Since 1971, CERN staff have been helping the most disadvantaged people on our planet through the “Long-Term Collections” of the Staff Association!

The Long-Term Collections Committee (LTC) of the Staff Association is pleased to share with you its 55^th  anniversary, an important milestone in the life of our Laboratory. Indeed, while CERN is globally renowned for its scientific discoveries, it also shines through the many humanitarian projects carried out since 1971 around the world. Several schools and clinics bear the logo of its Staff Association, far away…

Over these 55 years, 82 projects have been completed or are currently underway (with 5 ongoing projects today). At the origin was a group of colleagues who wished to give back a little of what life had offered them here at CERN, this haven of peace and safety, to those who were not as fortunate elsewhere. Thus, the LTC was born… Since then, discreetly but effectively, a team has kept the founders’ spirit alive, with the support of regular donors among the staff.

Why “Long-Term Collections”? Because our support is not granted only a single time, but twice a year, over several years according to a defined schedule. This approach allows us to closely monitor the results achieved in the field with our funding. While our annual budget includes a subsidy from the Staff Association. It is mainly composed of regular or one-off donations from members of the “CERN community,” including both active staff and retirees of all statuses. To select the projects supported by the LTC, we prioritize children’s education, support for women, health, and food assistance within small structures, as the impact is faster and more transparent. And there have been many success stories to date our website

“Long-term” also refers to how the necessary funds are collected, through regular contributions from our donors, without whom the LTC could not operate. Our financial schedule remains the guiding principle of our decisions, because when commitments are made over five years, we must be certain we can fulfill them. This is still the case today, but the number of donors is decreasing dangerously due to demographic changes and the renewal of the Laboratory’s personnel. The direct consequence: a significant reduction in the number of projects we can support.

Therefore, while warmly thanking our loyal supporters, many of whom have been contributing for decades and continue to believe, as we do, in a better world, we are launching a broad call to all those who are not yet members of the LTC, especially new staff members! The principle is very simple: you just need to register with the LTC using this link. It is the most effective way to help those in need! One-off donations are always appreciated, but they remain too unpredictable for our financial planning.

So, for the sustainability of CERN’s humanitarian actions, the best thing is to join the LTC family as a regular donor! The LTC Committee, and all those we support and will continue to support, thank you in advance!

Come and meet us on Thursday, May 7,

at the 54th edition of the CERN Relay Race

the LTC will be there to celebrate its 55^th anniversary with you!