Abandoned ancient villages, cities, communities can also offer homes to displaced populations. Restoration of these sites has enormous impact. The goal is not only heritage preservation, but it serves a social need. And so, it is that heritage sites gain too, by being alive.

The Erika and Conrad Schnyder-Foundation strongly supports preservation of cultural heritage: Cultural heritage is our identity, our feeling of belonging and is therefore essential for our sense of wellbeing. Because it is often difficult to connect to the past and because the financial needs of the vulnerable are so great, the Foundation specially supports restoration of heritage sites that can also find a use in our society, thus giving the restoration of our heritage also a social and humanitarian justification or »reason of being«. A purpose other than just the restoration. Restoring and bringing back to life an ancient village or city, fortress, castle, so as to provide homes or social gathering places, so as to integrate the ancient with modern life.