Association La Virgule, Geneva

Association La Virgule offers emergency accommodation and assisted living for people without a fixed abode, as well as social and professional support for people in precarious situations. The vocational integration program offered by the organization for the individual support of its young residents is intended to make it easier for them to enter working life. Among other things, a skills assessment is drawn up, support is offered with application letters, job interviews are simulated and themed workshops are held. The aim is for the young people to develop self-confidence and new prospects. The association works closely with government agencies, local companies and stakeholders in the integration sector in the context of the measures mentioned.

The UBS Foundation for Social Issues and Education is supporting the 2025 vocational integration program with a contribution of CHF 26,000.

SOS (Soccorso Operaio Svizzero) Ticino, Lugano

SOS Ticino works with other non-profit Swiss organizations on the «Tavolo Check your Chance Ticino» project, which is dedicated to preventing and reducing youth unemployment. In recent years, SOS Ticino’s job coaching program «Coaching Transfair 2» has supported and placed numerous young people in the working world with individual measures. The program is now carried out flexibly based on the location and time requirements of the participants and is divided into three areas: educational guidance, strengthening personal skills and job placement.

The UBS Foundation for Social Issues and Education is supporting the continuation of the program «Coaching TransFair2 (CT2) » in 2025 with a grant of CHF 12,000.

Stiftung Weidli Stans, Stans

«Stiftung Weidli Stans» offers a wide range of residential, work, employment and training opportunities to promote the economic and social integration of people with disabilities. Work is one of the three main areas focused on by the foundation and is divided into the catering, housekeeping and workshop departments. The old workshop is outdated and too small. The new building, which will also house additional catering facilities and a kitchen, will create numerous new work integration and training positions. These are tailored to the needs of the clients with an ergonomic, barrier-free and flexible working environment.

The UBS Foundation for Social Issues and Education is supporting the installation of the kitchen in the new building with additional work integration and training positions with a grant of CHF 30,000.

Verein Blindspot, Bern

The association «Blindspot» is committed to a society in which inclusion is a matter of course in all structures. In addition to inclusive shared apartments and leisure activities, Blindspot also runs the Provisorium46, Fabrique28, Lorraine22 and Copine76 catering operations in the city of Bern, where people with and without disabilities work together. With its new project «First choice – initial training in the primary labor market», Blindspot is aiming to bring young people with disabilities and training companies together and to initiate even more primary training in various occupational fields in the primary labor market in addition to its own training places in the catering industry. To this end, the aforementioned target group is made aware of available opportunities during the transition from school to work, and companies are informed about the relevant opportunities and benefits. The needs of both sides are considered both during the recruitment process and the training.

The UBS Foundation for Social Issues and Education is supporting the implementation of job coaching measures as part of the «First choice – initial training in the primary labor market» project with a grant of CHF 50,000.

Verein Freiplatzaktion, Basel

The Freiplatzaktion Basel association supports people with a refugee or migrant background in legal, social and administrative matters. Every year, around 1,000 people are supported in overcoming complex challenges such as language barriers, legal matters and the acquisition of basic skills. This increases the chances of integration for those affected and improves their living situation. The «Fill the Gap» project focuses on strengthening basic skills, particularly in the areas of language, administration and digital skills. The aim is to close the gap between the existing skills of the target group and the requirements of the labor market.

The UBS Foundation for Social Issues and Education is supporting the implementation of the «Fill the Gap» 2025 qualification program with a grant of CHF 15,000.