Capacity

The funding will be used to widen the impact of Capacity - the first talent incubator for refugees and migrants in Switzerland- by consolidating and scaling our entrepreneurship and labour market integration programmes, as well as the much needed consultancy services for corporates in diversity, inclusion and equity, topics that are not yet developed in the Swiss context. 

We offer Refugee and Migrant programmes on entrepreneurship, labour market integration, and skill-development as pathways to socio-economic inclusion, encouraging the development of their potential and contribution to the economy, positively impacting social cohesion. To advance community-building and networking we organise migration-story-telling sessions and events. We challenge perspectives about refugees as a burden, reframing perceptions of this diverse group as competent people eager to contribute to their host society.

We aim to expand our activities offering diverse avenues for personal and career development, support and integration. We are launching new programmes and workshops in 2021, addressing other areas of need for our beneficiaries beyond entrepreneurship, namely an innovative labour market integration programme. Scaling our operations further with an additional programme to support the creation of new chapters, and growing our corporate and individual training expertise, is the logical next step.

As an Hispanic in USA and Switzerland, I faced barriers to access the labor market, as well as discrimination, although being highly educated with an architectural degree. 

I grew up in Colombia during war, in a bi-cultural family. During the Refugee crisis 2015, I decided to take action and show my solidarity towards people fleeing from war, sensing the hostility of the Swiss population building up against the newcomers and wishing to set a precedent for my children - to act according to my convictions. I did several humanitarian relief journeys along the Balkan Route and Lesbos, and I teach German in a refugee camp since 2015. I participate in campaigns to improve the situation of refugees and organize events to showcase the enormous potential of migrants and refugees.

Capacity embodies my conviction that the success of western societies lies in the ability to embrace diversity. We are committed to supporting human potential and providing equal opportunities for personal and professional development, regardless of background, nationality, gender or religion. We address a pressing global need: how to successfully integrate migrants to host societies. The demand for proven solutions which involve all sectors of society is increasing. 

Work is central to our identity and the gateway for newcomers to integrating in society. In Switzerland the process of finding a job can take as long as 5 years for the two most affected groups of migrants – refugees and family-reunion migrants (primarily women). More than 50% of newcomers have tertiary-level education, but face linguistic, cultural and educational barriers. Only 40% of highly-educated migrants make full use of their knowledge and skills. The rest are caught in the process termed ‘waste of talent'. Continuous rejection, deskilling and unemployment leads to mental-and physical health problems, social isolation and state-welfare dependency. The affected population in Switzerland is around 250’000. The problem is present to various extents in other western countries.

Capacity is a non-profit organization created to mitigate the long-term effects of socio-economic exclusion from the Swiss labour market. We offer free entrepreneurship programmes for refugees and migrants who want to launch a business or a socio-cultural initiative. Capacity advances an inclusive and human-centred approach, focusing on the potential of every human being, empowering individuals through entrepreneurial education, a supportive community, constructive mentoring and coaching models. We aim to enable people to find a sustainable way of life where they can unfold their potential.

The Capacity Entrepreneurship Program (CEP) blends personal development, leadership training and networking opportunities with business development and entrepreneurial tools. It does not aim to cultivate the business ideas only, but to develop individuals. A supportive community helps the participants to rediscover the skills they bring to Switzerland, to strengthen their motivation and resilience to overcome the challenges of social integration and proactively build their professional network. We are constantly evaluating our impact, with the individual at the centre, and tailoring our offer to the communities we serve. 

Capacity is an innovative organization. It partners with stakeholders from the corporate, governmental, startup and non-profit sectors, to build a society that is supportive of everyone regardless of their background. 

We created a unique model in which companies contribute to break inequalities by sponsoring the participation of refugees and migrants, while offering meaningful volunteering experiences to employees. Thus, companies can facilitate the participation of refugees and migrants in the local economy while we support companies at implementing their CSR initiatives and D&I agendas. By enabling direct interactions between local and migrant communities, stereotypes are challenged, new spaces opened and a more inclusive society is being built.

We are opening opportunities to welcome diversity, by successfully integrating refugees and migrants into host societies; a crucial worldwide need for cohesive and stable societies. 

Overall, the estimated number of international migrants has increased over the past five decades. The total estimated 281 million people living in a country other than their countries of birth in 2020 was 128 million more than in 1990, and over three times the estimated number in 1970.

Capacity develops strategies that promote the social economic inclusion of migrants within host countries, aiding migrants better integrate into new communities and encouraging receiving communities to recognize the positive contributions that migrants can make. This two-way integration route is fundamental for the development of thriving, multicultural communities.

Our programmes are designed to promote the social-economic inclusion of refugees and migrants and are tailored to consider migrant characteristics and local cultural traits. Furthermore, by fostering economic participation, we work to reduce workplace and recruitment discrimination, not only through our direct work with migrants, but also through approaches that raise the awareness of private sector employers. 

This approach is scalable and adaptable to any context and helps mitigate long-term unemployment, deskilling, waste of talent while fostering social cohesion.