In conversation with Barbara Weber
We are pleased to introduce Barbara Weber as the new coordinator of the Family Holiday Weeks Davos.
In October 2024, Jolanda Scherler, coordinator of the Family Holiday Weeks for almost nine years, took her well-deserved retirement. Last week, Barbara Weber was able to get an initial overview in Davos. The mutual introductions in the two hotels Mountain Plaza and Seebüel, as well as the meeting with some of the volunteers, were greatly appreciated by all.
Get to know Barbara Weber better in this interview!
You have been the new coordinator of the Family Holiday Weeks Davos since January 2025. What experience do you have?
Until July 2024, I worked in specialist support at kispex, Kinderspitex in the Canton of Zurich, focusing on pediatric palliative care (PPC), ventilation and dialysis. PPC has always been a matter close to my heart in recent years. I have looked after many families over a long period of time, supported staff and often accompanied families in the end-of-life phase of their child. I was always in close contact with the palliative care team at Zurich Children’s Hospital. Now a new phase of my life has begun as coordinator of the Family Holiday Weeks in Davos.
What makes this job so exciting for you?
In a completely different way, but no less exciting, I am now getting to know new families with a child with a life-limiting illness. Thanks to the financial support of the Swiss Children’s Hospice Foundation, I can try to offer them a week in Davos that is as carefree as possible. The families are supported in part by Kinderspitex and or assistants.
I get to know the families at home with the children and their siblings in their familiar environment. This enables me to evaluate what support and materials they need for the week. During their time in Davos, I can hopefully help the families to have unforgettable moments with the help of local volunteers.
In the summer I will stay in Davos for three weeks at a time and in the fall for two weeks in order to support all participating families in the best possible way.
Visits are currently being made to affected families who have expressed an interest for this season. What are the challenges?
I travel all over Switzerland to clarify things with families, mostly by train, but also by car. It is often language challenges that make the clarification more difficult. Sometimes the families have never traveled with their sick child before and may also have difficulty requesting all the documents. It is a great relief for me to be able to work with the palliative care team at Zurich Children’s Hospital. They know me and are happy to help me with the necessary documents for the families they are looking after.
What makes planning difficult?
On the one hand, planning is influenced by the parents’ wishes regarding the possible vacation week. But then it also depends on whether the family needs a care bed or perhaps even a patient hoist or other additional equipment. We work together with two normal hotels and only have a limited number of care beds, for example. A maximum of 3 families can come to Davos together per week.
What are you particularly looking forward to in your first year as coordinator of the vacation weeks?
I was introduced to the hotels and volunteers by Renate Feissli in Davos and got to know so many helpful and extremely friendly people. I am looking forward to working with the families, the hotels and also with the volunteers, who can make so many good excursions possible with their experience.
Renate Feissli, member of the Board of Trustees responsible for the Family Holiday Weeks Davos, in conversation with Barbara Weber.
Barbara Weber is not only the coordinator for the Family Holiday Weeks Davos, she will also be working as a volunteer at the Flamingo Children’s Hospice. At the moment, however, her main work is in the clarifications and organization for Davos. In the interim and in late fall, however, the focus will be more on hospice work.
There is still a lot to do in the development of volunteer work at the Flamingo Children’s Hospice – Barbara is also very much looking forward to this.
You can find more information about the Davos Family Holiday Weeks here!