What does it mean to be poor in Switzerland? "SRF Kids News special" explores this question. Football star Xherdan Shaqiri also has his say, speaking from his own experience.
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- Many people in Switzerland live in poverty, as reported in "SRF Kids News special".
- Xherdan Shaqiri has no money worries. But the FCB star knows from his own experience what life with little money feels like.
- In an interview with a young reporter, he talks about his childhood in modest circumstances.
Poverty in rich Switzerland? Does it really exist? The answer is clearly yes. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 708,000 people in Switzerland live in income poverty. One person who definitely has no money worries is Xherdan Shaqiri. But that wasn't always the case. In the program "SRF Kids News spezial", the football star talks about his modest childhood.
"I grew up very modestly in Augst in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. We lived on an old farm with the whole family." There wasn't even a "normal heating system" there; we had to heat with wood.
He also had to do without a few things in his childhood. Going on vacation every year was not an option. "We also had problems paying the membership fees at FC Basel," Shaqiri recalls. "I felt a bit ashamed or uncomfortable when I had to say that." It just didn't feel nice.
Of course, he also wanted "the best, nicest and biggest things" as a child, but his parents couldn't afford it. "My first real birthday present was a Brazil national shirt from Ronaldo." It wasn't an original shirt, but he was very happy about it.
"I'm glad that I now know both sides a little"
The young reporter wants to know what it was like for him and his parents when he earned money as a footballer for the first time. "Yes, it was a special feeling when I signed my first professional contract with FC Basel." He was 17 years old at the time and then told his parents: "You're not working anymore, I'm watching for you." He simply had the feeling that he wanted to give something back to his parents.
Today, of course, he can afford pretty much anything his heart desires. How is that for him? You get used to it a little, Shaqiri admits, but also says: "I'm glad that I now know both sides a little. It has helped me a lot in life to be successful, but also as a person." He says he learned from his parents "that you always have to stay down to earth, no matter how successful you are or how much money you earn". It was therefore always important to him that he remained "the same".
Xherdan Shaqiri at blue Sport
In April, Xherdan Shaqiri spoke to blue Sport about his childhood on a farm, luxury, popularity and his biggest dream: To celebrate with the trophy on Barfüsserplatz. This dream has now come true.
