Mrs Clementina Kumin Bianchi, an exceptional woman, mother of the foundation board members Laura and Natalia, is the spiritual and material parent of « AClem foundation ». Mrs Kumin passed away on January 11, 1999 after a long illness and wished to entrust some of her wealth to the cause of poor children and suffering people. The foundation is named after her and was born because of her will expressed two weeks before her passing : a living bond with her daughters. An inheritance far more than financial … Clementina was a principled woman, beatiful and joyful, even if suffering was not a stranger in her life : Widow of Enrico at age of 40 she found support in a newly found faith, a spiritual hand, which followed her in the following 20 years. She devoted her life to her daughters, to her family, to literature, and to the least fortunate. The poignancy of her thoughts and the universality of her values are reflected in her writings, which she left us in her last will.
Since 1999, Laura and Rosario devote much of their time to furthering this cause which is integrated in their daily private and professional activities. It is thanks to the latter that Rosario was able implement a winning strategy aimed at providing a strong financial foundation to ACLEM and its mission. As of now, 55% of funds utilized each year to support the projects are personally donated by Laura and Rosario. An art company, Attica Art, has been created for the very purpose (see ethical links) of helping the 150 orphans of “Little Angels” in Uganda and the sixty Myanmar children feed themselves, obtain an education, and cure themselves. These are powerful means to reconnect with one’s human core.
Tassilo, Damiano and Leandro (Rosario’s grown-up sons) actively help AClem Foundation with fundraising and volunteer work.
In 2013, an “angel” joined the foundation; her name is Céline Gelli, a generous humanitarian professional who has taken over the operational direction of all projects on site and from Switzerland until 2018.
In the summer of 2017, Laurence Hurter joined the team having discovered each of the projects through humanitarian missions. A couple years later, in February 2019, Grace Rocoffort de Vinnière joined the AClem family after spending a month volunteering on the different projects in Uganda. They dedicate themselves with passion and dynamism, working mainly for the important actions carried out in Uganda.
Today, Laurence and Grace have taken over the operational direction and are dedicated to our projects as volunteers on various aspects of the foundation.
We all cultivate AClem’s values: hope, compassion and action.
It is said that travel broadens the mind. It also nourishes it and keeps you young. Rosario Boscacci, born on the shores of Lake Geneva in 1950, is a fine example of this proverb in action. Self-taught, as he likes to introduce himself, with a full and generous temperament, Rosario often reminds his friends that his successes and rebounds owe not to his diligence as a student, initially tumultuous and ultimately international, with time spent in locations such as Wiesbaden, Rome and Cambridge. He was born with the temperament of a carrier pigeon, always traveling following eclectic passions: ethnology, Africa, cinema and film production, art collection, poetry and the very process of creation in all its messy and glorious details.
It’s therefore not at all surprising that Rosario made a career as an entrepreneur, focusing on real estate development. Independent, cantankerous, and rebellious, this original individual with an admittedly “adventurous life”, is free of conventional modesty but possesses that natural elegance that comes with this attitude. An artist at heart, creative, but also “procreative” (he was the parent of five), Rosario enjoys life, love, adventure and money as sources for his artistic madness and for his steadily renewed generosity.
Laura Boscacci Kuemin is a mother of two children. Three, if you include her partner Rosario, an entrepreneur whose success and apparent seriousness hide a playful and humanist mind. Their youngest child, Zeno Ayrton, was born in 2006, six years after his older brother Evandro Enrico. Laura and Rosario love children (he has already 3 sons from two previous marriages). This is also why in 2000 they gave birth to another baby, the AClem Foundation. That was Laura’s mother last will, before she died in 1999. Mrs Clementina Kuemin wished to entrust some of her wealth to the cause of alleviating the suffering, whatever it might be, of the youngest and weakest.
Laura, who turned 47 in 2016, walks in her mother’s footsteps. She rushes to the underprivileged’s aid with consistency and persistence. Her political science background, followed by two masters (one in European Law and one in International Administration) gave her a solid base. Laura has also traveled extensively, particularly in Asia, while working in touristic and economic promotion. This has further strengthened her awareness of her own privileged life and of the importance of sharing. Because the driving force behind Laura is first and foremost her heart. And humor is her safety valve. Between two pregnancies, ask her how she is doing, she will tell you: I lost 6 kilos ! With the help of foundation president Rosario, AClem has really taken off. A will comes true.
Professor, mathematician, researcher, inventor, analyst, photographer, swimmer, hiker, cyclist, skier, world traveler and citizen, polyglot, proud father and husband, information devourer, organizer, fighter, leader, nature lover, great observer, no-nonsense, unassuming and realist. Has had extended living and working experiences in a variety of cultures, cherishes diversity and openness of mind, deeply knows and is fascinated by human nature. He is the father of three wonderful daughters and deeply cherishes his relationships with them. He strongly believes that every child has the right to grow in a sheltered and loving environment into a responsible and balanced adult. Unfortunately many children do not have this luxury. It is therefore imperative that we all do as much as is in our power and possibilities to help those who need us most. As a university professor, he is particularly sensitive to the issue of access to education which, more often than not, is the fundamental prerequisite to a better life.
http://math.uci.edu/~gpatrick/
Natalia Guidotti first understood the fundamental and irreplaceable importance of the relationship between a parent and her children when she gave up a promising career to care for her mother, then sick for some years, during her last years of life. The experience profoundly transformed her and led to her dedication, in the spirit of her mother, to helping children in need, particularly those who don’t have the financial, familial and emotional resources that her family was blessed to have. Natalia is a devoted parent, wife and friend whose kindness touches all who meet her. As a mother of three daughters she is constantly confronting the challenges of raising children in a culture that all too often values them, particularly girls, as objects. Her efforts are spent trying to establish a healthy medium between her native Swiss culture and her adopted American one, and to use the best strands of both cultures and traditions to help educate children to become well-centered and successful adults, and to help adults to remember how important it is to focus loving attention on their children.
A graduate of the Glion Hotel School with a passion for travel, her career continuously takes her to the four corners of the globe. After two professional years in Buenos Aires, fate brought Céline to the roots of her childhood in Villars-sur-Ollon. As Director of Marketing & Admissions, she has worked for 11 years in the art of communication and public relations for a private school of international renown. This wonderful adventure allows her to defend the values of education, both in a prestigious establishment for the benefit of the most privileged families, and through humanitarian projects for underprivileged children in India, Africa and South America.
In August 2013, Celine crossed paths with of Laura & Rosario. Their meeting gave birth to a trip to Uganda allowing her to discover, among others, Little Angels Orphanage; her compassionate and entrepreneurial nature immediately seduced Laura and Rosario, and Céline agreed to take the operational direction of all AClem projects aside her full time job in the field of private education. Her involvement with AClem is simultaneously a source of energy and of devotion. “It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle” – Celine’s life is a great adventure through meaningful experiences in worlds where sometimes realities are contrasting, but where she enjoys doing things seriously without taking herself seriously.
Laurence grew up in Switzerland, always dreaming of seeing the rest of the world, which brought her to live in Germany, England and Thailand. After getting her Diploma from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, she started her professional career at Nestlé in Sales Management. Active and creative, Laurence loves painting and running.
Always looking for new horizons, it was during a trip in Madagascar that she discovered her love for Africa. As a nature and adventure lover, the continent worked its magic on her instantly. In 2017, she left Nestlé to start a “Once-in-a-lifetime Adventure” driving across Africa in a 4×4 until she came across AClem Foundation in Uganda. Thus began a new chapter of supporting and living amongst the wonderful projects of AClem, first at Little Angels and QEHTI in Uganda, then at Aloha Orphanage in Myanmar and finally in Odile’s Bungalows in Vanuatu.
Touched by these wonderful encounters and enlightened by these extraordinary experiences, Laurence comes back with a new perspective and fulfilled by this new philosophy: “The spirit is enriched by what it gets, the heart by what it gives”.
“If you want to go fast, leave alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Grace grew up in California and being Swiss, French and American, she is passionate about traveling and discovering the world. After acquiring her university diploma in Santa Barbara, California, she began working enthusiastically at an event agency in Malibu, which she eventually headed. She devoted herself to it for 3 years beforemoving to Switzerland where she worked in a marketing and events management position in a Geneva-based company. In 2017, she decides to pursue her career and studies in Barcelona, Spain to obtain an MBA in “Marketing and Sales” from Esade and Bocconi SDA.
Very active, Grace enjoys many passions, including running, triathlons, photography and cooking. She likes to be outdoors and is always looking for new activities that will lead her to a new horizon.
Dream of discovering Africa, it is after her Master degree in February 2019 that she decides to embark on an adventure to Uganda. During her first trip, she falls in love with this country, its inhabitants and their joyful demeanor and quickly found her calling while helping others. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in her life that has led her to become deeply involved in various AClem projects, including Little Angels and QEHTI.
M. JEAN-CLAUDE BIVER, Montreux, www.lvmh.fr
Mme ISABELLE BONVIN, St. Sulpice, ib@besisters.ch
M. DAMIANO BOSCACCI, Lausanne, www.soulkoffi.com
M. TASSILO BOSCACCI, Lausanne, boscaccitassilo@gmail.com
M. LEANDRO BOSCACCI, Lausanne, l_boscacci@hotmail.com
M. MARCUS BULL, Bull & Stein, Hambourg, www.bullstein.com
M. CHRISTIAN CONSTANTIN, Martigny-Croix, www.christian-constantin.ch
M. PATRICK DELARIVE, Pully, www.delarive.com
M. FERNAND DONNET, Lausanne, www.sophoshotels.com
M. JERÔME FELICITE, Genève, j.felicite@gerofinance-dunand.ch
M. MARIO FETZ, Thoiry, France – international expert in the NGO/ non-for-profit sector fetzmario@gmail.com
DR. MARIE-CHRISTINE GAILLOUD-MATTHIEU, Lausanne, www.chirurgieplastique.ch
MME LAURENCE HALIFI, Lonay, www.glassconcept.ch
M. ANTOINE HUBERT, Genolier, www.gsmn.ch
M. PASCAL MICHALET, Lausanne, www.fideo.ch
Maître MICHEL MONOD, Chexbres, monod@notaires-associes.ch
M. GABRIELE ROSSI, Pully, www.archilab.chJSchmidt@pbslaw.ch
Maître JEAN-YVES SCHMIDHAUSER, Genève – Pully, www.sja.ch
DR. JEANNE SENLY-ZRYD, Lausanne – pédiatrie
M. PHILIPPE SUBILIA, Grandvaux, www.swisskubik.com
M. MARC-ANTOINE TSCHOPP, Ìle Maurice
M. GERMANO VALLE, Monaco
2018: Works in progress in Uganda and Myanmar
2017: Uganda U$ 104’638, Myanmar U$ 35’000, Vanuatu “AClem village in the trees” U$ 45’770 and a partnership with “Lighting Up Lives” in Senegal
2016: Uganda Chf 65’746, Myanmar Chf 47’174 & others Chf 4’520
2015 : Uganda U$ 23000, Myanmar U$ 24800,
Pape refugee in Italy Chf 900, Hospital Cuba U$ 1000
2014: Uganda U$ 30700, Myanmar U$ 27860
2013: Uganda, U$ 11000, Myanmar U$ 5000
2012: Uganda U$ 6500, Myanmar U$ 10000
2010: Myanmar Chf 11000
2007,2011: Uganda Chf 16000
2006: Tsunami, Thailand Chf 6250
Alzheimer therapeutic center,Ticino Chf 700
Pediatric eye disease,Morocco Chf 40000
Help deportation Cuban mother Chf 4500
2005: Orphanage & school Madagascar Chf 8000
2004: Charity foundation Prince Charles, India Chf 52000
2003 : Hippotherapy disabled kids, France Chf 39000
2002: A job for a Moroccan man, Marrakech Chf 2000
2001: Construction of water wells, Cambodia Chf 5000
2000: Clowns for children in hospital Chf 5000, a Hospital for untouchables, India Chf 5000
Many people and companies share the vision of our foundation’s President and believe like him that change lies above all in action and in personal & financial involvement. AClem is sincerely indebted and grateful to all these men and women for their generosity in time and/or donations, not to forget those who wish to remain in the shadow… . Non-exhaustive list :