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The World Economic Forum WEF puts Davos in a state of emergency for a few days every year. This is sometimes a burden for the school children in the village. Blocked-off neighborhood streets and a lot more traffic than usual are giving them problems. But there are also positive sides.
It’s quarter past eight in the morning. The primary school children sit on the floor in a circle. Because the radio reporter is visiting, they talk about the World Economic Forum (WEF). “Who knows what WEF means?” asks the teacher and promptly receives the answer from Naomi: “A lot of people come to Davos – including the mayor – and they talk about a lot of things.”
We have a lot of important people vacationing and having lunch with us.
But maybe they also have friends and are now making deals with them at the WEF, says Lea and Noemi is certain: “The many important people are vacationing with us and going to lunch.” Yes – and there are always many meetings at the WEF, adds Jules, and there is always a huge mess in the village.
With the “mess” Jules means the traffic and the construction work for all the pavilions around the WEF and the many people in the streets. This situation limits the students. Streets are suddenly cordoned off and the way to school is no longer as usual. “I think that’s stupid,” says Lea and says: “Now I have to walk along the main road, where it’s still dangerous next to everything else.”
Now I have to walk along the main road, which is dangerous along with everything else
Some things are different for the children during the WEF, sometimes difficult, like the way to school, but sometimes easy, the first graders say.
So this week it’s three days out on the ski slopes. There is no gymnastics because the hall is needed for the WEF. They think that’s “cool” and Noemi also likes the fact that shops and hotels are “nicely lit” during the WEF. Lea finds the street signs amusing, which are covered with a garbage bag because of the different traffic routing.
It is better when there is peace than always war.
The little ones in Davos have clear ideas about the WEF and what it does to their everyday lives.
And their wishes to the powerful of the world? At this question, the children become silent. Many in the class say they would not dare to voice their concerns in front of heads of state and business leaders. But then, when the teacher asks, Lus and Benjam wish the world to become cleaner and more peaceful.