General Principles
Solidaritätsnetz International operates under a fully decentralized model based on volunteerism, self-financing, local autonomy, and trust. Each national chapter and project team independently covers its operational needs through participants’ contributions, community support, and their own resources. This approach minimizes administrative expenses and ensures that every contribution is immediately transformed into action without bureaucracy or dependence on the central office.
With a modest coordination budget, the central office provides only essential communication and technical support functions, while more than ninety percent of all actual financial efforts are carried out directly “in the field” by our participants and partner initiatives. This model embodies our core philosophy of full decentralization, transparency, and equality, without hierarchy, dependency, or concentration of funds or power.
The lean budget structure allows for democratic decision-making across all areas of our network while maintaining maximum transparency and efficiency in the use of every franc received. The majority of financial resources are utilized directly at the local level by volunteers, service providers, contractors, or those in need, without passing through the central office.
Expenses of the Central Office and the Organization’s Board
During the reporting year, the central office managed 6242.60 Swiss francs in donations. All funds received by the central office originated from private individuals and were not from public or politically affiliated sources. In accordance with Swiss data protection law and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation, the personal data of donors is not disclosed in order to ensure security and confidentiality.
The President of the Organization, a citizen of Austria, and the members of the Organization’s Board, two citizens of Switzerland, spent 5500.00 Swiss francs of their personal funds for the needs of Solidaritätsnetz International.
All these funds were allocated to essential travel expenses, including hotels, train and air travel, and incidental business expenses, as well as technical support for the communication infrastructure. No salaries were paid to anyone. All campaigns, field operations, and investigations were carried out exclusively on a volunteer basis and funded locally. No office rent was paid, as the space required for administrative work was provided free of charge to the Organization by the President.
The central office administered human rights cases in Switzerland, Moldova, and Ukraine (7 cases) through volunteer support and activist work without incurring any financial costs. Assistance was also provided to families (5 cases) on migration matters in Switzerland, Germany, and Hungary.
Street Actions and Educational Activities
a) Activists of Solidaritätsnetz International conducted an international campaign aimed at drawing attention to the exploitation of African countries, human trafficking, illegal extraction of natural resources, and the activities of international mafia networks that profit from children and vulnerable populations. Actions took place in Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Milan, The Hague, and Madrid and included rallies, street performances, flash mobs, distribution and posting of informational materials, as well as visual projections and laser installations. The goal of the campaign was to deliberately attract public and media attention to the issues of neocolonialism and the inaction of international institutions in a sharp and provocative manner. All expenses (equipment rental, transportation, printing of materials, accommodation) were covered by local volunteers and coordinators. The total budget of the campaign amounted to 20,000 EUR (16,686.60 CHF).
b) Activists of Solidaritätsnetz International organized a protest rally in Amsterdam against neocolonialism. Expenses for transportation, printing of materials, accommodation, and event organization were directly covered by local volunteers and coordinators. The total budget of the protest rally amounted to 500 EUR (462.53 CHF).
c) A public awareness campaign was conducted in Ukrainian media on LGBTQ+ rights and against homophobia. Articles and informational materials were prepared by the Organization’s activists on a voluntary basis and published in partner media outlets.
Expenses of National Offices
a) The Eastern Office of Solidaritätsnetz International (Skopje, North Macedonia) did not implement independent projects, carrying out tasks and assignments from the central office. Expenses amounted to 5,400.00 EUR (4,995.38 CHF), which were spent on rent and communication services. These expenses were covered by the local coordinator and volunteers. Office activities were supported by the personal volunteer work of Solidaritätsnetz International members.
b) The Operational Office of Solidaritätsnetz International (Plovdiv, Bulgaria) did not implement independent projects, carrying out tasks and assignments from the central office, except for providing financial and organizational support to an animal shelter in Safarovo, Bulgaria, for the purchase of food and medicine (expenses by volunteers amounted to 600 EUR). Other expenses amounted to 4,200.00 EUR (3,885.29 CHF), which were spent on rent and communication services. These expenses were covered by the local coordinator and volunteers. Office activities were supported by the personal volunteer work of Solidaritätsnetz International members.
c) The representation of Solidaritätsnetz International accredited by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine) suspended its activities during the war. No activities were conducted, and functions were transferred to the Eastern Office of Solidaritätsnetz International (Skopje, North Macedonia).
d) Representatives of Solidaritätsnetz International in Greece, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Russia, Moldova, and Georgia did not implement independent projects, performing tasks and assignments from the central office and personally covering minor expenses for postal and transportation services, which in total did not exceed 500.00 EUR (462.53 CHF). Activities of the representatives were supported by the personal volunteer work of Solidaritätsnetz International members.
e) Emergency online support for members of Solidaritätsnetz International was provided by volunteers from Malta, who personally covered communication service costs, which in total did not exceed 100.00 EUR (93.00 CHF).
Concluding Remarks
The Board informs that every member of Solidaritätsnetz International has the right, upon request, to review the internal financial statements, budgets, bank statements, and brief titular information regarding human rights and migration cases. The confidentiality of personal, medical, and sensitive data is fully maintained in this process.
All donations undergo basic verification of the source of funds (KYC/AML principles): confirmation of the donor’s identity, compliance with legal requirements, and absence of connections to sanctioned regimes, criminal structures, or politically motivated financing. Verification is carried out to the extent necessary for the legal integrity and safety of the Organization’s activities, without creating bureaucratic barriers.
The central office confirms that it does not accept funds from government institutions, political parties, commercial corporations, sanctioned individuals, or from sources with non-transparent origins of capital. All expenditures are supported by receipts, transport documents, invoices, or written reports from coordinators. Financial decisions are made collegially by no fewer than two members of the Board or coordinators of the appropriate level. Internal reports, invoices, and supporting documents are stored in encrypted form and can be provided to Organization members upon request without disclosing the personal data of third parties.
The balance on the Organization’s bank account is insignificant (less than 1,000 CHF) and does not affect the overall financial activity of Solidaritätsnetz International.
Approved by the Board of Solidaritätsnetz International
in Bern on 24 December 2025