Every year, the Prix FoRom écoute celebrates the achievements of students with hearing impairments who have successfully completed their education. The 2026 edition is no exception, rewarding 32 young people whose determination is truly inspiring. Beyond the award itself, this new cohort is offered a message of encouragement and access to a support network.
Since its inception in 2004, this initiative has recognized over 400 young people across the cantons of Vaud, Geneva, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, and Jura. Represented by a 100-franc gift voucher for books or leisure items, this award is, above all, a recognition of the efforts made to overcome the obstacles associated with hearing loss or deafness.
A diverse range of achievements
Gender parity is well-represented, with an almost equal split between young women and men. As for the completed programs, their diversity shows that success is possible in many different fields.
Twelve recipients have just completed their compulsory schooling, including three from specialized orientation cycles. In the general stream, eleven young people are being honored for obtaining their high school diploma or their general culture school certificate. The vocational path is equally impressive, with six completed apprenticeships and successes in vocational baccalaureates, pre-vocational certificates, and the socio-educational field.
Through this award, the foundation wishes to express its admiration for the courage and tenacity these young people have shown in achieving their goals, while encouraging them to continue their journey with the same dedication.
Building connections
The presentation of these awards is also an opportunity to remind them that they are not alone. We have sent each recipient a personalized letter introducing our free counseling and support services for them and their families. The goal is for them to know they can count on us whenever they need to.
We also emphasize social connection by offering to facilitate contact with other young people who are hard of hearing or deaf, who meet primarily through dedicated discussion groups. These spaces for exchange and sharing experiences, as well as the joint activities they generate, are valuable assets for building their future.
While the 2027 award will be renamed to reflect our new identity—as FoRom écoute has become the Swiss Hearing Foundation—the spirit of the initiative will remain unchanged: to congratulate, encourage, and support those who, despite their hearing impairment, are writing their own success stories.
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Photo by Felipe Santana on Unsplash
