While looking for some exquisite silk in down town Bern we accidentally got attracted by a little shop. When we opened the door we were received by a small, tender woman with shining eyes – Pia Schmid!
«After having worked for two years with Afghan refugees on the Indian
subcontinent I couldn’t forget the plight and injustice witnessed with my own
eyes any more. As a result it became my deepest wish to provide a chance for
sustainable development for people at the lowest level of society. With our
help many kids without any future became professional tailors, hitherto
homeless and sick became nurses and medical assistants and many an orphan turned
responsible guide in the community. And I’m equally touched by the engagement
of all the friends in India as well as here in Switzerland who helped in realizing
my vision.»
Pia Schmid
In 2001 Pia founded the NGO JayaHo, which is engaged in helping the poorest of the poor in North and Southeast India, as well as in Bangladesh and back home in Switzerland. The goal is to integrate those who were stigmatized as Pariah and enable a decent life for them. “Dignity, Creativity and Fight against Poverty” is JayaHo’s mission. Sewing workshops, schools and emergency help points for the poor have been established, which provide education, jobs and first aid. After almost two decades of engagement by now it’s already the next generation finding employment and often a home in the facilities.
The Rohinga refugee crisis in Myanmar has triggered an extraordinary response from Pia and JayaHo who have set up shelters for them across the border in Bangladesh, extraordinary personal risk notwithstanding, since the refugees are not wanted there either. But Pia does not care, inspired by the „feu sacré” of unwavering altruism she helps the needy where it is most urgent and does not shy away from putting her own wellbeing on the line for it.
Basel, Nov.
2018, HR
