Soirées in Switzerland
I have written before about Pamir Bridges, a Swiss charity that aims to renovate bridges in rural areas, often high in the mountains, in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.
Last week I received the notification of four “soirées”, or Cultural Evenings, they are organizing in March and their Annual General Meeting which will be held in April.
As it is their tenth anniversary, it’s obviously a big occasion for them. Since they were founded in 2001, they have identified over 70 bridges in need of attention and managed to repair 40 of them. They have also held some 45 such soirées in Switzerland, France and the USA; provided support for Ecotourism activities in the region and arranged for the translation of a book by Ellie Maillart into Kyrgyz.
If anyone happens to be in the area at the time and has some free time, they offer the chance for a nice evening out, learning a little about life in the remote mountains of Central Asia as well as Pamir Bridges and their work.
- 16th March – in Solothurn – at the Landhaus (Säulenhalle), Landhausquai 4, (about 3 minutes on foot from the station)
- 17th March – in Sursee – at Dägersteinstrasse 1, Pfarreiheim Sursee
- 18th March – in Lucerne – at Lukassaal, Murbacherstasse
- 19th March – in Basle – at the Union and Cultural Center
The soirées are all free and all start at 19:30, and the programme is:
19:30 “A shepherd’s life” – a film by Serge Musy
19:50 “Expeditions to the Little Pamir of Afghanistan” a film by Dao Truong and Bernard Repond
Intermission
20:45 “Bridge 53″, bridges in the Pamir – a film by Omar Barubaev
Also, Ishen Obolbekov, a Kyrgyz horseman from Barskoon on the southern shores of Lake Issyk Kul, will be available to answer questions about Kyrgyzstan.
Handicrafts from Kyrgyzstan will be available for sale with proceeds going towards supporting the work of “Pamir’s Bridges”.
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The Annual General Meeting is being held on April 6th in Fribourg, I the Panorama Hall at the NH Hotel, (Ex-EUROTEL), 14 Grandes Places – just a three minute walk from the station. It will be followed by Dinner and another Soirée.
The programme starts at 17:30 with the usual business matters, (minutes of the last meeting, reports from the President on the year’s activities and a financial report, as well as plans for the future and elections of officers. Although it’s technically a meeting of the Society, it’s open to members of the public. It will be followed at 18:30 by a dinner, (37 Swiss Francs – without drinks), and then at 19:30 by a “conference” and films.
20:00 «Afghanistan – Europe: drug roads», a presentation by René Cagnat, a writer and specialist on Central Asia.
20:45 “Expeditions to the Little Pamir of Afghanistan”, a film by Dao Truong and Bernard Repond
21:15 Intermission
21:30 “Bridge 53″, bridges in the Pamir – a film by Omar Barubaev
Ishen Obolbekov will be available to answer questions once more, as well the chance to buy handmade handicrafts. There will also be an exhibition of photographs by Dao Truong.
Oh, and there will be a collection made for the benefit of the Association’s funds.
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You can find out more about Pamir Bridges and their work on: http://www.pamirbridges.ch/ or they can be contacted by email: or for more information you could call Bernard Repond in Switzerland on: 079 304 84 04
Bishkek