When leolea began operations 20 years ago, it needed no more than a small office in a former laundry with brick walls and industrial charm in Bern’s Marzili district, near the River Aare.

Today, leolea is the largest provider in the canton of Bern. Here and in Lucerne, the organisation, which employs over 550 people, runs more than 30 day-care centres and full-time schools, and offers additional family support services (e.g. nannies, playgroups and counselling).

Having always remained true to itself, leolea has a clearly defined pedagogic profile that it continually develops in line with the latest research. “Every child can develop here according to their own needs and at their own pace,” says Daniela Balz, who has been the CEO since 2019. “With infants, for example, we give them time to learn to stand up on their own and, later on, to walk.” This allows children to experience self-efficacy, gain experience themselves and gradually develop a stable sense of self-worth.

In addition, the leolea philosophy includes qualified and motivated staff, child-friendly meal portions with seasonal fruit and vegetables, a comprehensive parent-support service, and high standards of hygiene and safety. The vast majority of staff previously completed their vocational education and training at leolea.

“In recent years, we’ve deliberately chosen not to pursue further quantitative growth. This allows us to preserve our family-like nature, to enhance the quality of what we offer, and to specialise,” says Co-President Christiane Bohni. As a result, the organising institution now runs day-care centres that have animals or vegetable gardens, or that cater for children with additional needs, such as those with autism. “We see inclusion and participation as important social issues. The offering for infants in Switzerland is virtually non-existent. We try to take a long-term perspective on programme development with a long-term focus and to keep improving.”

From the very start, leolea has its responsibility towards society seriously. A project newly launched in cooperation with the printmaking institution Edition VFO in Zurich fits in well with this: Since December 2024, prints by contemporary Swiss artists, some well-known and some yet to be discovered, have been hanging on leolea’s walls.

Christiane Bohni has been one of the driving forces behind this project: “We want to bring the staff and children closer to art,” she says. “Art can be a great enrichment for people of all ages.” Plans to integrate art education into the childcare services are well underway: In keeping with leolea’s pedagogic principles, children who are interested will have the option of experiencing it voluntarily.

To date, leolea has never encountered any major problems that could have derailed the organisation. The response to criticism of extra-familial childcare is clear: “Children need a social environment that gives them a sense of security and encourages their individual development.” Where this collective development takes place is a decision that everyone makes for themselves.

For over a decade, leolea has held daily allowance and accident insurance with V⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠n⁠a and found it a “good, reliable and supportive partner”, as Co-President Christiane Bohni puts it. All claims have been handled promptly and obligingly. In addition, leolea makes good use of V⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠n⁠a’s continuing education programmes, for instance on stress management, accident prevention and leadership. “Like us, V⁠i⁠s⁠a⁠n⁠a cares about people.”

 © Caspar Martig, photographer