By Olena Krylova
For many people who arrive in Switzerland after fleeing war, one question quickly becomes more important than any other: How can I become independent again?
Finding a job is about much more than earning an income. It means rebuilding confidence, becoming part of a community and taking the first real steps towards a new life.
These questions were at the heart of the Forum for Ukrainians on Integration, Adaptation, Career Opportunities and Education, held in Bern in October 2024 Bringing together representatives of federal and cantonal institutions, career services, civil society organisations and the Ukrainian community, the forum focused on one of the key challenges of integration: how to turn professional experience into new opportunities in Switzerland.
USB co-facilitated the event and contributed both practical expertise and lived experience.
During a workshop on employment and the transition from social assistance to financial independence, Svitlana Manzer, together with Olga Günther and Mila Kastaljan, discussed the realities many newcomers face. The conversation covered legal aspects of employment, practical pathways into the labour market and cooperation with social services. Rather than offering general advice, the workshop addressed the concrete questions people encounter when taking their first steps towards employment.
The high level of interest confirmed what USB sees every day: people are eager to work. What they often need is not motivation, but orientation—clear information, practical guidance and confidence that their professional skills have a place in Switzerland.
The forum also created space for dialogue between refugees and institutions. Experts from the Federal Department of Justice and Police, the Regional Employment Centre (RAV) of the Canton of Bern and the Career Information Centre (BIZ) discussed developments in the Swiss labour market, qualification pathways and the skills increasingly sought by employers.
Another panel highlighted stories of successful integration and community initiatives, moderated by USB Media Coordinator Svitlana Prokopchuk. These conversations demonstrated that integration is not a one-way process. It succeeds when public institutions, employers, civil society and newcomers work together.
For USB, employment has always been about more than jobs. It is about enabling people to use their knowledge, contribute their talents and regain the independence that displacement so often takes away.
Because integration does not begin with paperwork.
It begins when people are given the opportunity to build their future through their own work.
