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INDEPENDA – Support for vulnerable young adults
Project SummaryWith INDEPENDA, SOS Children's Villages Switzerland supports young adults and care leavers on their path to independence. The programme fills gaps in the system where other forms of assistance end and offers individual support in education, career, finances and everyday life. This gives 18- to 28-year-olds the opportunity to shape their future independently and autonomously.
Background
The transition to adulthood is a challenging time for many young people – especially if they do not have a stable family or social network.
Care leavers, i.e. young adults who have grown up in children's homes or foster families, often have to leave their familiar surroundings at the age of 18.
They have to take care of their education largely on their own, find their way in the world of work, and manage their finances, housing situation, and other issues. Support services are available, but they are often limited in time or involve administrative hurdles. Other young adults still live with their parents, but their families cannot provide them with sufficient support (e.g., young people with a migrant background). For young adults with a refugee background, existing support is often insufficient to enable them to make the transition to independence in all areas of life.
These young adults face an increased risk of not completing vocational training, experiencing financial difficulties, living in inadequate housing and developing health problems.
Read moreCare leavers, i.e. young adults who have grown up in children's homes or foster families, often have to leave their familiar surroundings at the age of 18.
They have to take care of their education largely on their own, find their way in the world of work, and manage their finances, housing situation, and other issues. Support services are available, but they are often limited in time or involve administrative hurdles. Other young adults still live with their parents, but their families cannot provide them with sufficient support (e.g., young people with a migrant background). For young adults with a refugee background, existing support is often insufficient to enable them to make the transition to independence in all areas of life.
These young adults face an increased risk of not completing vocational training, experiencing financial difficulties, living in inadequate housing and developing health problems.
Idea
With its low-threshold, free and voluntary INDEPENDA programme, SOS Children's Villages Switzerland, together with its partners, aims to close gaps in the system so that all young adults in need of support can successfully transition to an independent life.
The programme offers young adults advice and, above all, support in all areas of life, such as education and career, finances, housing, health and social issues. The focus is on the needs of the participants: they determine the topics and the pace. Individual skills are to be developed and expanded, we show them what they are entitled to and, if necessary, accompany them to other specialist services. If existing support services are unable to help, we fill the gaps – no matter what the issue is: help with moving house, shopping lists, job applications, etc.
INDEPENDA is designed to cover the whole of Switzerland and aims to work with local partners to close existing gaps in support, location by location. The aim is to create a cross-institutional support system that brings together the forces that can specifically help participants on their way to adulthood.
One participant describes her experience as follows: ‘I was very grateful when someone finally took me seriously and I had a real chance of getting support, which I ultimately received. After the initial consultation, I felt more hopeful, confident and relieved.’
The aim is for all young adults in Switzerland to have the necessary skills and resources to live their lives independently and on their own terms.
Read moreThe programme offers young adults advice and, above all, support in all areas of life, such as education and career, finances, housing, health and social issues. The focus is on the needs of the participants: they determine the topics and the pace. Individual skills are to be developed and expanded, we show them what they are entitled to and, if necessary, accompany them to other specialist services. If existing support services are unable to help, we fill the gaps – no matter what the issue is: help with moving house, shopping lists, job applications, etc.
INDEPENDA is designed to cover the whole of Switzerland and aims to work with local partners to close existing gaps in support, location by location. The aim is to create a cross-institutional support system that brings together the forces that can specifically help participants on their way to adulthood.
One participant describes her experience as follows: ‘I was very grateful when someone finally took me seriously and I had a real chance of getting support, which I ultimately received. After the initial consultation, I felt more hopeful, confident and relieved.’
The aim is for all young adults in Switzerland to have the necessary skills and resources to live their lives independently and on their own terms.
Implementation
The programme was initiated by SOS Children's Villages Switzerland and designed and implemented in collaboration with implementation, service, interface and corporate partners. In the canton of Bern, the YOU COUNT Foundation is the implementation partner and provides the current team of experts. By the end of 2027, two further locations and thus additional implementation partners are expected to be added. Interfaces with private and public bodies are being established and expanded on an ongoing basis from location to location.
The target group is part of the project team and, as experienced contributors, should help to ensure that the programme really adds value and reaches the target group. Cooperation with important existing organisations such as the Careleaver Switzerland association helps to ensure that the target group is aware of our services and that the triage process works for both sides.
Support for the INDEPENDA service enables needs-based support for young adults in a low-threshold, flexible and very practical setting that gives participants the time and flexibility they need to stabilise their lives.
With CHF 10,000, 10-15 young people can be individually supported by our team of experts on their path to independence.
Read moreThe target group is part of the project team and, as experienced contributors, should help to ensure that the programme really adds value and reaches the target group. Cooperation with important existing organisations such as the Careleaver Switzerland association helps to ensure that the target group is aware of our services and that the triage process works for both sides.
Support for the INDEPENDA service enables needs-based support for young adults in a low-threshold, flexible and very practical setting that gives participants the time and flexibility they need to stabilise their lives.
With CHF 10,000, 10-15 young people can be individually supported by our team of experts on their path to independence.
Initiators
SOS Children's Villages Switzerland Foundation in partnership with the YOU COUNT Foundation
Project manager: Sujata Wölfli-Chakraborty
Project team member: Gael Plo
Expert team: Cornelia Weber, Regina Dubois,
Read moreProject manager: Sujata Wölfli-Chakraborty
Project team member: Gael Plo
Expert team: Cornelia Weber, Regina Dubois,
There are no updates available
| Anonymous | 10,00 CHF |
| Cornelia Ottiger | 250,00 CHF |
| Martin Laubacher | 100,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 190,00 CHF |
| Kaspar und Sibylle Müller | 230,00 CHF |
| Herbert Gnos | 100,00 CHF |
| Adele Rizzo | 180,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 350,00 CHF |
Currently, there are still no project partners if you are interested, please contact us via info@there-for-you.com.
Status of the project
What amount would you like to use?
8 Supporters
79 days remaining
Major donor
Project supported by Swisscom
Impact analysis by there for you specialists
The INDEPENDA programme stands out thanks to its systemic and practical approach, which closes existing gaps in care during young adults' transition to independence. Particularly noteworthy is the combination of individual support, institutional networking and genuine participation by the target group. The initiative helps to break down structural barriers and improve the support ecosystem for care leavers in the long term. In doing so, it makes a substantial contribution to the further development of social policy models in Switzerland.
We will send the donation receipt (for Switzerland) in January of the following year.
Primary Partners
