News Update

: Published: 08 January 2024

new whattodo icon Know-it-all's WHAT TO DO in the area. LISA’S PICK OF THE WEEK (8-14 January 2024). More events are listed on the website www.knowitall.ch under our CALENDARS. Please give credit to ©Know-it-all passport® for putting this info together if you forward it or use it in a newsletter of any kind. Thank you.
www.knowitall.ch/calendarevents
www.knowitall.ch/calendarkids
www.knowitall.ch/calendaradults
www.knowitall.ch/calendarholidays

🤸‍♀️ Thanks to our sponsor in the middle of this page: Growing Together Montessori School - Le Grand-Saconnex - OPEN DAY Thursday 25 January 2024 from 17h30-19h - Preschool, School, English classes, Parent/Toddler Group

: Published: 31 August 2023

one person

1 person can save 9 lives : Source 2022 Annual Report SwissTransplant, Fig 3.4

Organ donation in brief
Whether you are for or against organ donation, the important thing is that you make a decision. This decision provides security and clarity, and relieves your loved ones in an emergency.

In Switzerland, it is possible to donate up to six organs: heart, lung, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and small intestine. The pancreas can be transplanted in its entirety or as a cluster of isolated pancreatic islet cells (e.g. insulin-producing cells). Transplantable tissues and cells include corneas, heart valves and large blood vessels, bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

Organ and tissue donation is only possible if the deceased has given his or her consent and the donor's brain death has been established with certainty. Organ harvesting leaves only a scar from the operation, allowing loved ones to bid farewell to the deceased with dignity and serenity.

: Published: 16 March 2023

LH2

Léman hope is a project of the Chiki Foundation that helps young people rebuilding their lives after cancer through sailing.

In Switzerland, every year, 350 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer. Once treatment ends, going back to “normal" life isn’t possible. The long term affects of cancer on physical, emotional, social, and mental wellbeing is huge. The feeling of being different and alone is too often a reality.

Léman hope wants to encourage and inspire those young people to help them rebuild self-confidence, through a 5-day and 4-night sailing trip on Lake Geneva. It is a life adventure where young people connect with others who have also experienced cancer, participate in life onboard and realise what they are capable of (socially and physically), learn new things, support each other and get away from home for a few days in a safe and caring atmosphere accompanied by an experience skipper and a monitor.

Priscille Varillon de Macías, Directrice de projet Léman hope, explains, "We started in 2020 with 2 boats and 8 young people from the French part of Switzerland; in 2021 we welcomed 24 young people; we then doubled the places in 2022 and organised, for the first time, some German-speaking boat crews for Swiss German youngsters. In 2023, we will have 64 young people coming from the French, German, and maybe even the Italian part of Switzerland!"

: Published: 08 December 2022

Sue Lake, notebynote, has become an institution among the International community who love musical concerts, events, and singalongs. Her friendly, open nature encourages everyone 'to give it a try' and to challenge themselves to excel and grow at whatever level they are.

Christmas Songs and Carols Sing-a-long
Sue writes, "As far as I know it's the only Christmas event in the area which is a 'sing-a-long' rather than a concert, where the audience join the songs. I started the event because I met so many people who missed the opportunities to sing Christmas songs and carols with other people. So I created a community event for all ages to come together to sing just for fun.

"Please put our annual notebynote Christmas sing-a-long in your diaries. Our previous virtual Christmas sing-a-longs were an enormous success and being able to be in person this year will be extra special."

notebynote's Christmas Songs and Carols Sing-a-long
Saurday, 10 December 2022
14h
Chéserex, VD
It is a free entrance event, no tickets and no advance registration required just turn up on the day. We do ask for donations to cover the costs of the event (renting the salle communale etc.) so we're not looking to make a profit, just to break even.

: Published: 13 November 2022

When we heard about ESCA CancerSupport's new offerings, we caught up with them to find out more about the Work and Cancer coaching service and the heART Space.

Why did ESCA CS feel it was important to start Work and Cancer service?

The number of young people diagnosed with cancer is increasing and more and more people are confronted with the illness in their mid-career. The work place and the job can restore a sense of normality and stability, as well as contributing to financial independence. However, often cancer patients find working during treatments and/or returning to work after long-term sick leave, a struggle as they deal with cancer’s short- or longer-term side effects. With the continuous stigma surrounding cancer and illness in general, talking to managers, HR or colleagues can be difficult to manage. Experience shows that specialized support contributes significantly to reconciling work and cancer and reducing anxiety.

Switzerland is home to many international companies with a workforce that may not always be able to access services in the national languages. Often people feel lonely and separated, outside of their native language environment, far from family and close support networks. In recent years, the requests ESCA CS have received around topics related to work and cancer have multiplied.