Award Night 2024

The myAbility Talent® program connects students, doctoral students and people with higher vocational education or recognized federal further education - both those starting out in their careers and those with professional experience - with well-known companies that want to get to know new talent. From March to September 2024, there will be an opportunity to take part in coaching sessions and workshops on self-presentation and to develop strategies for communicating accessibility in the workplace. The program brings talented people with disabilities together with companies that are open to inclusion. More than 80 participants have already benefited from career coaching and individual advice. Every year, up to ten companies take part in the Swiss program and get to know future employees with disabilities. Company representatives are sensitized and advised so that fears of contact are reduced and equal opportunities for career paths are created for people with disabilities. For five years, myAbility has been organizing the myAbility Talent Program in Switzerland, with accessibility and an inclusive attitude at the center. This creates advantages for both the companies and the participating talents.

The UK Calendar with German-Swiss Sign Language is the first barrier-free, multimodal calendar in Switzerland. It visualizes the months with barrier-free pictograms as well as with sign language photos and QR codes that lead to the corresponding sign language videos. Its clear structure and the pictogram stickers provided offer a variety of approaches to the topic of time. With its various access options, the UK Calendar becomes more than just a calendar: It becomes a connecting tool that not only helps people to experience time together, but also to actively communicate about time. A central goal of the UK Calendar is to define the conditions for success together with everyone involved and to clarify the added value of supported communication and easy language. German-Swiss Sign Language has so far only been used to a very limited extent in regular schools. In order to sensitize and motivate teachers, relatives and students, the UK Calendar has been further developed specifically for use in regular schools.

It is estimated that a quarter of all people in Switzerland accompany people who are affected by mental crises. These include parents, siblings, partners, friends, neighbors, work colleagues and other caregivers. Many children also grow up with parents who are going through mental crises. Relatives bear a lot of responsibility, often without sufficient professional support. They experience great stress, but also self-efficacy and recovery. Through these experiences, they develop special skills, such as good knowledge of health care, understanding for other relatives and the ability to promote resilience. The self-help organization VASK Bern has launched the "EX-IN for relatives" project to support these caregivers. The program enables relatives to work as "relative companions" and actively contribute their experiences. The course includes 240 hours of theoretical training and 65 hours of internships. Since 2020, 13 participants have already completed the training and a second course will start in May 2024.

Seniors@work is the Swiss job platform for job seekers aged 50 and over and retirees. With a transparent and straightforward concept, it combats age discrimination in the job market. The platform offers a safe space in which applicants can state their date of birth without fear, as potential employers value the (life) experience and expertise of the older generation. The vision of Seniors@work is a world in which age plays no role and is just a number. The platform connects the potential of older professionals with companies and promotes exchange between generations. Using the platform is easy: whether looking for a job or looking for professionals, clients and candidates contact each other directly. This creates an active collaboration and a win-win situation for everyone involved. The idea for Seniors@work came about when Alexis Weil realized that his father was retiring despite his fitness and motivation, although he wanted to continue to participate actively in the job market. In 2019, Alexis founded Seniors@work to connect 50+ and retired professionals with companies and thus address two challenges at once.

The Board For Good Foundation was founded in June 2021 by Beate Eckhardt and Georg von Schnurbein. The current president is Theresa Gehringer. The non-profit and tax-exempt foundation is organized as a dependent foundation under the umbrella of the Fondation des Fondateurs. Grant-making foundations are extremely influential in Switzerland and enable numerous art and cultural projects, support research and science, promote start-ups and social enterprises, and are involved in the social and sustainability sectors. With over 13,000 non-profit foundations, Switzerland is an international leader in the foundation sector and has six times more foundations per capita than the USA or Germany. However, one problem remains: there is a massive lack of young people in the strategic committees of foundations. The Board For Good Foundation addresses this problem by awarding scholarships for foundation board training to young people under the age of 35. The outdated argument that young people have too little experience and skills is thus refuted. In addition, the Advisory Board raises awareness for the rejuvenation of foundation board committees through workshops, keynotes and reports.

The non-profit and non-profit association Companies & Returnship Network has set itself the goal of sustainably spreading return-to-work programs - so-called "returnships" or "supported hire" - in Switzerland. Members of the association are employers and employer-related organizations who benefit from the exchange of knowledge and experience as well as the development of know-how in this area. CRN offers access to an extensive network through various joint events such as the annual employers' conference, community and network events. Members also receive access to a toolkit for designing return-to-work programs, national and international best practice examples, support & consulting, and a network of people willing to return. Middle-aged women in particular benefit from these return programs, but men are also increasingly affected as they experience more and more interruptions in their employment. Return-to-work programs particularly affect middle-aged people and thus promote professional diversity and integration in this age group.

MOD-ELLE is a non-profit organization from Switzerland that is committed to combating gender stereotypes in young people's career aspirations. Since 2018, over 2,000 children have met women in a wide variety of professions through these initiatives, including computer scientists, engineers, firefighters, pilots and mechanics. These encounters build bridges between school and the world of work and open up new perspectives for the children. Every year, these impressive women visit schools to talk to the children about their professions. They broaden their horizons and play a crucial role in breaking down gender stereotypes regarding careers and job opportunities.

The organization “Girls for Leadership” is passionate about motivating young women to take on leadership positions. Companies benefit from the development of young leaders, positive external perception and the promotion of innovation. The program offers mentees professional development, career planning, increased self-confidence and networking. Despite a proportion of almost 60% girls in high schools, women are severely underrepresented in leadership positions: in 2023, only 22% of top management positions in Switzerland were held by women. The program connects talented high school students with experienced mentors in leadership positions who are specifically selected and trained. “Girls for Leadership” visualizes the path to leadership roles for the next female generation and thus promotes diversity and equal opportunities.

Founded in 2016, Women in Digital Switzerland (WDS) advocates for gender equality in the digital economy. With eight chapters across Switzerland and a central association of volunteers, WDS is a community of modern leaders. WDS promotes community building by bringing women together in various digital roles and creating a supportive network. Through workshops, trainings and mentoring programs, WDS equips women with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in digital careers. WDS actively advocates for gender diversity and promotes systemic change through research and advocacy campaigns. The organization celebrates female leaders and role models in the digital space to inspire the next generation and create greater visibility and recognition for women in leadership positions. Additionally, WDS partners with industry players and educational institutions to drive collaborative efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusion in the digital sector. Through their tireless commitment and collective efforts, WDS continues to make significant progress in building a more equitable future for women in the digital age.

Joelle Payom is a dedicated professional recognized for her commitment to promoting an inclusive work environment. With over 15 years of experience in sales and procurement roles in various companies in France and Switzerland, she founded her own company in 2020 to develop practical solutions aimed at making workplaces more inclusive and high-performing. As the visionary behind Rezalliance, she uses her expertise to create and maintain a dynamic ecosystem dedicated to promoting inclusion while specifically addressing workplace harassment. Her holistic and systemic approach enables employers to better manage psychosocial risks and preserve the integrity of employees, regardless of visible or invisible differences. Authenticity and pragmatism, combined with a holistic, systemic and intersectional vision: with Rezalliance, the path to inclusion becomes easier and more enriching. Important initiatives include the International Day Against Harassment on 24 May and Rez-Care: a central platform that supports and listens to people affected by harassment and discrimination.

The myPeer association has set itself the ambitious goal of helping those affected in Switzerland to find a suitable peer quickly and easily. To make this possible, those responsible have developed an intensive nine-day training course in collaboration with the Olten Coaching Center. The first five courses, in which a total of 60 participants successfully took part, have already been completed. The association offers an innovative search platform on which certified myPeer coaches make their valuable experience available to new sufferers. When someone has an accident, falls ill or is suddenly confronted with a stroke of fate, countless questions arise - both for those affected and for their relatives. Even if medical treatments and therapies are well-founded, a great deal of uncertainty often remains. Someone who has had similar experiences themselves understands these fears and knows exactly how the sufferer feels. Such a companion is called a peer. A peer can provide encouragement in the here and now with important ideas and answers. In addition, a peer looks to the future, shows new possibilities, promotes self-help, listens and encourages those affected and their relatives to reflect on what they have experienced and to integrate it into a meaningful, independent life.

Since 1999, the IdéeSport Foundation has been opening sports halls for children, young people and families in Switzerland. It offers regular meeting places that encourage exercise and encounters and have positive effects in health promotion, equal opportunities, prevention and integration. IdéeSport promotes diversity sustainably and effectively, connects people from different backgrounds and strengthens their resources for a self-determined life. The programs create cohesion and overcome cultural and social barriers. Joy, respect, participation and inclusion are at the forefront of the offers, which take place in a safe environment. The quality of the programs is regularly evaluated, as confirmed by an external evaluation by Ecoplan 2023. The CoachProgram supports young people in the transition from school to vocational training, promotes their life skills and strengthens their resilience. Young people from disadvantaged families in particular are supported in order to ensure equal opportunities and enable them to actively contribute to society.

After graduating in law from the University of Havana in Cuba, she first obtained a Master's degree in European Law and International Business Law from the University of Geneva and then a certificate in international arbitration from the same university. In parallel, since 2018, Ivonne González has been leading the Black Guiris collective, which carries out participatory artistic performances on the theme of black invisibility in the arts, education and other fields. The collective's performances have been presented in several museums and festivals in Switzerland, Europe and Latin America. Ivonne González also gives lectures on racism for various Swiss organizations and has been leading the multilingual Noircir Wikipédia project since 2018, which promotes the visibility of the contributions of African and Afro-diasporic culture to universal culture in the online encyclopedia. In 2021, she collaborated with the Department of Public Education of the City of Geneva, giving workshops against racism-related bullying and other forms of discrimination. Ivonne González is also the director of Noircir, an association supported by the City of Geneva that promotes the visibility of Swiss citizens of African descent.

The Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse is the umbrella organization of the Yenish and Sinti in Switzerland. As a self-organization of these national minorities, it also acts as a competence center and supports the interests of the Roma and Yenish throughout Europe. Founded in 1975, the Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse is recognized and subsidized by the federal government. Since autumn 2023, it has been a member of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), the most important umbrella organization of national minorities in Europe. The Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse actively supports the interests and rights of the Yenish, Sinti and Roma and promotes their recognition and visibility both in Switzerland and internationally. Europe-wide. Founded in 1975, it is recognized and subsidized by the federal government. Since autumn 2023, the Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse has been a member of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), the most important umbrella organization of national minorities in Europe.

"Joshua Amissah, born in 1995, studied fine art and photography at the Zurich University of the Arts, followed by a design degree. His debut photography volume "BLACK MASCULINITIES" won the ZHdK's award and was nominated for the Swiss Design Award 2023. As a book editor, art mediator and curator, he explores the representational mechanisms of marginalized perspectives at the interface of image and word. His international clients include documenta fifteen, Boros Collection, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, VOGUE Germany, Migros Magazin, photoSCHWEIZ, Schauspielhaus Zürich and many more. Amissah has been committed to diversity and inclusion in cultural production for years. In 2020, he curated the largest Swiss photography exhibition to date, "BLACK ART MATTERS", with over 70 Black photographers, and founded the independent art space "Bild8005". His works reflect the collaboration with a intersectional arsenal of creatives. His latest project, GAZE CONTEMPORARY, is a progressive digital gallery that focuses on a diversity-oriented perspective both in front of and behind the scenes, making art accessible in the spirit of a plurality of voices."