Labor market integration as a prerequisite for social participation

The Swiss Red Cross in the canton of Zurich offers support through its mentoring project “Perspektive Arbeit”, in which volunteer mentors help refugees integrate into the education and job market. The Vontobel Foundation is supporting this project from 2025 to 2027.

 

Having a job makes a big difference whether one is able to participate in society. To integrate socially and realize their potential, however, people from outside Switzerland may require additional support – for example to learn German and be able to conduct a successful job search. For these people, establishing contact with employers is often very challenging.

The mentoring project “Perspective on Work,” run by the Swiss Red Cross’s section in the Canton of Zurich, provides targeted support in this area: officially recognized refugees, migrants granted provisional admittance to the country, and individuals with protection status “S” receive individual guidance from volunteer mentors in their search for employment or apprenticeships, as well as support in establishing contact with employers, career counseling services, and other social services. The project also introduces new ideas for professional integration, enabling participants to develop solutions on their own. Through regular weekly sessions of two hours conducted over a period of twelve months, mentees benefit from the experience and knowledge of their mentors.

Coordinators at the Swiss Red Cross, Canton of Zurich, recruit, train, and support the volunteer mentors, organize events, and maintain continuous contact with them. Six coordination meetings per year are scheduled, and access to a general continuing education program is provided as well.

Each mentor/mentee pair agrees on an individual goal for attaining professional integration. Typical forms of support include help navigating everyday issues, education, and work in Switzerland; conducting a search for vocational training or employment opportunities; information on application procedures and job searches; advice on workplace conduct; preparation or revision of application documents; interview training; improving German language skills; building a social network; and establishing contacts with employers.

The project originated from a call for proposals issued by the State Secretariat for Migration, and was launched in 2015 with funding from the Secretariat. Since then, “Perspective on Work” has delivered on its promise, with many participants having secured permanent or temporary employment, commenced education or training programs, or taken up internships. The Vontobel Foundation has been supporting the project from 2025 and will continue through 2027.