Swiss Stories

Silvesterchläuse

Urnäsch’s magical ‘double New Year’s Eve’

Society
The Silvesterchläuse of the village of Urnäsch in the Swiss canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden celebrate the New Year twice. It is an old tradition going strong again.
portrait sarah marquis

Sarah Marquis, always on the move

Environment
Books, lectures, and of course expeditions: Swiss explorer Sarah Marquis never stops. We caught up with her before she hit the road again.
SESAME, the CERN of the Middle East

SESAME, CERN of Middle East

Science & Education
In One Thousand and One Nights, ‘open sesame’ are the magic words that allow Ali Baba to access a hidden treasure of untold riches. In the 1990s this classic tale inspired physicists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva to ask whether the CERN model of science and peace could be replicated in the Middle East. It took years of hard work and complex negotiations to bring the dream to life. The new centre is called SESAME.

by Niccolò Iorno

copyright Guillaume Megevand

The Swiss athlete who runs like a Kenyan

Society
Julien Wanders from Geneva has been training in Kenya since his late teens. Now, at the age of 23, he is already on first-name terms with the world's top runners. This is his inspiring story.

by Bertrand Monnard

West of Juba, camp of Dulamaya. A distribution of seeds and tools kits is about to start. Displaced families are starting to gather close to an ICRC vehicule.

The Geneva Conventions: 70 years old and as relevant as ever

History
Switzerland has long been famous for its chocolate, watches and idyllic landscapes – and also for its humanitarian tradition. A signal example was its key role in the adoption of the Geneva Conventions, which are celebrating their 70th anniversary this year. Since their adoption in 1949, the Conventions have saved countless lives in armed conflicts, but ensuring compliance with them remains a complex and long-term undertaking. Two Swiss Humanitarian Aid specialists share their insights from the field.
Teaser

The national gene bank

Environment
Humanity's future depends on the diversity of the species living on our planet, as they provide present and future generations with a food source and a healthy environment. In Switzerland, many varieties of plants are stored in the national gene bank maintained by Agroscope, the Swiss centre of excellence for agricultural research.
Élise Chabbey

Swiss pro cyclist and doctor, the double life of Élise Chabbey

Society
At 27 years old, Élise Chabbey from Geneva is already an accomplished multidisciplinary athlete. In 2012, she competed in canoeing and kayaking at the London Olympics. In 2017, she finished best Swiss female runner in the legendary Sierre-Zinal mountain race. In 2020, she worked as a doctor at the Geneva University Hospitals at the height of the coronavirus crisis, but this did not prevent her from becoming Swiss road cycling champion a few weeks later. Quite a double life.

by Bertrand Monnard