Integration of unaccompanied minor refugees
In Switzerland, unaccompanied minor refugees arrive alone after often traumatic journeys. Upon arrival, they face social isolation, disrupted education, and significant challenges in integrating. While reception structures play a key role, they must operate with limited resources in the face of growing and specific needs.
Van for Life operates within this ecosystem by complementing existing systems, without replacing them. Our objective is to address unmet needs by developing concrete actions that foster both social connection and professional integration.
Because sustainable integration relies on these two pillars: building reference points within the host society and gaining access to real opportunities for the future.
For more details on this project, please refer to this document.
Our approach
After donating equipment and household appliances to the Hospice général of Geneva, we maintained close ties with both the institution and the young people by organizing informal moments of exchange (shared meals, small group outings, etc.). These interactions helped build trust and gain a better understanding of their needs.
Building on these exchanges, we develop targeted activities where current capacities are insufficient, in complement to existing systems. Our actions aim to foster connections with the local population and facilitate access to concrete professional opportunities, while strengthening existing dynamics.
These regular exchanges have highlighted clear priorities:
- stepping outside the institutional framework
- practicing French in informal settings
- discovering the local culture and environment
- accessing professional environments and opportunities
Our actions
Our actions focus on two complementary priorities essential to sustainable integration: access to professional opportunities and building meaningful connections with the local community.
Professional integration
We organize small-group outings (6 to 7 young people), accompanied by an educator and a volunteer, to help them discover different professions, work environments, and skills.
Thanks to our dedicated vehicle, these outings allow direct contact with local businesses and professionals, creating concrete opportunities for exchange and connection.
In addition, we support young people in their efforts to access internships and apprenticeships, helping them better understand the expectations and codes of the professional world.
Social integration and discovery
We also organize larger group outings, bringing together 15 to 20 young people, an equivalent number of volunteers, and three educators.
These days are designed to explore local culture, heritage, and activities (sports, cultural, and professional), while fostering meaningful exchanges with the local population.
They help reduce prejudice, raise awareness among local communities about the realities faced by these young people, and create direct, lasting connections.
Host Families
Building on the success of our initial “host family” experience with Ukrainian refugees supported through our convoys, and in response to the strong desire of these young people to build relationships, we have expanded this approach within our activities in Switzerland. Today, it plays a central role in our work.
Host families allow young people to step outside the institutional framework by sharing informal moments with members of the host community. These exchanges help create reference points, build trust, and provide everyday support.
For volunteers, it is a concrete way to engage, better understand the life journeys of these young people, and actively contribute to their integration.
These relationships often begin during group activities and can evolve, depending on individual willingness and availability, into more regular and long-term engagement.
2025 : Impact of our actions
Get involved
Every contribution matters. Interaction with the local community (young and old alike) is at the heart of our approach. There are several ways to take part, in a way that suits you :
- Host a discovery outing : for a day, share an activity, a place, a profession, or a passion that matters to you. This can be done individually or as a company.
- Become a “Mentor for a Day” : during a group outing built around a shared theme, you are paired with a young refugee and take on the role of host. Just as you would with a friend visiting from afar.
- Provide financial sponsorship : help fund an outing. This can take the form of free access (tickets, activities), or a contribution toward a specific day or activity. You can find more details on our website.
- Make a donation : you can also support Van for Life through a direct donation, according to your means, by specifying “RMNA Project”.
We warmly thank all the volunteers and partners who have already contributed to our activities. Their support makes this work possible.
