Switzerland

Chaplin, Charles Spencer

The Chaplin half-brothers started out in variety as children - their parents were in show business - and went on to long and successful careers in America. Sydney was a straigh... [more]

inCalifornia Want to adopt? Pregnant? click here

Kinder der Landstraße

From 1926 to 1973 the Swiss child welfare foundation Pro Juventute (founded in 1912 and still functioning) promoted and carried out, with the active co-operation of the federal, cantonal, a... [more]

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques

Rousseau's mother died a few days after he was born (in Switzerland) and he was then raised by an aunt and uncle. Another version of his life says his father raised him until he was 10, ... [more]

Schuon, Frithjof (under Honorific Adoption)

It is not unusual for adults to be adopted as honorary members of a family, clan or tribe. There are two main types. One is the publicity-stunt adoption of politicians, usually western l... [more]

Verdingkinder

The institution of Verdingkinder (meaning "earning children") in Switzerland dates to the early 19th century, although it has roots going back to before the Reformation, and it wa... [more]

Westheimer, Ruth Siegel

Westheimer, known to millions as Dr. Ruth, is the most famous psychosexual therapist in the world. She was sent by her German parents to boarding school in Switzerland when she was 10, a... [more]

Wilkomirski, Binjamin

Wilkomirski (he is not sure whether this is in fact his real name) claims to be one of the many Jewish children orphaned by the Nazi Holocaust and one of the few hundred young children to s... [more]