Inclusion and equal opportunities

Everyone should be able to take part in an exchange project, regardless of their personal situation. This improves the quality of the exchange projects and enhances the learning experience for all participants. We provide additional resources to support people with special needs.

Inclusive projects that actively promote and value diversity are of higher quality. They enable different perspectives and experiences to come together, resulting in a clear added value for society.

We would like to encourage you as a project organiser to design your exchange projects in such a way that they are accessible to all participants, regardless of their origin, gender, abilities or social background. Promoting equal opportunities means recognising and breaking down barriers so that everyone has the same opportunities to benefit from an exchange.

The situations people find themselves in and the obstacles they encounter can be diverse and vary depending on the context. The following situations (non-exhaustive list) can influence participation in and access to exchange projects:

  • Disabilities: people with physical, mental or cognitive impairments
  • Health barriers: e.g. people with chronic illnesses, serious medical problems, mental illnesses, etc.
  • Cultural barriers: e.g. people with a migrant or refugee background; members of national, linguistic or ethnic minorities, etc.
  • Economic barriers: e.g. people living in difficult financial circumstances, with debts or in poverty; people in precarious employment, etc.
  • Social barriers: e.g. people who are discriminated against on the basis of their gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or religion; people with addictions; single parents; (former) prisoners, etc.
  • Barriers related to education and training systems: e.g. people with learning difficulties, people who are not in employment, education or training (or unable to be), etc.
  • Geographical barriers: e.g. people from rural, peripheral areas with no access to social services; people from problem regions (e.g. with increased environmental pollution or social hotspots), etc.

How you can promote inclusion and equal opportunities

By placing equal opportunities and inclusion at the heart of your projects, you help to ensure that all participants benefit from the advantages of an exchange, while at the same time increasing the quality and impact of your projects.

Here's how you can proceed:

  • Ensure accessibility: When planning your projects, make sure that they are accessible to people with diverse needs. This may mean choosing barrier-free locations or providing materials in different formats. Identify potential barriers that could prevent certain groups from participating and actively seek ways to overcome them.
  • Clarify needs and communicate actively: Find out what the needs of the people concerned are before carrying out your event or project. Give all participants the opportunity to indicate any specific needs and or required support measures during registration. Provide clear and timely information about the accessibility of the venues and any access restrictions.
  • Selection of participants: When selecting participants, ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to take part in the exchange project. Proactively reach out to people who may have less access to exchange opportunities.
  • Awareness-raising and training: Talk to participants about inclusion and equal opportunities. Awareness-raising is the first step toward creating an open and inclusive atmosphere.

Support from Movetia

We provide financial support for people with special needs to participate in exchange and mobility projects. In the case of cooperation projects, the additional costs must be budgeted for at the time of application.

Special needs support covers all additional costs associated with the participation of people with disabilities or people with physical, mental or chronic illnesses. The term ‘additional costs’ refers to the costs that exceed those typically incurred by participants without special needs.

Here are some examples of eligible costs:

  • Additional transport costs for wheelchair users
  • Travel and accommodation costs for an additional group leader/accompanying person
  • Costs for a sign language interpreter

We will cover the actual additional costs incurred, up to a maximum of CHF 12’000 per person.

Applying for additional funds

To apply for additional funds, you must know the personal details of the person(s) concerned and the estimated costs. Please have the following information ready:

  • Details of the person with special needs
  • Brief description of the special needs
  • List of expected additional costs
  • Incoming mobility: confirmation of the need for support from the partner organisation abroad
  • Outgoing mobility: confirmation of the partner organisation's willingness to accept the participant

You can apply for the costs for special needs during the project period. To do so, enter the above information in the login area as early as possible, but no later than with the final report.

Futher information and tools

Are you interested in this topic and would like to make your exchange more inclusive? Here are some links to resources on inclusion and equal opportunities.

Cross sectoral:

Youth work:

Adult education:

Higher education:

 

From the magazine

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Contact

We would be happy to advise you personally and help you make your exchange project more inclusive.