local employment Industriestrasse 35 031 636 08 00 agency RAV Zollikofen Municipal administration Mushroom control / City of Bern Inspection Department 031 321 51 51 inspection Post Office Schulhausstrasse 27 0848 888 888 Civil Registry Office Laupenstrasse 18a, Bern 031 635 40 00 Residents Association (www.zollikofen.ch) Schools School Administration, Wahlackerstrasse 25 031 910 91 56 Social services Office 031 910 91 40 SPITEX Spitex ReBeNo, Care Centre Zollikofen 031 911 13 13
3. Insurance companies / organisations 4 3.1 AHV = Alters- Hinterlassenen- und Invalidenversicherung (Swiss old age, surviving dependants and invalidity insurance) Every person living and/or working in Switzerland is obliged to have an insurance and to pay the insurance premiums. People in paid work meet this obligation by insurance premiums being deducted directly from their income. Non-employed people are responsible for paying these contributions themselves. Detailed information can be obtained from your employer or at the Zollikofen AHV Agency 031 910 91 45 3.2 Health and accident insurance Every family member must be insured individually. Please ask your employer for further information on the scope of your insurance in the event of an illness or injury. 3.3 Unemployment insurance If you are unemployed or likely to lose your job shortly, it is highly recommendable to contact RAV, the local employment agency, as this is the contact point for financial support in case of unemployment. Furthermore, this agency provides you with information and advice in the process of searching for new employment. RAV Zollikofen, Industriestrasse 35, 031 636 08 00 4. A place to live 4.1 Looking for a place to live It is very hard to find a moderately priced, good place to live. In the process of house or apartment hunting, it is highly recommendable to take a look at the property to let ( zu vermieten ) pages in the local information paper Mitteilungsblatt Zollikofen (MZ) as well as in the local newspaper, the Anzeiger Region Bern. You will find these papers in your mail box every week. If you have any legally-related questions in this matter, please do not hesitate to contact the Tenancy Office/Arbitration Board Bern-Mittelland, Effingerstrasse 34, 3008 Bern 031 635 47 50 4.2 Noise Noise is often a cause of tension and disagreements between neighbours which can be avoided if a few simple basic rules are obeyed: No noise during night hours. Noisy work is only allowed on working days (including Saturdays) between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon and from 01:00 to 08:00 pm. Unfortunately, another frequent source of noise is the car: such as, for example, noise caused by leaving the engine running unnecessarily, hooting to draw someone s attention or slamming car or garage doors. Other frequent sources of complaints are radios, CD players, the TV or even musical instruments played when the windows are open, on balconies or outdoors.
4.3 Waste disposal Household waste has to be separated into four groups and disposed of separately: 5 Combustible domestic waste Biodegradable waste from kitchen / garden Waste paper and cardboard Special and toxic waste Plastic Milk packaging Cat-litter Animal droppings (from carnivores) Food leftovers Vacuum cleaner bags Cigarette stubs Disposable nappies Stockings Leftovers Fruit Decorative plants Flowers Geranium earth Potting soil Leaves Lawn cuttings Hedge/tree cuttings Animal droppings (from herbivores) Newspapers Magazines Telephone directories Brochures Leaflets Catalogues Books Cardboard packaging Glass waste Cans / tins PET bottles Scrap metal 1 Medicine 1 Batteries / paint 1 Discharge lamps 1 Cooking / Motor oil 1 Chemicals 1 This is collected. To be placed for collection in an appropriate bag in front of the house. This is collected. To be placed for collection in an appropriate bag in front of the house. This is collected. To be placed for collection in an appropriate bag in front of the house. To be carried to the place of collection for recycling. With the fee stamps ( Gebührenmarken ) available (sold) in supermarkets. Dustbin sizes: 17 litres 35 litres 60 litres 110 litres How is waste to be disposed of? In the biodegradable-waste container on your property or at the municipal collection centre. In the waste-paper container on your property. Otherwise, tie newspapers and other waste paper together in bundles and fold and tie cardboard boxes in separate bundles. Both are to be placed for collection at the collection point. Do not put waste paper or books without binding out for collection in plastic or paper bags. Waste glass and cans/tins are to be disposed of at the municipal collection centre. PET bottles, batteries, and medicine go back to the shop where you bought them. 1 To be disposed of in specialised multi-purpose collection centres.
On Mondays and Fridays Put the dustbin out before 6:00 am on those days or the evening before. When can waste be disposed of? On Wednesdays Put the dustbin out before 6:00 am on those days or the evening before. In December, January and February, every two weeks. In biodegradable waste containers at the municipal collection centres also from Monday to Saturday. On Tuesdays (as shown in separate plan) A =uneven calendar weeks B = even calendar weeks Put the dustbin out before 6:00 am on those days or the evening before. Waste glass and cans/tins: Mondays to Fridays from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 01:00 to 07: 00 pm Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 am and from 01:00 to 05:00 pm 1 Other items in the multi-purpose collection centre: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 01:30 to 5:00 pm. 6 Saturdays from 09:00 am 12:30 pm
5. Health 7 Chemists Amavita Kreuz Apotheke, Bernstrasse 150 058 878 27 80 Zentral Apotheke, Bernstrasse 110 a 031 911 20 55 Emergency services Ambulance 144 Doctors 0900 57 67 47 Dentists 0900 57 67 47 Parents Advisory Service, Ittigen post Telephone service Monday to Friday 8:00 11:00 am 031 922 06 70 Mistreated women and children Frauenhaus (battered women s shelter) Bern 031 332 55 33 (acommodation and advice) Help for rape victims Advice centre for rape victims 031 370 30 70
6. Children and young people 8 6.1 School General information The public school system is independent from any religious confession. Schooling is free for children and young people as long as they are subject to the compulsory school attendance. The community provides the scholars with books and other school materials free of charge. Boys and girls are taught together in co-educational classes. School age Children who have attained the age of six years on 1 st May of a calendar year, are obliged to go to school at the beginning of the next school year, after the end of the next summer holidays. Compulsory schooling amounts to nine years. In Switzerland, children of foreign immigrant families who have attained the age of 15 and who can prove that they have attended school in another country, are no longer obliged to go to school. School attendance Parents are obliged to send their children to school regularly. Any person responsible for ensuring that his or her child goes to school, who culpably fails to send the child to school, renders him- or herself liable for punishment. If a child is unable to attend school, the parents are required to inform the teacher in writing of the reason for the child s absence. School dentistry A dental service at school is available to all schoolchildren. Registration for school Parents are obliged to register their children with the school s management: Kindergarten and primary school (Primarstufe) (1st 6th grade) Martin Bodmer/Djana Wetzel Wahlackerschulhaus/Zentralschulhaus 031 911 68 49 Secondary school (7 th 9 th grade) Rolf Graber, School building Sekundarstufe I 031 911 12 04 These teachers are going to inform parents about the facilities available for their children s integration: special classes, additional teaching, cultural courses, integration courses, etc. Furthermore, there is assistance with homework available in Zollikofen. Please register with your child s class teacher, who can also provide you with full details concerning these services. Contact between school and parents For information about the school, the curriculum or in case of any specific difficulties, please also contact your child s class teacher. If this does not solve the problem, please discuss the matter with the headmaster or headmistress or with the school board.
School information The following official information is available in a number of languages: Information about medical service at school 9 Moreover, important school-related information is published on a regular basis in the Schule section of our Mitteilungsblatt Zollikofen. Important telephone numbers Kindergarten: Geisshubel (KGG1) 031 911 18 48 Häberlimatte (KGH1) 031 910 00 51 Häberlimatte (KGH2) 091 910 00 52 Häberlimatte (KGH3) 031 910 00 53 Häberlimatte (KGH4) 031 910 00 54 Häberlimatte (KGH5) 031 910 00 55 Kläyhof 20 (KG1) 031 911 34 14 Kläyhof 22 (KG2) 031 911 67 13 Steinibach (KG7+8) 031 911 40 20 Schools / school buildings: Geisshubel 031 911 18 48 Steinibach 031 911 10 01 Wahlacker 031 911 03 41 Zentral 031 911 01 65 Sekundarstufe I 031 911 12 03 School principals Geisshubel, Petra Schläfli Marti 031 911 56 72 Steinibach, Beatrix Herren 031 911 65 86 Wahlacker, Martin Bodmer 031 911 68 49 Zentral, Dajana Wetzel 031 911 68 16 Sekundarstufe I, Rolf Graber and Andreas Leutwyler 031 911 12 04 Educational department, municipal administration 031 910 91 56 6.2 Child care / Looking after children Kibez: Day care centre for children in Zollikofen Chinderhus Wirbelwind for children aged from 8 weeks until the end of the first school grade Wahlackerstrasse 29, 031 911 67 66 Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 6:45 am to 6:30 pm. Day school Coordination: Ms Rita Weingart 079 674 73 84
10 6.3 Information centres School problems / general questions when raising children If you have any problems concerning the schooling system or related to raising your children in general, please contact: Social work at school services 031 911 05 87 Educational Counselling Services of the Bern canton, Effingerstrasse 12, Bern 031 633 41 41 Contact Bern People with drug problems are welcome to contact: Drug advisory centre Hodlerstrasse 22, Bern 031 310 06 50 Berner Gesundheit ( Bernese Health ) Eigerstrasse 80,Bern 031 370 70 70 In case of drink problems or addiction to medication or gambling, advice and counselling can be obtained from this source. ISA Information centre for foreign women and their families Speichergasse 29, Bern 031 310 12 72
7. Leisure / culture 11 7.1 Young people and adults Kinder- und Jugenfachstelle Zollikofen, Wahlackerstrasse 58 031 911 60 36 Sports clubs Football, tennis, budo, etc. (please see 7.2) Karibu, Schäfereistrasse 43, Zollikofen 031 911 65 25 Cross-cultural meeting point: On Tuesdays from 2:00 to 5:00 pm: Sewing get-together On Thursdays from 2:00 to 4:00 pm: Language-related get-together Zollikofen Municipal library, Kornhausbibliotheken Ziegeleiweg 2 031 911 17 46 Opening hours: Monday to Friday 03:00 to 6:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am to 03:00 pm Intercultural library Tscharnergut Waldmannstrasse 19, 3027 Bern 031 992 67 58 Opening hours: MO/WE/TH/FR 02:00 pm to 6:00 pm
7.2 Local clubs and associations (a selection, with their Chairman / Chairwoman) 12 Board of local clubs Nussbaum Peter, Alpenstrasse 45 Retirement home association Eva Baumann, Zollikofe mitenang Fishing club Bill Thomas Postfach 206 Badminton Club Aegerter Ursula, Postfach Budo Sports club Schneider Andreas, Oenzbergstrasse 1, 3375 Inkwil Families club Birgit Göldi, Lindenweg 11 Families garden c/o Verena Lanz, Altikofenstrasse cooperation 109 3048 Worblaufen Football club Hasenberger Beat, Postfach Bowling Club Zolli-Gäbelbach Werthmüller Beat, Unterdorfstrasse 14 3322 Urtenen-Schönbühl Zangger Patricia KIBEZ Child care Wahlackerstrasse 29, Toy library Ludothek Zollikofen Schulhausstrasse 32, Nature lovers René Merki Wydackerstrasse 13 Scouts Frisco Tschirren Matthias, Gartenstrasse 9 Mushroom club Anderegg Urs, Bantigerstrasse 13 Chess club Bahr Corinne, Postfach 628 079 247 78 11 076 424 30 52 079 737 56 03 079 770 11 23 079 769 64 73 031 922 24 00 079 446 59 91 079 474 72 69 031 911 67 66 031 911 69 84 031 911 56 91 076 489 36 45 031 911 58 38 079 693 85 80 Tennis club Roschi Alex mail@tczollikofen.ch Regional table tennis club Moossee Steiner Phillip, Seedorfweg 46 3053 Münchenbuchsee Zolli-activ Grossen Ursula Allmendstrasse 7 STV Gym club Ribi André, Gantrischstrasse 18 For further clubs and associations, please see www.zollikofen.ch. 031 922 41 29 031 911 39 27 079 954 34 75
8. Churches / pastoral care 13 Protestant Church Office: Lindenweg 3 031 911 35 24 Roman Catholic Church Office: Stämpflistrasse 33 031 910 44 00 Church of Jesus Christ (Mormon) Office: Allmendstrasse 16 031 911 47 99 New Apostolic Church Office: Kirchlindachstrasse 031 742 15 19 Pagoda Tri Thu Office: Schulhausstrasse 28 031 911 94 66 9. Emergency services Doctors Emergency service 0900 57 67 47 Chemists Amavita Kreuz Apotheke, Bernstrasse 150 058 878 27 80 Zentral Apotheke, Bernstrasse 110a 031 911 20 55 Communal aerial installation Troubleshooting service: 061 926 16 16 Fire brigade Fire brigade emergency call centre 118 Police Police emergency call centre 117 Police station, Bernstrasse 160 031 368 77 01 Medical emergencies 144 Hospitals Inselspital / Pediaetric clinic Bern 031 632 91 21 Frauenspital Bern (midwifery, gynaecology) 031 632 10 10 Tiefenauspital 031 308 81 11 Psychiatrische Poliklinik Bern, UPD 031 632 88 11 Veterinary ambulance Control and coordination centre, 0800 55 70 10 Tierambulanz Schweiz Veterinary in charge Dr. Zgraggen Anton, Buchsweg 11 031 911 32 32 Toxication emergencies 044 251 51 51 Water supply Repair service 031 910 91 15 Outside office hours 031 321 31 11