The Swiss Files
From the Himalayas to the Alps: The Swiss-Tibetan Journey
Alpine Paradise
It was July 8, 2023, and I was headed to Stadthalle Bülach, a 40-minute drive from my home in Switzerland. This was the venue where the Tibetan community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein had gathered to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 88th birthday. I arrived just before the day-long program was set to begin, only to discover that parking was a major challenge. The auditorium’s lot, which typically accommodates around 130 cars, was full, and every nearby street space was taken. After circling the area several times, I finally found a spot several blocks away.
It is easy to see why Tibetans, and many others, are drawn to Switzerland. This small nation of fewer than nine million people has arguably found a remarkable balance between Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Happiness. Its considerable wealth has been achieved alongside a relatively pristine environment, a vibrant democracy, effective governance, and consistently high rankings in the The World Happiness Report.
Switzerland has been my home for several years, and there is much to admire: clean air and water, a low crime rate, reserved yet polite and law-abiding people, an efficient and punctual public transportation system, and breathtaking natural landscapes.
The education system stands out for its flexibility and balanced pathways between general and vocational tracks once students reach the age of 14. Swiss democracy, often described as direct democracy, empowers citizens to play an active role in decision-making at all levels. Beyond electing representatives, citizens regularly vote on specific issues through popular initiatives and referendums. The country’s federal structure divides authority among the national government (the Confederation), 26 cantons, and roughly 2,130 municipalities (communes). Cantons and communes enjoy significant autonomy over education, healthcare, taxation, and policing. Even today, two cantons - Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus - maintain the tradition of voting by open assembly, where citizens gather in town squares to decide matters by a show of hands.
The Swiss system of collective leadership offers a compelling model at a time when authoritarianism is rising globally. The seven-member Federal Council, elected by Parliament, governs collegially, with the presidency rotating annually among its members.
Despite a relatively high rate of gun ownership, Switzerland remains remarkably safe. In 2021, the homicide rate stood at just 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.8 in the United States.
The Swiss system of collective leadership offers a compelling model at a time when authoritarianism is rising globally.
Tibetans in Switzerland
Records of Tibetans living in Switzerland prior to 1960 are scarce. Today, there are approximately 8,000 Tibetans in Switzerland, making it the largest Tibetan community in Europe. Until the early 2000s, it was also the largest exile community outside India and Nepal. How did this come to be?
To answer this, I explored open-source documents; particularly those on Dodis.ch, a publicly accessible archival database of Swiss federal diplomatic records, especially from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA); and other materials.
I had known Switzerland supported Tibetan refugees from the 1960s onward, but deeper research revealed the full extent of that support. It renewed my appreciation for Switzerland’s critical role, not only in resettling refugees on its own soil but also in shaping the lives of Tibetans in India and Nepal during those early exile years.
By contrast, the United Kingdom - a fellow European power with deep historical ties to Tibet - had a greater political and moral obligation to support Tibet. Britain maintained a diplomatic mission in Lhasa until the 1940s and was one of the few countries to engage diplomatically with Tibet before the Chinese invasion and occupation. The British also invaded Tibet in 1903 through the Younghusband Expedition. Yet, its political support for Tibetans has been disappointing, and its humanitarian contributions modest compared to Switzerland.
On this subject, I highly recommend an essay in notes on art in a global context, MoMA’s online journal. Written by Thupten Kelsang, a Research Fellow at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in London, the piece, From Loot to Legacy: Rethinking “Tibetan Art” in Western Museums - offers a Tibetan perspective on the debate around cultural heritage and decolonizing museums detailing atrocities committed by Younghusband’s expedition.
While a full account of Swiss government support for the Tibetans is beyond this article’s scope, this piece highlights key milestones and challenges, Berne’s diplomatic balancing act with China, and traces how enduring Swiss support enabled the growth of the Tibetan community in Switzerland.
Swiss Support: The High Points
Swiss government documents from the 1960s often mention growing public empathy for Tibetans. Perhaps the Swiss felt kinship with another mountain-dwelling culture facing upheaval. Support came from individuals, churches, civil society, government institutions, and media. One memorable campaign featured a stamp-like label reading “Tibet ruft um Hilfe” (“Tibet Calls for Help”) affixed to the backs of envelopes sent via Swiss Federal Post, raising both awareness and funds.
The Pestalozzi Children’s Village (Kinderdorf Pestalozzi) in Trogen, Canton Appenzell Ausserrhoden, was founded in 1946 to shelter children affected by World War II. In 1960, construction began on the Tibet House (Tibeterhaus) - one of several cultural houses in the village. It opened in 1961, and that October welcomed 20 Tibetan refugee children, accompanied by Tibetan caregivers. The children attended local schools and received Tibetan-language and cultural education to help preserve their heritage while integrating.
The Association for Tibetan Homes (Verein für Tibetische Heime, VTiH), the first major Swiss organization dedicated to Tibetan refugees, was founded in 1960. It coordinated resettlement and cultural preservation. In 1961, VTiH received permission to admit 22 refugees; a second group of 20 arrived a year and a half later in Unterwasser, Canton St. Gallen.
In March 1963, the Swiss Federal Council approved VTiH’s application to resettle 1,000 Tibetan refugees under federal refugee support decrees. The Swiss Confederation covered 75% of costs, with the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) covering the rest. Funds covered travel, housing, food, medical care, and integration.1
Selection and logistics were coordinated by the SRC with Tibetan authorities in Dharamsala. Refugees arrived in organized groups after three conditions were met: receiving cantons’ commitment of permanent acceptance; securing of adequate housing and jobs; and assurance of adequate financial resources.
Upon arrival, the Tibetan refugees were housed in communal accommodations (“Heimstätten”) across German-speaking Switzerland, near workplaces and schools. Expenses were covered by private donations and sponsorships collected by SRC and VTiH.
In March 1963, the Swiss Federal Council approved VTiH’s application to resettle 1,000 Tibetan refugees under federal refugee support decrees.
Many Tibetans had previously worked in road construction in India’s Kullu-Manali region, living in tents under harsh conditions. Arriving at Kloten Airport and moving into clean, furnished homes in picturesque Swiss towns was transformative. One refugee recalled being bewildered by formal sit-down meals and not knowing what knives and forks were for.2
While initial hopes were that refugees would work in agriculture, crafts and factories, many found and preferred stable factory jobs, especially in weaving and other industries. Swiss industries faced significant labor shortages in the sixties and early seventies.3 So, Tibetan labor was welcomed by the factories. The companies would inform the SRC how many workers were needed and apartments available. When groups arrived, they were often received by canton, SRC, and company representatives.
A memorable story tells of a Tibetan mother in the 1973 Glarus group giving birth on the plane; she named her daughter “Namdu” meaning airplane in Tibetan.4
One administrative consequence was the introduction of family names for Tibetan refugees starting in 1969. Since Tibetans traditionally have no surnames and many share similar names, Swiss authorities required family names for legal purposes - a practice still in use.5
In February 1964, Switzerland approved an office for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s personal representative. Initially requested in Geneva, it opened in Zurich due to local Tibetan presence, later moving to Geneva. Phala Thupten Wangden was the first official representative.
In February 1964, Switzerland approved an office for the Dalai Lama’s personal representative.
Another milestone was the 1968 opening of the Tibetan Institute of Rikon in Töstal/ZH, established through the Kuhn family - owners of Kuhn Rikon cookware. The family also employed many Tibetans. The Institute, also a monastery, serves as a scientific, cultural, and spiritual center. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama has visited the Institute multiple times.
Tibetan Foster Children
While the majority of Tibetan refugees resettled through the Kinderdorf Pestalozzi program and the “1,000 Tibetans” initiative were able to integrate into Swiss society, a separate program involving the placement of Tibetan children from India into Swiss foster families became the subject of later criticism. Initiated by Swiss industrialist and philanthropist Charles Aeschimann in response to a request from Tibetan authorities, the program brought 160 Tibetan children to Switzerland between August 1961 and March 1964.6
According to program guidelines, foster parents were to provide Tibetan language instruction, cultural education, and maintain contact with Tibetan communities, with the goal of children eventually returning to India or Tibet.7 Despite these provisions and the program’s humanitarian intent, launched during a period of acute crisis in the Tibetan exile community, many children faced challenges of separation from their parents, adaptation to their foster families, and identity crisis. Some were later placed in rehabilitation centers; several died from substance abuse or suicide.8
Swiss Aid for Tibetans in India and Nepal
Beyond Switzerland, the Swiss government became a major donor supporting Tibetan refugee programs in India and Nepal. India’s Central Relief Committee (CRC), a government initiative chaired by Acharya J.B. Kripalani, coordinated aid for Tibetans in India. This article focuses on Switzerland’s larger aid footprint in Nepal.
From 1960 to 1963, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provided emergency relief to Tibetan refugees in Nepal. The Nepalese government preferred the ICRC and Swiss-led assistance over other donors. The royal government’s policy was to relocate Tibetan refugees from the sensitive border areas to Nepal’s interior and ICRC and later the Swiss Red Cross played a critical role in this process. Switzerland, a major ICRC funder, enabled financing through special federal decrees dating back to WWII.
As aid shifted from emergency relief to development, the Swiss government’s Technical Cooperation Service (DftZ) took over from the ICRC, aiming to make Tibetans in Nepal economically independent and integrated permanently. In 1976, DftZ became the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).9
A notable Swiss initiative was the Tibetan carpet industry in Nepal, which became Nepal’s largest employer and top foreign exchange earner in the 1980s and 1990s.10 The Swiss established production centers and a trading company to manage import–export operations. Initially under DftZ management, the company was later handed over to Tibetan ownership. The trading company developed a permanent sales network and rapidly expanded both domestic and international demand for Tibetan carpets.
In 1972, the Swiss established the Snow Lion Foundation which remains the Central Tibetan Administration’s main development partner for Tibetan communities in Nepal.
The Swiss Red Cross, another key player, implemented refugee projects in Nepal but transferred most responsibilities to the Nepalese Red Cross by 1968.
A notable Swiss initiative was the Tibetan carpet industry in Nepal, which became Nepal’s largest employer and top foreign exchange earner in the 1980s and 1990s. The Swiss established production centers and a trading company to manage import–export operations.
A Balancing Act
Switzerland was one of the first Western countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC), establishing relations on January 17, 1950. While committed to its long-standing policy of neutrality and pragmatic diplomacy, Switzerland also upheld a “long humanitarian tradition” of offering refuge to those persecuted for religious or political beliefs. This dual commitment sometimes placed Bern in a delicate position - seeking to preserve ties with Beijing while remaining true to its humanitarian values.
From the early 1960s to the early 1990s, Switzerland carefully balanced its approach to Tibet and the Dalai Lama. Chinese officials repeatedly pressed Swiss authorities over issues like Tibet House, Tibetan children at Pestalozzi, the “Tibet ruft um Hilfe” campaign, aid projects in Nepal, the Tibet Office, refugee resettlement, and the Dalai Lama’s visits.
Although Switzerland played a pioneering role in resettling Tibetan refugees and supporting community initiatives, it was also cautious in responding to certain Tibetan requests. Entry permits for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visits in 1968 (for the inauguration of the Tibetan Institute of Rikon) and in 1972 were denied11, and his first visit in October 1973 took place under specific conditions. A request by the Tibetan leadership to receive a higher number of Tibetan refugees than the 1,000 authorized was declined,12 and meetings between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Federal Council did not occur until August 19, 1991.13
Conclusion:
Switzerland’s quiet but decisive role in creating the largest Tibetan exile community outside Asia stands as one of the great untold humanitarian achievements of the 20th century. Guided by a blend of political foresight, grassroots mobilization, and genuine compassion, this small neutral nation not only offered safe haven to thousands of refugees but also helped lay the foundations for thriving Tibetan settlements in India and Nepal. Yet the Swiss–Tibetan story is also one of careful diplomatic balancing—support for humanitarian principles tempered by the realities of maintaining relations with Beijing. It is a reminder that even the most principled actors must sometimes navigate the narrow space between moral conviction and geopolitical constraint.
The successful establishment of the Tibetan community in Switzerland was made possible through the dedication of countless individuals and organizations, far too many to name here. Among the most significant were the International Committee of the Red Cross, Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Aid to Tibetans, Pestalozzi Children's Village in Trogen, Association for Tibetan Homes, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Caritas Switzerland, as well as individuals such as the the Kuhn family, Toni Hagen, Otto Wenger, Charles Aeschimann and Heinrich Harrer.
Today, the Tibetan community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein stands not only as one of the largest Tibetan diasporas worldwide but also among the most prosperous and well-integrated. That morning at Stadthalle Bülach, the parking lot had several sleek, high-end cars - BMWs, Mercedes and Audis - reflecting the community’s economic success. Yet, despite this progress, the concerns voiced by Tibetan elders in the 1960s about the gradual erosion of identity, language, and culture remain urgent. A new generation of Swiss-Tibetans now lives across 23 communities, but unlike many Tibetan communities in North America, Switzerland lacks a dedicated cultural center to serve as a social and spiritual anchor. The creation of such a facility, the first of its kind in Europe, would meet a widely recognized need: to provide a gathering place that preserves language and traditions, strengthens social bonds, and supports integration into Swiss society without sacrificing Tibetan identity.
Unlike many Tibetan communities in North America, Switzerland lacks a dedicated cultural center to serve as a social and spiritual anchor. The creation of such a facility, Europe’s first of its kind, would meet a widely recognized need: to provide a gathering place that preserves language and traditions, strengthens social bonds, and supports integration into Swiss society without sacrificing Tibetan identity.
Lastly, the story of the Swiss-Tibetan journey underscores the profound contributions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan elders. Confronted with the immense challenge of caring for tens of thousands of refugees - many arriving in India and Nepal with little more than the clothes on their backs - the Tibetan leadership worked tirelessly to safeguard their people’s welfare. In the Swiss government and its people, they found a compassionate and generous ally whose support proved invaluable during those critical early years.
(The author would like to sincerely thank the Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum and the Pestalozzi Children's Village Foundation for kindly providing the images used in this article).
Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (Dodis), Minutes of the Federal Council, March 29, 1961, Dodis no. 18992, https://dodis.ch/18992
Schmidt, C. and Bauer, M. (2009), Exil Schweiz. Tibeter auf der Fluch. 12 Lebensgeschichten, Limmat Verlag, Zürich
Industrial Development Tendencies and Opportunities in Switzerland, UNIDO, 23 July 1979. p.28. https://www.unido.org/publications/ot/9634628/pdf
Tibeter im Glarnerland. Special Publication on the 30th Anniversary of the Tibetan Community in Glarus, Switzerland. Nima Changten, Sonam Gangshontsang-Rabsel, Diky Garne, Topge Pangri. February 2003.
Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (Dodis), Intégration des réfugiés tibétains en Suisse, Swiss Red Cross, January 1971, Dodis no. 35857, https://dodis.ch/35857
Beti, Luca. Tibetische Kinder für Schweizer Familien. 18. Juni 2018. SWI swissinfo.ch https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/gesellschaft/internationale-adoptionen_tibetische-kinder-fuer-schweizer-familien/44190124
Swiss Ambassador in New Delhi letter to head of Political Department (now the FDFA). Swiss Federal Archives (Tibet 6 (d)). https://www.bar.admin.ch/bar/de/home/suche.html#Tibet
Beti, Luca. Tibetische Kinder für Schweizer Familien. 18. Juni 2018. SWI swissinfo.ch https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/gesellschaft/internationale-adoptionen_tibetische-kinder-fuer-schweizer-familien/44190124
Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (Dodis),Übergabe Tibeterprojekte in Nepal, July 7, 1975, Dodis no. 40285, https://dodis.ch/40285.
Shrestha, Bijaya. Present Scenario of Nepalese Carpet Industry. The Economic Journal of Nepal, Vol.16, No.2, Issue 62, April-June 1993.
Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (Dodis),Projet de visite en Suisse du Dalaï-Lama (D. L.), August 8, 1973, Dodis no. 37701, https://dodis.ch/37701.
Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (Dodis),Weiterführung IKRK-Aktion Nepal - Beratung in den tibetischen Siedlungen und Gesellschaften durch schweizerische Mitarbeiter (10. Phase), February 6, 1974, Dodis no. 40283, https://dodis.ch/40283
Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland (Dodis),Der Vorsteher des EDA, Bundesrat René Felber, empfängt den Dalai Lama, August 19, 1991, Dodis no. 60350, https://dodis.ch/60350.
Very detailed and very easy-reading article wrote by Keydor la. It looks that he lives most of his time here in switzerland. Yes, it is quite true that tibetan live in switzerland dearly lacked tibetan Community Hall or cultural centre where tibetan from every corners of switzerland can enjoy preserving their traditional vibes and languages, identy and ect.
Anyhow, keydor la, please keep writing our stories which is in danger to diminish slowly.