Entering working life, step by step

The Vontobel Foundation is supporting MULTIMONDO’s mentoring program from 2025 to 2026. The program aims to accompany socially disadvantaged people with migration backgrounds as they integrate into the Swiss labor market. 

MULTIMONDO is a competence center in Biel/Bienne dedicated to supporting the integration of people who have come to Switzerland as migrants and have neither access to social services nor any entitlement to unemployment benefits. For these people, a job search is made even more difficult thanks to language barriers, a lack of social networks, and diplomas they may have earned but are not formally recognized here. MULTIMONDO addresses these challenges through individualized support. 

Its mentoring program is divided into three modules:

The first module focuses on assessment and goal setting.  Certified adult educators conduct an initial assessment with participants. They evaluate their language proficiency, clarify competencies, and identify professional interests. Based on this, a short- and medium-term action plan is developed.

In the second module 2, participants gain a practical tool kit for an effective job search.  It consists of ten course units that provide participants with the tools needed for a successful job search. Here, they learn how the Swiss labor market functions, compile a comprehensive job application dossier for themselves, and build self-confidence through a simulated job interview.

Module 3 concerns mentoring support.  In this module, participants are paired with professionally experienced volunteer mentors for at least six months. These mentors help them apply what they have learned and open doors to both professional and personal networks. 

In addition to this structured program, MULTIMONDO also complements the mentoring program with additional offerings. In collaboration with several companies in the region, for example, the organization provides introductory courses in facility management, culinary skills, and watch production.