The history of Café International in Adliswil began on 2 March 2016, when church social workers Silvia Bänziger (Reformed) and Daniela Kaiser (Catholic), together with other founding members, met for the first time at the Reformed church community hall to discuss the idea of a 'community café' in Adliswil. Further meetings followed in June, July and September, until a concept was finally drafted and approved by the church councils of both congregations. The goal was to create a place of encounter for all people in Adliswil, especially people with a migration background and residents of the emergency shelter at the time. It aimed to build contact between the local Adliswil population and foreign-born residents and to encourage exchange. The offering was meant to be accessible to everyone and to provide an opportunity to practise German. It was decided to run the café twice a month in the Reformed church community hall, which offered an ideal infrastructure, was very centrally located (with the option of expanding into the park in summer), and involved no additional room costs. The Catholic Church Adliswil, the Reformed congregation Adliswil and the Reformed church Langnau a.A. would provide the financial and human resources. To ensure good coordination with the parallel 'Treff+' meeting offer of the then Chrischona congregation and the 'Brotchorb' of the Evangelical-Methodist Church, opening hours were initially set for the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month, from 9 to 11 a.m. And so the new 'community café' at the Reformed church community hall opened its doors for the very first time on Friday, 4 November 2016!

Even though the day of the week and opening times have since changed and the organisation, programme and public presence have continued to evolve, the original concept is still clearly recognisable, and the goal has essentially remained the same: to create a place of encounter for all people in Adliswil, especially people with a migration background. In other words: finding connection and helping people feel at home.

In 2026, we look back on many precious times of encounter, exchange and community, and celebrate the tenth anniversary of Café International in Adliswil with an Open Day on 12 September. We hope to see you there!