🎓 Being a Student in Lausanne: A Story Revived with Solidarity

When I first arrived in Lausanne, Switzerland, everything was very orderly but at the same time felt quite foreign to me. Not knowing the language, trying to adapt to a new country, and loneliness... The first weeks were really tough. Even the simplest tasks in daily life took much longer than I expected.

After school started, I experienced a significant turning point in my life. A Turkish student I met on campus told me about the Turquia1912 Lausanne Turkish Student Association and introduced me to other students from the association. That moment was when my student life in Lausanne truly began.

The roots of Turquia1912 go back to 1912. However, the association had not been active for a long time after 1985. Years later, the person who meticulously researched the traces of the association and brought this legacy back to light was Ms. Ertan, known among students as “Sister Ertan.” Although she was not a student, in 2011, she reunited Turkish students in Lausanne with this deep-rooted past and led the revival of Turquia1912.

I quickly realized that many students in Lausanne, whose paths somehow became difficult and needed support, first crossed paths with Sister Ertan and then naturally with Turquia1912. She is not just a guide for students; she is a reassuring, unifying, and pioneering figure. The spirit of solidarity that the association possesses today is based on this effort.

As a continuation of this process, Sister Ertan also established Swissturknet in February 2026, which is poised to become an important digital platform for the Turkish community living in Switzerland. Swissturknet is significant as it becomes a network that informs and brings together a wide range of people, from students to families. Thus, the culture of solidarity that began with Turquia1912 will continue to strengthen in the digital environment.

Thanks to the association, I met students who had previously come to Lausanne. I benefited from their experiences in many areas, from accommodation to course selection, from official procedures to daily life. The shared information and sincere support helped me overcome the challenges I faced more easily. The feeling of loneliness was replaced by a sense of security. Social events and group work helped me both improve my language skills and build a solid network.

Looking back today, I see that the revival of Turquia1912 and the effort behind this process played a significant role in making my student life in Lausanne so meaningful and sustainable. Being a student in Switzerland is not just an academic journey; it also means being part of a solidarity that comes from the past. My biggest advice to new students coming to Lausanne: discover these connections, ask questions, and be a part of this community.