Our story
In the past, suspended coffees (in Italian, "caffè sospeso") were paid by citizens of Naples to soldiers during World War II. The receipt for the coffee would be left hanging at the counter, and the soldier could come in, warm up, and enjoy a free cup of coffee. Since then, the concept has spread across Europe and around the world.
Clémence Oriol, a student in International Relations and Digital Marketing, driven by a passion for charity projects, had the brilliant idea to digitise the concept of "suspended coffees" and broaden it to include other goods and services that are not easily accessible to people facing hardship.
Laure Oriol, having dedicated many years to promoting the rights of children and women, particularly through her work with Soroptimist International, and working as an executive coach, became involved with Suspend'us from the very start. Why? She wanted to develop a project on a concrete and locally impactful level. Joining the Suspend'us adventure was a natural decision: the project makes sense, it is sustainable, and it feeds the virtuous cycle created by the circular economy. She is proud to support her daughter, Clémence, in this endeavour.
The idea became a reality in 2020, when they launched the association Suspend'us and its website www.suspend-us.com.
Recognised as a public utility, our association Suspend'us is trustworthy and has a strong local social impact.
Concept
We believe that every act of solidarity matters for people in need. The historical concept of suspended coffees inspired us to create the association Suspend'us, whose name is derived from the French word for "suspended", so that every person facing hardship can get the help they need on a daily basis, while maintaining their dignity.
Dignity means giving our beneficiaries the freedom to choose what they want to buy and where, within the limits of our terms and conditions.
An anonymous donor makes a donation at the vendor of their choice.
This Suspend'us donation is geolocalised and is displayed on the vendor's profile on the platform.
A person in need can use the donation made at the vendor, either as a good or a service.
Our values
Suspend'us is simple, transparent and local.
Simple
Our Suspend'us platform is accessible everywhere and is simple to use. Make or receive a Suspend'us donation in a couple of clicks.
Transparent
All donations displayed on the platform are dedicated to supporting people in need. Additionally, each donor has the flexibility to select the specific vendor they wish to make a Suspend'us donation to.
Local
We act at a local level: each city in our network collaborates with partner businesses and institutions, as well as with volunteers who manage communication on the ground. Moreover, by supporting local businesses, Suspend'us promotes a community-driven social economy.
Community
Making people smile and offering a helping hand, that is how we promote community-driven solidarity that everyone can take part in. Our platform gathers donors, vendors, people facing hardship, together with our team of dedicated volunteers and valued partners.
Suspend'us is successful and constantly evolving thanks to our strong community.
Currently active in three cantons (Vaud, Fribourg and Geneva), our goal is to extend our Suspend'us network across French-speaking Switzerland. This way, everyone can become a part of our local Suspend'us community by receiving, donating, or supporting.
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