Association Back to the Roots
Adoptees from Sri Lanka in Switzerland founded the association Back to the Roots on 24 February 2018. The aim of the association is to work together for the interests of adopted people from Sri Lanka in Switzerland and to exchange and support each other. It is committed to recognising and making amends for the injustice that has occurred and fights to ensure that this does not happen again.
Back to the Roots association runs an interest group. It had 530 members at the end of 2020. Of these, 189 people are adopted from Sri Lanka and 28 other adopted people come from other countries.
Languages: German, French, English
Languages: German, French, English
Languages: German, English
Languages: German, English, French
Languages: French, German, English
In 2020, the Federal Council published a report highlighting the shortcomings of the authorities in adoption procedures from Sri Lanka. The report was based on a study by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences, which, commissioned by the Federal Office of Justice, had examined intermediation practices in adoptions from Sri Lanka between 1973 and 1997.
Since then, more and more adoptees have turned to Back to the Roots for advice. Because of the need to offer support to the people concerned, in January 2022 Back to the Roots obtained funding from the Confederation and the cantons.
The funding is guaranteed for three years and will enable people adopted in Sri Lanka to benefit from a uniform programme of guidance and support in Switzerland. The aim of the programme is to support the people concerned as they come to terms with their own history, and to accompany them on the demanding journey of tracing their origins.
Because of the many illegal procedures, it is generally impossible for the people concerned to search for their traditional origins. This is why specific advice and explanations are needed to provide adoptees with adequate support. This includes, for example, an in-depth analysis of existing documents, explanations of the legal situation, etc.
Are you from Sri Lanka and have you been adopted in Switzerland? Would you like to find out more about your origins? Please contact us on info@backtotheroots.net
«I've never had the opportunity to meet so many other people who have also been adopted! "It feels good to be able to ask my questions in this protected setting and I feel understood here". "Most of the time, I find it hard to meet strangers. Here, I've experienced that we all have the same background, and that creates connections. A totally new experience for me!»
Back to the Roots organizes regular networking events for Swiss adoptees. It is always important to provide a protected setting - only adoptees are invited to these meetings. Many adoptees meet other adoptees for the first time at these events.
Meetings are always held in the Berne region: For the association, which operates at national level, Berne is located in the city centre and is easily accessible for almost everyone concerned. The locations are situated close to the railway station, which means that everyone can get there independently.
Announcements are always sent by e-mail (newsletter) and are also advertised on social media. So sign up today for our newsletter to receive information as soon as possible!
Due to the lack of funding for a support programme for adopted persons from other countries of origin, we offer a telephone hotline. We will take up your concerns in a free preliminary discussion (approx. 30 minutes) and give you options for obtaining further information:
Every Wednesday morning 8 - 10 a.m.: +41 76 373 79 23
For further clarification and counselling, we offer support under the following conditions: