Swiss Alps Offer Solace and Strength to Refugees Through Mountaineering

A unique initiative in the Swiss Alps is helping refugees from conflict-ridden countries find healing and community through mountaineering.

The Geneva-based non-profit, Peaks4All, utilizes alpine climbs to foster integration and help exiles from nations like Afghanistan, Iran, and Ukraine overcome deep-seated trauma, The Guardian reported. Participants report finding freedom, calm, and a renewed sense of purpose on the challenging mountain peaks.

Peaks4All, co-founded by mountaineers Laëtitia Lam and Clémence Delloye, began as a small project and has grown into a vibrant community of over 200 refugees from diverse backgrounds, supported by 40 volunteers and 30 mountain guides. The program addresses the isolation many refugees face in Switzerland, offering training and courses that bridge gaps between refugee and local communities. A significant success has been the increase in female refugee participation, now exceeding 40%.

For many mountaineering provides a profound sense of relief and proof of inner resilience, while others found newfound strength through climbing after fleeing their troubled home countries.

The initiative highlights the growing recognition of nature’s role in trauma recovery and mental well-being. Participants describe the mountains as a place of peace and happiness, where they can forge connections and experience a sense of belonging in a “global village,” irrespective of their origin or language. Peaks4All aims to continue expanding these opportunities, asserting that mountains hold no nationality and offer a universal sense of home and healing.