SSB General Assembly 2022

Saturday, June 11, 2022 at Pädagogische Hochschule Zürich (PHZH)

The General Assembly 2022 of the Society Switzerland-Bhutan in Zurich elected the Board of the society for the period of 2022 – 2024. Kathrin Frey, Franz Gähwiler, Ruth Schwitter, Claudio Zingg and Dieter Zürcher were re-elected. Thinley Chenzom Meier and Tina Roner will be joining the board as new members. Claudio Zingg was re-elected as the President of SSB.

 Board 2022 - 2024 of SSB

Karsay Dawa, the interim President of the newly founded Bhutanese Association in Switzerland (BAS), addressed the members of SSB and extended his greetings from BAS.
HE Ambassador Tenzin R Wangchuk briefed the Assembly about current issues in Bhutan in conversation with Claudio Zingg.
One of the highlights of the GA was the screening of the impressive film: “Country Life in the Bumthang Valley 1974 – 1982” filmed by the SSB member Marie-Noëlle Frei-Pont during her project stay for Foundation Pro Bhutan / HELVETAS. The film is a touching document of life in Bhutan more than 40 years ago.

Impressions Presentation "Nomadic Health Camp Bumthang 2019"
(8.4.2022 - Urs und Béatrice Lütolf at Songtsen House)

Béatrice and Urs Lütolf were in Bhutan in October 2019 for the evaluation of the long-term support project of the Bumthang Hospital. They were able to join the "Nomadic Health Camp", for which the health staff of the hospital climbs up to the nomads in the north of the district on foot and with pack animals during ten days.
They reported on the impressive days with the health professionals among the yak herders, the medical possibilities and the crossing of passes at an altitude of almost 5,000 meters. The speakers were impressed by the team spirit of the "Health-Professionals", who bring health care to the nomads in remote areas and thus also make them aware of the care of the government.

Living in Quarantine and Lockdown in Bhutan (January 2022)

Marianne Frei and the President of SSB Claudio Zingg are sharing their experience during their stay in Bhutan at the beginning of the year 2022.

Download the report here

Impressions: "Swiss Bhutanese Classroom"
Friday, 3.12.2021

SSB was happy to present „Swiss-Bhutanese Classroom“ a student exchange between ELC Highschool Thimphu and Kantonsschule Alpenquai Lucerne. In January of the year 2020 12 Bhutanese students visited Switzerland followed by a visit of 12 Swiss students in Bhutan.
The two excellent students Cora Elliott and Nadja Kretschmer with their enthusiastic teacher Tommi Mendel presented their experiences and insights into the Bhutanese culture and the exchange with their counterparts in Bhutan. Afterwards the two students presented their graduation thesis on „Happiness in the Classroom“ (Cora Elliott) and „The belief in spirits in the traditional medicine of Bhutan“ (Nadja Kretschmer).