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Friends International Suisse and AMIC Switzerland

Friends International Suisse and AMIC, Switzerland

Two Geneva based organisations help unaccompanied minor refugees arriving in Switzerland find their path to independence.

Two Geneva based organisations help unaccompanied minor refugees arriving in Switzerland find their path to independence.

(Programme concluded and no longer supported by the Trafigura Foundation)

In the past three years the number of unaccompanied migrant and refugee minors’ arrivals in Switzerland has increased exponentially. In the canton of Geneva, this number has grown from around 40 young people in 2013 to more than 250 in 2016. From Eritrea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Syria, these young people are fleeing for myriad reasons: conflicts and political persecution are some of the main causes that push them to leave their homes in the search for safety.

Some of these young refugees have gone to school in their home countries and have managed to learn a fair level of French. Despite these achievements, they face many difficulties in the formal paths to education and training, restricting their prospects for employment. In addition, their legal situations tend to be complex, another factor that heavily dissuades employers from hiring them.

This is where the Project “RISE: Responsible Internships to Support Employment” comes in. With the support of the Trafigura Foundation, the organisations Friends-International Suisse and Association de Médiatrices Interculturelles (AMIC) are launching a two-year pilot project that aims to help young refugees achieve professional integration and economic independence, with a particular focus on empowering young migrant women.

By offering personalised job placement support, mentoring programmes and other tools to improve self-confidence and strengthen employability and soft skills, the organisations aim to help at least 15 people get an internship in Switzerland. This will open the first door towards a secure future for these young individuals.

Visit website Friends International Suisse

Visit website AMIC

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