Kinder der Landstrasse

Kinderdlandstrasse plakat

Kinder der Landstrasse

Formation	1926
Founded at	Switzerland
Dissolved	1973

Kinder der Landstrasse (Children of the Country Road) was a controversial project initiated in Switzerland in 1926 by the Swiss foundation Pro Juventute. The project aimed to assimilate the Yenish people, a traditionally nomadic group, by forcibly removing their children from their families and placing them in foster homes or orphanages.

History

The project was founded in 1926 and continued until 1973. It was based on the belief that the Yenish lifestyle was detrimental to the children’s development. The children were often taken without the consent of their parents and placed in institutions or with foster families, where they were expected to adopt a sedentary lifestyle and integrate into mainstream Swiss society.

Objectives

The primary objective of the Kinder der Landstrasse project was to eradicate the nomadic lifestyle of the Yenish people. The authorities believed that by removing the children from their families and upbringing them in a controlled environment, they could assimilate them into the broader Swiss culture.

Controversy

The project has been widely criticized for its methods and the trauma it inflicted on the children and their families. Many of the children suffered from emotional and psychological distress due to the forced separation from their parents and the cultural dislocation they experienced. The project is now considered a dark chapter in Swiss history, reflecting the broader issues of discrimination and forced assimilation faced by minority groups.

Legacy

In 1986, the Swiss government officially acknowledged the injustices committed under the Kinder der Landstrasse project. Efforts have since been made to reconcile with the affected families and to preserve the cultural heritage of the Yenish people. The project has been the subject of numerous studies, documentaries, and public discussions, highlighting the need for greater sensitivity and respect for cultural diversity.

See also

• Yenish people
• Pro Juventute
• Forced assimilation
• Cultural heritage