The Vontobel Foundation is supporting the project "Scaling FEMCooperatives" led by the Crescenda Association from 2024 to 2026, aiming to guide participants towards sustainable professional and social independence, thereby promoting the autonomous lives of migrant women.
The Crescenda Association develops social enterprise models, offers training and continuing education programs, and serves as a meeting place for exchange and integration. It aims to accompany participants towards sustainable professional and social independence, thereby promoting the autonomous lives of migrant women. Through the creation, implementation, and scaling of social enterprise models, these women are empowered to offer collective entrepreneurial services.
The pioneering project "Scaling FEMCooperatives" promotes innovative, inclusive, and sustainable entrepreneurship. Crescenda is building a cooperative that provides numerous migrant women a secure workplace under fair working conditions. Through self-organized teams, employees take on significant operational responsibility and receive training and support in other areas of the business. These cooperatives are designed for rapid growth, supported by an efficient governance model.
In the medium term, all employees will have the opportunity to become cooperative members, allowing them to have a say in their working conditions. This fosters identification with the company, and the employees become part of a community that supports each other.
The project also addresses structural issues by investing in the development of the "fair cleaning" network. Public awareness is raised to enhance the value of care and cleaning work and to uncover abuses.
"We are constantly expanding our offerings with the goal of promoting the economic and social participation of migrant women."
Dr. Béatrice Speiser, Founding President, Crescenda
"Transparent, autonomous workplaces provide important protection in lower-income sectors."
Dr. Peter Maurer, Board Member, Vontobel Foundation