Socio-professional integration of young people at risk

We act so that young people at risk in Switzerland can build a bright future for themselves.

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Tackling job insecurity among Switzerland’s young people

In Switzerland, young people between 15 and 25 years of age are often in precarious situations and run the risk of being affected by poverty. One in 10 young people are currently untrained or unemployed. From the age of 18, young women and men alike risk slipping below the poverty line. Young people who have not completed compulsory schooling or post-compulsory training are particularly vulnerable.

We are working hard to change that: the donations we raise make it possible to fund projects run by Swiss organisations specialising in socio-professional integration.

Young people with a complicated life path

A number of issues are likely to interrupt schooling: gender inequalities, family relationship problems, health problems, problems related to material and social vulnerability, problems related to delinquency, problems related to migration, insufficient grasp of institutional rules, difficulties at school, lack of information on available training, a poorly considered life path, etc.

 

Many young people find themselves without a bright outlook, whether because they have dropped out of school, have only basic or incomplete training, are unable to get trained due to a lack of available apprenticeships in certain areas/regions, or are confronted with an increasingly demanding work environment. For some the interruption of their schooling is temporary while for others it is part of a process that seriously jeopardises their professional future. For young people, interrupting their training can jeopardise their social integration and plunge them into precarity.

Jeunes migrants

Young migrants

There are now more than 65 million refugees and displaced persons in the world who have fled war, persecution and extreme poverty. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, half are minors, and nearly 100,000 of these are left to fend for themselves.

That is why we fund associations that take care of young migrants who have recently arrived in Switzerland.

The projects respond precisely to the needs of the beneficiaries:

  • They offer individualised follow-up to young people from the moment they arrive in Switzerland, with courses to bring them up to speed academically (learning a national language, mathematics, etc.) and support for cultural integration.
  • They contribute to their basic schooling (computer, English, management courses).
  • They support them in the development of their career plans (support with administrative procedures, writing CVs and cover letters, as well as preparing for interviews with a view to obtaining internships, apprenticeships, etc.).
  • For young migrants arriving in Switzerland without their families, these associations improve their odds of integrating socially and professionally by incorporating them into specialised structures.

Young women in difficulty

Many young women in Switzerland face very specific problems. We support associations that take care of women in precarious situations: migrants, mothers without professional qualifications or women wanting to flee prostitution.

The projects respond precisely to the needs of the beneficiaries:

  • They provide parenting support, including childcare during school or work hours, while supporting young women in their parenting role.
  • They help young women who have not attended or completed compulsory schooling in Switzerland prepare for training or employment.
  • They help young women gain self-confidence by promoting dialogue with health professionals in a trusting environment.
  • They accompany them throughout their social and professional integration in order to reduce the risks that they will interrupt their training.

 

« We select projects that can help young people in Switzerland in a sustainable way, giving them the means to regain self-confidence, more easily acquire personal and social skills, and acquire key abilities and knowledge for the job market and life in society. »
Fabienne Vermeulen, Swiss Solidarity, Programme Manager, Switzerland

Many young people in our country need help in finding their way and integrating into the labour market. Confronted with a wide range of problems, they do not have the necessary resources to integrate and succeed in mainstream vocational training.

Thanks to your donation, we support organisations throughout Switzerland that encourage young people to gain a foothold in the workplace and find their place in society.

The projects we fund are precisely tailored to the needs of beneficiaries:

  • They mobilise personal resources and basic skills, strengthen individuals and help them gain self-esteem.
  • They offer support to the most vulnerable, allowing them to rebuild their lives at their own pace, while preparing them to enter the workforce or training programmes.
  • They offer certified vocational training to young people in need of ongoing support.
  • For young migrants recently arrived in Switzerland, these associations improve their odds of integrating socially and professionally.
  • They offer socio-professional integration opportunities for young women, taking into account the specific problems they may face.

Would you like to submit a funding application for your project supporting the socio-professional integration of young people in difficulty in Switzerland? All the information you need can be found here.

Your donation makes a difference. Your act of solidarity provides direct and concrete help to young people at risk in Switzerland.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about our Foundation, please contact us. We will be happy to answer you.