Foundation
Enabling children to grow up in a home without violence. Enabling people with schizophrenia to participate in society. Enabling patients with a rare brain tumour to have the best possible chances of recovery.
About us
The Guido Fluri Foundation pursues three goals that are all connected to founder Guido Fluri’s own life story. The entrepreneur established the Foundation in 2010. It is self-financed and brings all of its projects to fruition without external fundraising.
All of the Foundation’s initiatives aim to profoundly improve the individual life circumstances of those affected. This includes: strengthening families so that children can grow up in a home without violence; facilitating transparency and progress in medicine to give those with a rare type of brain tumour the best possible chance of recovery; providing support to family caregivers, so that people with schizophrenia can participate in society.
The Guido Fluri Foundation came to public attention in 2014 with the launch of the Reparation Initiative, the purpose of which was to obtain financial compensation for Verdingkinder (children who were subjected to child indentured servitude) and victims of compulsory social measures, and to facilitate a scientific reappraisal of the historical situation. In 2015, the Federal Parliament adopted a counter-proposal that included the core points of the initiative.
Other well-known projects of the Foundation are the IGAN Interest Group for those affected by acoustic neuroma, the KESCHA advisory hub for people in conflict with Switzerland’s Child and Adult Protection Authority (CAPA), the information and counselling platform Living with Schizophrenia, and the European Justice Initiative.
Milestones
Guido Fluri’s commitment to society began in 2007 with the launch of the interest group IGAN. He founded the Guido Fluri Foundation in 2010 and has since been supporting people who are affected in the Foundation’s three focus areas: “Taking action against brain tumours”, “Violence against children” and “Living with schizophrenia”.
2005
2007
Interest Group Acoustic Neuroma (IGAN)
In just five years, IGAN has become the leading platform in Europe for people affected by acoustic neuroma, and for people and institutions who are involved in research and treatment for this type of brain tumour. The website receives over 5 million hits and over 250,000 visitors a year.
21st July 2010
Birth of the Guido Fluri Foundation
The Foundation is established at its current location in Cham by entrepreneur Guido Fluri.
2010
Historical reappraisal of children’s homes in Switzerland
With the help of testimonials from former children in institutions, as well as documents, pictures and literature sources, the past failings, abuses and assaults in the social sector are examined for the first time. The renowned historian Dr. Thomas Huonker is the project leader. The project is funded by the Foundation as its initiator.
May 2011
The Guido Fluri Foundation acquires the former Mümliswil children’s home
2011
Research contract for tinnitus treatment
The Neurosurgery Clinic in Tübingen, led by Professor Marcos Soares Tatagiba, receives CHF 250,000 in research funding to improve the treatment of tinnitus, a condition that affects many patients with an acoustic neuroma.
2012
The “Social Integration with Schizophrenia” network is launched.
The network aims to raise awareness of schizophrenia in society and to make it easier for individuals and their families to live with the condition.
June 2012
Licence to practise obtained for Prof. Dr. Med. Abolghassem Sepehrnia
After intensive efforts, the Guido Fluri Foundation succeeds in obtaining a professional licence to practise in Switzerland for the internationally recognised brain tumour specialist. Professor Sepehrnia is one of the world’s most experienced neurosurgeons. Thanks to his move to Switzerland, it is now possible for patients with an acoustic neuroma to be operated on in this country by a surgeon with a wealth of case experience.
May 2013
Opening of the Verdingkinder Memorial Children’s Home – the first national memorial of its kind in Switzerland
The former Mümliswil children’s home opens its doors as the first memorial site for Verdingkinder and former residents of children’s homes in Switzerland. Acquired by the Guido Fluri Foundation about two years earlier, the building was converted into a memorial. It provides visitors with an insight into the former failings and abuse perpetrated in the institution. The memorial includes an extensive exhibition that illustrates the findings of the historical reappraisal commissioned by the Foundation.
March 2014
Official launch of the Reparation Initiative
As a continuation of their efforts for reparations, a non-partisan committee launches the Reparation Initiative for Verdingkinder and victims of compulsory social measures. The initiative is managed and fully funded by the Guido Fluri Foundation. Within a very short time, numerous committed volunteers, including many former victims, collect the required 100,000 signatures.
September 2016
Adoption of the counter-proposal
Following National Council approval, the Council of States adopts the Federal Council’s counter-proposal, which provides compensation to the tune of 300 million Swiss francs for the victims. It also includes measures to enable the nation to come to terms with this dark period in its history. The initiators withdraw their initiative, as the counter-proposal provides more immediate help for the elderly and infirm victims. The Reparation Initiative thus draws to a successful close.
Image: Keystone
January 2017
Launch of KESCHA
The Guido Fluri Foundation establishes an advisory service for individuals who are in conflict with CAPA, with guardians or with the court because of an ordered protection measure. The new advisory service for child and adult safeguarding (KESCHA) is launched in collaboration with Integras Fachverband Sozial- und Sonderpädagogik (Integras Professional Association for Social and Special Education), Stiftung Kinderschutz Schweiz (Swiss Foundation for Child Protection), Kinderanwaltschaft Schweiz (Swiss Children’s Advocacy), PACH Pflege- und Adoptivkinder Schweiz (PACH Foster and Adoptive Children Switzerland), and the Konferenz für Kindes- und Erwachsenenschutz (Conference on Child and Adult Protection).
March 2019
The Pope apologises to Swiss abuse victims
For the first time in history, the Pope receives a group of Swiss victims of abuse. During this private audience, which came about thanks to the efforts of the Guido Fluri Foundation, the head of the Catholic Church asks for forgiveness. He endorses the zero tolerance approach demanded by the victims. The meeting is an important sign to the victims that the Church fully recognises the substantial suffering inflicted on them within the Church setting.
Image: Servizio Fotografico - Vatican Media
June 2019
Launch of Living with Schizophrenia
The new information platform Living with Schizophrenia includes a comprehensive collection of questions frequently asked by families and caregivers supporting individuals with schizophrenia. The answers are contributed by those with schizophrenia, as well as relatives and professionals, who share their experiences, opinions and knowledge. The platform is designed to help families and caregivers to cope with the illness.
September 2021
Launch of the Justice Initiative
At an international meeting in Switzerland, victims’ groups from all over Europe launch the large-scale “Justice Initiative”. For the first time ever, this political initiative facilitates comprehensive, pan-European tackling of child abuse, especially instances that have taken place in state and church institutions. The European initiative is supported by the Guido Fluri Foundation.
January 2022
“Caregivers” – Verdingkinder helping Verdingkinder
The Guido Fluri Foundation and Pro Senectute in the canton of Bern launch the pilot project “Caregivers”. Specially trained “caregivers”, who have been personally affected by compulsory social measures in the care system, empathetically support other affected individuals with everyday activities – either in person or via the Internet.
March 2022
War in Ukraine: Over 200 people evacuated
Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Guido Fluri Foundation is providing assistance. With several evacuation flights, over 200 vulnerable children and mothers are able to travel to Switzerland and find safety. A large number of children and mothers are temporarily accommodated in the former children's home in Mümliswil.
April 2022
National hotline clickandstop.ch is launched
The platform clickandstop.ch is the online reporting centre against sexual violence against children and young people. It offers children, young people and parents affected by abuse, as well as professionals and teachers, an easy way to report websites with criminal, paedophilic content.
September 2023
Zentrum für Familien in Trennung ZFIT [Center for Separating Families]: Lighthouse project in the canton of Bern
Every year, the Swiss authorities have to intervene in hundreds of cases because parents in separation are so deeply divided that the well-being of their children is at risk. The new Centre for Families in Separation ZFIT in Bern supports parents in finding a sustainable solution for their children together.
December 2023
540,000 signatures for a better protection against online child abuse
At the European Parliament in Brussels, the Justice Initiative handed over a petition calling for better protection of children online. Over half a million people from across Europe are therefore demanding that the European Union takes a leading position worldwide.
January 2024
Council of Europe calls for abuse cases to be addressed following the Swiss model
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which comprises 46 states with over 600 million citizens, has called for past abuse cases to be addressed following the Swiss model. This would mean that the suffering of survivors of child abuse in the member states would be officially recognised, that reparation payments would be made to the victims regardless of any statute of limitations, and that a comprehensive academic reappraisal would be carried out in each individual country. The groundbreaking recommendations of the Council of Europe correspond to the demands of the European Justice Initiative, which was launched by the Guido Fluri Foundation.
November 2024
Launch of independent contact point for children in care
The Guido Fluri Foundation is given the mandate by the Salvation Army to run the independent contact point for children in care. The contact point is aimed at people who were placed in children's homes run by the Salvation Army in the past. These people can come forward if they were subjected to physical, psychological or sexual abuse during this time.
December 2024
A decisive step for child protection in Europe
At a large international conference at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, numerous European countries presented their measures to investigate and prevent child abuse. Over 100 ministers, ambassadors, political representatives, NGOs and victims from all over Europe took part. The Federal Council, the Federal Office of Justice and the Guido Fluri Foundation showed how reappraisal can work.
2023