By Olena Krylova
For many young people arriving in Switzerland, the biggest questions are not only Where do I study? or How do I find a job? They are also Where do I belong? and Who can I ask?
That is exactly where U.integration, the youth platform of USB, comes in. Created by and for young people with migration experience, the platform brings together learning, volunteering and friendship—because integration rarely happens in a classroom alone. It happens through shared experiences, new connections and the confidence to take the next step.
This autumn, U.integration is expanding its cooperation with the Youth Red Cross of the Canton of Bern, opening new opportunities for Swiss and Ukrainian young people to meet, learn and shape their future together.
Among the upcoming activities is the continuation of “How to Bern”—a project where young people discover the city side by side, not as visitors and hosts, but as peers. The programme will also offer Schnuppern experiences, giving participants practical insights into different professions before choosing an educational or career path. And through informal information sessions, young people will have the chance to ask questions about studying, apprenticeships, work and everyday life in Switzerland—learning not only from experts, but from those who have already walked the same path.
The goal is simple: to replace uncertainty with confidence and strangers with teammates.
Because finding your place in a new country does not begin with paperwork. It begins when someone says, “Come with us.”
