CHF 100
Crowdified!
This project has been successfully funded on 25. December 2023. Thanks to the 72 boosters that made it possible!
Having fun integrating!
Helping refugees to become members of local clubs
Verein Integration in der Freizeit
Luzern, CH
Project Overview
We help immigrants (mainly refugees) in Canton Lucerne to find a suitable leisure activity. The immigrants get to know local people, learn Swiss German and integrate better into Swiss society. The clubs/associations can access new talent from different cultures and profit from a diverse membership group. The better a society integrates newcomers, the more successful it is. Please support us!
124%
12.401 CHF
of 10.000 CHF
Crowdified
hurray!
72
Boosters
supported project
Funding goals
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Stage 1:
5.000 CHF
100% funded
With this money we will be able to partially fund our activities for six months. This includes supporting our participants many of whom have severely limited financial resources. We help them with public transport costs, membership fees and sourcing equipment needed to take part (eg football boots).
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Finish Stage:
10.000 CHF
124% funded
With this money we can partially fund our activities for twelve months including organising a bi-annual event for all the volunteers, participants and club/association representatives to come together and share their experiences. This is a valuable process as it not only widens each participants social network further, it provides us with usual feedback and can inspire and motivate more people to join and/or support us.
"Participation in club/association life is an important and easily accessible way of participating in social life!" (Federal Office of Statistics 2019)
Despite the statement above, immigrants, especially refugees, remain drastically underrepresented in these associations. Our vision is to connect immigrants with the existing and unique local Swiss club/organisation culture, and so help build a more integrated, tolerant and understanding society.
The work done by Integration in der Freizeit is recognised and supported by Kanton Luzern and Stadt Luzern.
Despite the statement above, immigrants, especially refugees, remain drastically underrepresented in these associations. Our vision is to connect immigrants with the existing and unique local Swiss club/organisation culture, and so help build a more integrated, tolerant and understanding society.
The work done by Integration in der Freizeit is recognised and supported by Kanton Luzern and Stadt Luzern.
We meet with each participant individually and discuss their interests. What did they enjoy doing in their homeland? What would they like to try here? We research possible options and then contact a suitable club/organisation on their behalf. We then accompany them to the first trial session.
Our support helps them overcome any potential barriers they face, including dealing in a language they are not (yet) confident communicating in, cultural issues, financing problems and the fear of starting something new and unknown and leaving their comfort zone.
Our support helps them overcome any potential barriers they face, including dealing in a language they are not (yet) confident communicating in, cultural issues, financing problems and the fear of starting something new and unknown and leaving their comfort zone.
Integration in der Freizeit is run by a team of twelve volunteers. We are funded by private donations and contributions from foundations. However, our waiting list is growing and to continue this work, we need to raise funds!
We have the support of many local people, businesses and organisations which is why we are able to offer some exciting goodies.
Every donation, large or small, will help us continue our work. Please help us to create an inclusive and integrated society.
We have the support of many local people, businesses and organisations which is why we are able to offer some exciting goodies.
Every donation, large or small, will help us continue our work. Please help us to create an inclusive and integrated society.
Since the idea was first conceived in December 2021, we have met with nearly 100 participants and have made contact with over 40 local clubs/organisations. We have successfully helped our participants take part in activities such as Guggenmusik, rowing, fencing, athletics, football, volleyball, fitness training and curling.
Several newspaper articles have been written about our work and in April 2023, we won first place in the Children and Youth Awards awarded by Kanton Luzern.
Please take a look at our website to find out more – www.integration-freizeit.ch
And one more thing….take a look at this. The difficulties faced by one of our participants has also inspired local rap artists Mimiks & LCone. youtu.be
Several newspaper articles have been written about our work and in April 2023, we won first place in the Children and Youth Awards awarded by Kanton Luzern.
Please take a look at our website to find out more – www.integration-freizeit.ch
And one more thing….take a look at this. The difficulties faced by one of our participants has also inspired local rap artists Mimiks & LCone. youtu.be
Verein Integration in der Freizeit
Luzern, CH
We promote the integration of immigrants in the canton of Lucerne - mainly refugees - through participation in leisure activities within associations/clubs. They are supported through this process by volunteers. The associations/clubs benefit from recruiting new members and accessing more talent and by having a more diverse membership group in the long term.
Tsarina Crouch
St Niklausen, CH
Volunteer
I am a volunteer with "Integration in der Freizeit" and have experienced myself how contact with local people and learning German/Swiss German can facilitate integration. It is not always easy for newcomers to find a suitable leisure activity and this is where we try to help.
Anya Heini
Luzern, CH
Project Leader
Following a successful pilot project, I founded "Integration in der Freizeit" in September 2022. The goal is to "build bridges" between newcomers and local freetime groups to promote intercultural understanding and to create a more inclusive society.
I was born in England but have lived in several different countries. I always found taking part activities a huge help to get to know local people, practice my language and discover my new home country. With several years of volunteering experience for different projects for refugees in Lucerne, I saw that there can be barriers to taking part in such activities, especially at the beginning. Our organisation works together on a one-to-one basis with participants (migrants, predominantly refugees) and Vereine (clubs and societies) to encourage a greater participation in existing activities.
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