Tashi Albertini, if you had to describe yourself not through titles or roles, but through a memory, a value, or an image particularly dear to you, what would you choose to introduce yourself with?
«I came to Switzerland as a child in 1962, together with my brother Dukar, after fleeing Tibet and finding refuge in India in 1960. The flight of the Dalai Lama and our people from the Chinese troops – as well as his attitude in exile in Dharamsala, India – profoundly affected my life.
There is one image that has remained indelibly imprinted on me: it shows the young Dalai Lama, just escaped from Tibet, looking out over the vast landscape of exile in India and giving a speech saying: “I have no country, I have no money, I have no power.”
What is not seen in that image is that the Dalai Lama already possessed a vision and a profound conviction "that we Tibetans, with truth, justice, and courage as our weapons, would one day regain Tibet's freedom. If I had to mention one image, it would undoubtedly be a memory."
Could you tell me about your educational and professional background, and the family influences that helped shape you?
I grew up with my brother in a well-to-do middle-class family, that of Giuseppe and Vera Kaiser Steinmann, my adoptive parents. After completing various training programs in business and languages, I graduated as a physiotherapist from the University Hospital of Zurich, later specializing in neurological rehabilitation. Following my marriage to Fausto Albertini, I took over the neurological department at his physiotherapy practice in Locarno.
My father introduced me to the world of private investments and stakes in family businesses. I accompanied him in numerous negotiations with companies and in his financial transactions with banks. I still vividly remember the passion and patience with which he explained his stock market operations to me: he was completely immersed in the calculations and analyses, while I was more drawn by his enthusiasm than by the numbers. That patience has borne fruit: today I manage the investments of foundations' assets and cultivate a keen interest in our country's economic policy.
From my mother, Vera Kaiser Steinmann, I learned the contemplation of nature, the careful observation of birds and flowers. She was deeply devoted to aesthetics, which she expressed in her way of being and in her daily gestures. From her, I learned moderation in behavior and the ability to distinguish between what is and what appears.
Was there a turning point in your life when you realized that philanthropy wasn't just a task, but a calling and an inner journey?
There wasn't a decisive moment: it was a gradual journey, made up of encounters, responsibilities, and reflections that developed over time. On this journey, the Dalai Lama—an important spiritual reference for me, reminding me of the essentiality of universal values such as compassion and generosity—along with many significant friendships, encouraged me to commit myself to our people. For me, philanthropy means allocating a portion of one's resources to the well-being of society, as a manifestation of an attitude that places the common good at its center. I deeply believe that each of us has the opportunity to contribute to this. From a young age, I have been involved in various Tibetan organizations. In 1997, together with friends from Ticino, I founded the Ticino Tibet Association, which I directed until 2016 with Francesca Machado. The association supports the rights of the Tibetan people and, more generally, democracy, freedom of expression, and human rights. Through my foundations, I continue this commitment today. Managing their assets in accordance with the wishes of their founders is a privilege and a great responsibility: an authentic art of "giving," to be practiced with heart and wisdom.
In 2001, together with your father, you founded the Giuseppe Kaiser Foundation, which also works in the field of social integration. What was the motivation behind the foundation and what was the underlying idea?
My father, born in 1919, arrived in Switzerland at the age of two: he was an Italian orphan and was adopted by a Zurich family. Despite difficult initial circumstances, he managed to build a very successful life.
The generosity of his adoptive parents opened many doors for him, allowing him to look to the future and seize the opportunities he encountered along the way. With the Giuseppe Kaiser FoundationMy father wanted to support people who faced similar challenges, so that they too could access opportunities that would otherwise have been closed to them. The foundation promotes talent, culture, and social support, helping deserving young people and those in need, a choice I completely identify with.
How do principles such as inclusion and human dignity influence your involvement with foundations?
I am part of several foundations committed to social, cultural, and humanitarian issues. I chair the Giuseppe Kaiser Foundation and the Staub Kaiser Foundation, and I am vice president of the Kimongo Hilfe Foundation. These commitments reflect my desire to support people, projects, and communities that work to create opportunities and build bridges between different worlds. Many disadvantaged social groups remain excluded from public welfare systems, often because their needs go beyond what is expected of the majority. My foundations must have the courage to support innovative projects, while respecting their goals, even when success is not guaranteed. The initiatives we support aim to make the world more supportive and dignified for all. It is in this area that we want to make a difference. One example is the Wagerenhof Foundation's "Freizeitangebot" (leisure activities) project, which offers people with disabilities personalized leisure activities and programs, going beyond standard services and truly valuing their humanity.
Your foundations also support organizations like TruePicture. How did the decision to support this organization come about, and what were the reasons behind it?
The photographic reportages and images of Manuel Bauer, founder of TruePicture, have always deeply impressed me. Manuel Bauer is the Dalai Lama's photographer of choice, known for his ability to capture the most intimate and significant moments in the Tibetan spiritual leader's life with depth and respect. The success of the film on the Dalai Lama is also due to his visual sensitivity and his precise gaze behind the camera. Wisdom of Happiness, whose world premiere took place on October 8, 2024, as part of the Zurich Film Festival in Zurich. From my point of view, this film is a living testimony to the wisdom of His Holiness, a means that will also allow future generations to approach his teachings.
Four years ago, Manuel Bauer founded TruePicture, a mentoring program for young, committed photojournalists. Its goal is to strengthen their professional careers and enable them to produce photojournalism with clear social and human rights relevance. The goal is to train a new generation of photojournalists committed to defending human rights and democracy—a goal that perfectly aligns with the mission of our foundations.
Why is it important to you personally to support photojournalism, and what impact do you hope it will have on society in the future?
TruePicture invites new generations to rigorously observe reality, to document it responsibly, and to bring to light stories that often remain invisible. Through workshops, mentoring, awards, and a dedicated cultural program, it offers concrete tools for developing a critical and informed perspective, capable of engaging with global issues.
TruePicture is an invitation to take action and have the courage to look where others prefer not to look, in Switzerland and around the world (www.truepicture.org).
I believe that this is one of the keys to a more democratic and peaceful world. This organization's mandate also encompasses the memory of the Dalai Lama's story, which I mentioned at the beginning, and my personal credo: to look carefully, act courageously, and inspire others to act.
La constellation of foundations in which Tashi Albertini Kaiser plays a role
Joseph Kaiser Foundation
It supports people in need and young talents in the cultural, artistic, and scientific fields. It promotes projects and awards that foster growth, education, and social inclusion.
Staub Kaiser Stiftung
It supports social, educational, and intergenerational initiatives that strengthen community cohesion and well-being, with a particular focus on local projects with high social impact.
Stiftung Kimongo Hilfe
It operates in the Kimongo region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, supporting education, health, and local development. It collaborates with local organizations to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable communities.
