Schweiz

MePower – Perspektiven für junge Migrant*innen 

Switzerland

MePower – prospects for young migrants

The MePower project run by terre des hommes schweiz gives young people with a refugee background the opportunity to make contacts and discover their strengths in a protected environment and under expert guidance. Work is also carried out to specifically promote intercultural exchange with young people without a refugee background.

Hear from the people on the ground

“For me, MePower is like a family that welcomed me when I arrived in Switzerland. I feel safe here. The biggest thing is that I have learned to recognise my own worth and believe in myself.”

Beatriz Iane Pereira Silva
24 years old

Background

Young people with a refugee background, especially those with unsecured residence status, frequently live under difficult conditions and have to process traumatic experiences. They also often have limited scope for action due to their residence status. Through the MePower project, terre des hommes schweiz is taking action to counter the lack of psychosocial support for young refugees. We are also using the project to promote awareness of global citizenship, which focuses on understanding different cultures, customs and perspectives, and treating one other with respect. That is why we particularly emphasise the importance of intercultural dialogue between young people with and without a refugee background in this project.

Project goals

The MePower project aims to improve the lives of young people with a refugee background in Switzerland and promote intercultural exchange.

Project activities

  • Workshops and summer camps. Twice a year, we hold empowerment workshops with 15 to 20 participants over several days. In these workshops, young migrants and young people without a refugee background explore their stories and strengths in a creative way, experience appreciation and respect from other attendees, and learn to focus on their abilities. There is also time for games, fun and cooking together.
  • Offener Stammtisch [open regulars’ table]. Twice a month, we offer an Offener Stammtisch [open regulars’ table] event where workshop topics are discussed in depth, activities are planned and new participants are welcomed. It is a low-threshold offer to access the project.
mepower 2024 - terre des hommes schweiz

Beneficiaries

Each year, the project focuses on 15 to 20 young people with a refugee background and 10 young people without a refugee background aged 16 to 29 from the Basel region.

Project location and phase

The current project phase covers the years 2025–2027 with an annual budget of CHF 40,000.