Just ask
We are here to help
ASK is a Geneva-based, non-profit organisation and an NGO founded in 2003 in direct response to parents’ needs.
ASK provides a welcoming, caring, nurturing environment, whether you’ve just arrived in Switzerland or have lived here all your life.
We currently have 3 branches, ASK – Geneva, ASK – Zurich, and ASK – Vaud Chapters, and becoming a truly multicultural and multilingual resource for the parents and school communities in Switzerland.
Our work is guided by the following four core values: C.A.R.E: Community – Assistance – Resource – Enrichment
Our Mission
ASK is dedicated to offering a range of programmes and services to fulfil these core values, driven by the needs of parents, their children, young adults, and professionals.
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Support families and their children and young adults with learning differences and special educational needs.
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Raise both public and professional awareness of Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) and the need for early detection, proper diagnosis, appropriate recommendations and specialist support.
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Increase parental and professional awareness of services within the community.
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Bridge the gap between parents, educators, and specialists, finding the best solution for each individual – both academically and socially.
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ASK is committed to establishing meaningful social experiences for individuals with learning differences.
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ASK is committed to offering training opportunities for community partners and professionals to build awareness and support meaningful inclusion for all individuals with differential learning needs.
Our Board
Our board strives to ensure ASK is best supporting children with learning differences and special educational needs throughout Switzerland.


Elaine Curry
Board Member
Elaine has been a dedicated Board member of ASK since 2008, bringing extensive experience and passion to her role. Her journey with ASK began in 2003 when her son participated in its programs for children with learning differences. Witnessing firsthand the profound impact these programs had on her son’s life, Elaine became deeply committed to the organization’s mission.
With a distinguished career spanning 43 years in the Financial Services sector, Elaine has garnered significant expertise and leadership experience. She spent 17 years working in Germany and served as a Director at Merrill Lynch Banque Suisse in Geneva, Switzerland for 13 years. Her international experience and professional acumen have been invaluable to ASK. Elaine now resides in the United States, where she continues to contribute her skills and dedication to the advancement of ASK’s initiatives for children with special needs.


Henri Moser
Board Member
After working for a Private Bank in Hong Kong, Henri is now a partner in a real estate firm with a very strong anchorage in Geneva. He joined the Board of ASK in 2024 to help the association with his experience in management and strengthen its ties with the local community and businesses.


Charles Firmenich
Chairman


Augustine Agyeman-Duah
Treasurer
We love to hear from our parents!
Comments From Parents
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Nicolas Dumolin, Muséum d’histoire naturelle (MHN)
J’ai eu énormément de plaisir à recevoir Elias au Museum d’histoire naturelle de Genève, durant quelques semaine. Son enthousiasme et son intérêt à découvrir le métier de la surveillance et de la sécurité m’ont donné beaucoup de joie. Toute l’équipe de la sécurité garde un bon souvenir d’Elias. L’équipe d’encadrement ainsi que le coach étaient super et bien veillant, nous avons eu beaucoup de plaisir à partager cette expérience avec eux.
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Dr David Claivaz, IIL
I am deeply impressed with the generous and sincere engagement of ASK in favor of kids with Special Education Needs, as well as the neurotypical ones.
I wrote an IIL Blog Post called “The Essence of Learning”. Google the title to find out more.
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Parent
It was very helpful to have so much positive feedback on the idea of James going into a special school as I was not sure that it was the best thing for him, but it looks like it is a very good option. It’s important to have a group where you can say almost anything and not feel judged or criticised to get the feedback, support and ideas from others and be able to off load a bit of the pressure !
Our Team

Dr. Jennifer Holloway
C.Psychol., Ps.S.I., BCBA-D ASK/ACCESS Director
Dr Jennifer Holloway is the new CEO of ASK and the Director of the ACCESS program. Dr. Holloway is a Chartered Psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She has worked with children and adults with differential learning needs for over 25years, as a clinician and researcher. Jennifer has specific expertise in designing evidence-based practices to teach socially significant goals for individuals. She has spent many years supporting families and other professionals through delivering training courses and workshops. Jennifer is dedicated to advancing ASK to provide a range of services and supports to meet the needs of the individual with differential diagnoses, their families, and community partners.

Sandrika Luce-Scheftsik
Operation Development Officer
Sandrika is the Operational Development Manager for ASK and is responsible for the management and coordination of events, programs, and activities. Sandrika taught psychology, management, and organisational behaviour for fifteen years at the University of France, before returning to Switzerland to focus on socio-professional integration.

Jacqueline Martin
Fundraising Officer (volunteer)
An Anglo-Swiss national, Jacqueline spent 14 years’ working in offshore fund management and fund research in London before moving to Geneva in 2010. After several years volunteering as Office Manager at ASK, Jacqueline is now Chair of ASK’s Fundraising Committee. She is also a Board member of Association des Femmes pour la Planète and a voluntary trainer at the Association Sportive des Schtroumpfs.

Nadine Nuwayhid
Financial Manager (Volunteer)
Nadine has over 15 years of banking operational experience and holds an MBA from Boston University. She is an advocate for humanitarian causes and is active in the Geneva fundraising scene for various NGO’s. She was born in Lebanon and grew up in the US and the Middle East, and now lives in Geneva. She brings her fundraising know-how and humanitarian network to the team

Samira
Financial/Office Assistant
My name is Samira with background in Banking and Finance. I have also worked with an NGO in Ghana where I was responsible for children and women affairs, an experience I carry with me even in my current role. With an MBA from the EU Business School in Geneva, I have been with ASK Foundation since year 2020 mainly in Finance but also supporting the Interns with the office work as part of efforts to orient and equip them with the basics of the work environment. Engaging with the Interns is an endearing role I very much look forward to, each day.

Reanna Joay
Office Manager Zurich
Reanna comes from a multi-cultural background and has live in Switzerland for over 20 years. She comes from a business, marketing, and digital marketing background. Reanna has a large network and is very active in the local and expat community.
Our Story
1st Monthly Parent Support Meetings
Designed and Launched Parent Workshops and started Independent Educational Assessments
1st Professional Development Seminars for Teachers
Launched Summer Camps, Weekly Social Skills, Peer Mentoring, Social Outings for Kids & Teens
Expanded to Bern -currently seeking volunteer leaders
1st Annual Information Day mainly for parents
Expanded to Zurich
Launched Weekly Study Skills and Homework Club in Geneva
Launched Weekly Social Skills Group in Geneva
1st Annual Conference for the broader community (Parents, Educators & Specialists)
10th Anniversary Celebration
Introduced mandatory volunteer staff induction and training for student volunteers
Introduced work experience program for the CAS students
Introduced Internship program for university students from U.S. and Swiss universities
15th year Anniversary Celebration
Launched the first summer camp in Zurich
Launched ACCESS Program, a Job Training & Work Experience Programs
for young adults and adults
Launched ACCESS Program, a Job Training & Work Experience Programs

Joy Tong
Founder of ASK
Let us introduce to you our founder – Joy Tong.
Joy started ASK-All Special Kids in 2003, as a direct response to the lack of support for Anglophone parents of children with learning differences and special educational needs. But Joy’s experience and passion for supporting the socially vulnerable and those with special needs has been a life-long labour of love.
The story of ASK – as well as Joy’s own story – is one of the individuals coming together and collectively overcoming significant challenges. A native of Burma, Joy immigrated to the US as a refugee in 1979 with her parents, two brothers, and four sisters. For more than two decades, Joy and her family lived out the American dream. Joy dedicated herself to the underprivileged, applying her law degree and schooling to co-found Burmese Women of New York, an advocacy group for the Burmese immigrant victims of domestic violence, families struggling with HIV/AIDS and those in need of assistance within the New York City school system. During this time Joy was the primary caregiver for her sister Linda, who has special needs and severe learning difficulties.
In 1992, Joy gave birth to a daughter, Allegra, who was born with overall low muscle tone and significant special needs. This was the start of a long journey involving much research, learning, and growth. In 2001, Joy relocated to Switzerland where she struggled to find the appropriate support for Allegra. She began to network with other parents in Geneva, sharing information and experiences and found that many were experiencing similar struggles in their search for specialists and support services for their children. By 2003, Joy, with the support of five parents, founded Anglophone Special Kids, a prelude to what is known today as ASK-All Special Kids. Joy has been the driving force behind ASK since it’s creation, finding solutions to meet the continually changing needs of a transient population. In 2018 ASK celebrated its 15th anniversary, a huge milestone for any organisation and without Joy’s service, passion and commitment ASK would not be where it is today. When asked how she keeps motivated, Joy will tell you that her inspiration comes from Allegra and children just like her.
Our Supporters
Thank you for your continued support









