Funding programmes for youth work and youth projects

Citoyenneté

Federal Commission on Migration

With the programme “Citoyenneté – mitreden, mitgestalten, mitentscheiden” (“Citizenship – taking part, shaping, making decisions”), the Federal Commission on Migration (FCM) funds projects that initiate processes for participation in which the entire population can become involved in the public sphere over the long term.

Only for groups
Additional funding for inclusion
Participation: Active involvement and participation of young people
Project duration: 3 years at most
Deadline for applications: until 15 March and 15 September
Link: EKM
Contact person: Elodie Morand, +41 58 465 98 10

European Youth Foundation

Council of Europe

There are four kinds of grants:
– International activities (open to international, national, regional NGOs/networks)
– Annual project schedules (open to international NGOs/networks, can include pilot activities)
– Pilot activities (open to local, national, regional NGOs/networks)
– Structural grants (open to international and regional NGOs/networks)

Deadline for applications: until 1st April and 1st October
Link: European Youth Foundation
Contact person: 0033 3 88 41 20 19

Financial support for cultural participation projects

Federal Office of Culture (BAK)

To promote involvement with and exposure to culture and to remove obstacles to participation in cultural life, the BAK supports participatory projects that promote individual, independent cultural activities amongst the population in particular. 

Only for groups
Deadline for applications: until 1st March or September
Link: BAK
Contact person: E-MAIL

Financial support for music camps under the Youth and Music Programme

Federal Office of Culture (BAK)

The aim of the Jugend und Musik (J+M) (Youth and Music (Y+M)) programme is to guide children and young people towards musical activities and therefore to holistically promote their development taking into account pedagogical, social and cultural aspects.

Only for groups
Project duration: 5 lessons per day for 2-7 days
Deadline for applications: ongoing
Link: BAK
Contact person: E-Mail

Financial support for music courses under the Youth and Music Programme

Federal Office of Culture (BAK)

The aim of the Jugend und Musik (J+M) (Youth and Music (Y+M)) programme is to guide children and young people towards musical activities and therefore to holistically promote their development taking into account pedagogical, social and cultural aspects.

Only for groups
Project duration: 10-20 lessons within 6 months
Deadline for applications: ongoing
Link: BAK
Contact person: E-Mail

Financial support for nationwide projects in the field of music education

Federal Office of Culture (BAK)

Funding is granted for projects that promote the musical education of children and young people by allowing them to actively play music, specifically for festivals and contests as well as projects organised and carried out by musical groups or bands.

Only for groups
Deadline for applications: until 1st September
Link: BAK
Contact person: E-Mail

Financial support for projects in the field of reading promotion

Federal Office of Culture (BAK)

Organisations that are active in the area of reading promotion are supported, as are projects that encourage reading, that inspire young people to read for fun, that introduce reading to children and young people, or that contribute to the expansion of knowledge, the exchange of knowledge, and/or the networking and coordination of actors in the area of reading promotion.

Only for groups
Deadline for applications: until 1st March or September
Link: BAK
Contact person: Stéphanie Schneider

Financial support for the operational structure and for regular activities of individual organisations

Federal Office for Social Security (BSV)

Financial aid for the operational structure and regular activities of individual organisations is intended for organisations that are active across Switzerland or at the linguistic-regional level with a focus on extracurricular work with children and young people and do not aim to generate a profit.

Deadline for applications: until the end of April
Link: BSV
Contact person: Regula Brügger Häring

Financial support for the operational structure and regular activities of umbrella organisations and coordination platforms

Federal Office for Social Security (BSV)

This programme is intended for umbrella associations and coordination platforms.

Deadline for applications: until the end of April
Link: BSV
Contact person: François Stempfel

Financial support to cantons and communes for model projects of national importance

Federal Office for Social Security (BSV)

A model project must serve as a model for the further development of extracurricular work of national importance.  This includes innovative approaches, e.g. approaches that have not yet been implemented in Switzerland, so that the project can serve as a pioneer.

Project duration: 3 years at most
Deadline for applications: until end of February, June or November
Link: BSV
Contact person: Regula Brügger Häring

Financial support to private sponsors for education and training

Federal Office for Social Security (BSV)

Financial aid for education and further training in accordance with Article 9 of the ECAA applies for activities that are carried out regularly, that educate participants with regard to their management, advisory and supervisory functions, and that are clearly distinguished from statutory activities.

Only for groups
Deadline for applications: until end of July
Link: BSV
Contact person: Regula Brügger Häring

Financial support to private sponsors for model projects of national importance

Federal Office for Social Security (BSV)

A model project must serve as a model for the further development of extracurricular work of national importance. This includes innovative approaches, e.g. approaches that have not yet been implemented in Switzerland, so that the project can serve as a pioneer.

Project duration: 3 years at most
Deadline for applications: until end of February, June or November
Link: BSV
Contact person: E-Mail

Financial support to private sponsors for participation projects of nationwide significance

Federal Office for Social Security (BSV)

A model project must serve as a model for the further development of extracurricular work of national importance. This includes innovative approaches, e.g. approaches that have not yet been implemented in Switzerland, so that the project can serve as a pioneer.

Participation: Active involvement and participation of young people
Project duration: 3 years at most
Deadline for applications: until end of February, June or November
Link: BSV
Contact person: E-Mail

Financial support to private sponsors for the implementation of political participation projects

Federal Office for Social Security (BSV)

Projects that promote political participation allow children and young people to participate in political processes on the federal level and apply political mechanisms. Children and young people with special needs are proportionately involved in the preparation and execution of these kinds of projects.

Only for groups
Participation: Active involvement and participation of young people
Project duration: 3 years at most
Deadline for applications: until end of February, June or November
Link: BSV
Contact person: E-Mail

Class Exchange

Movetia

During an exchange, the students can learn a language that they are currently studying in school in an authentic environment and open themselves up to the customs and the culture of the partner class.

Only for groups
Project duration: at least 2 days
Deadline for applications: ongoing
Link: Class Exchange
Contact person: E-Mail

European Continuing Education and Training

Movetia

Jugend in Aktion (Youth in Action) offers training courses for individuals who are active in the field of youth work and/or would like to organise and realise projects with young people or young adults. The courses are held in European countries and help participants plan and carry out projects and also offers them support in their day-to-day work in the field of youth work. 

Only for individuals
Deadline for applications: ongoing
Link: European Continuing Education and Training
Contact person: E-Mail

European Voluntary Service (ESC/ESC)

Movetia

Young people completing a European Voluntary Service (EVS), live in another country for a time and work together on a charitable project either individually or in groups.

Only for individuals
Additional funding for inclusion
Participation: Active involvement and participation of young people
Project duration: 6-12 months 
Deadline for applications: Three times a year
Link: European Voluntary Service (ESC/ESC)
Contact person: E-Mail

Holiday Exchange

Movetia

Movetia can help you find the right exchange partner, but does not offer funding for holiday exchanges.

Only for individuals
Participation: Active involvement and participation of young people
Project duration: 2-4 weeks
Deadline for applications: End of January, April and August
Link: Holiday Exchange
Contact person: E-Mail

Impariamo Insieme

Movetia

The exchange is held between Italian-speaking young people and students who want to learn Italian. 

Only for individuals
Participation: Active involvement and participation of young people
Project duration: 4 weeks
Deadline for applications: until 15 November
Link: Impariamo Insieme
Contact person: E-Mail

International Programme

Movetia

The open project fund is intended to test out initial cooperation or mobility experiences with new partners in countries outside of Europe or to further develop existing partnerships. The type of cooperation and the form of the mobility are not specified.

Only for groups
Project duration: up to 24 months
Deadline for applications: until 31st January
Link: International Programme
Contact person: E-Mail

Mobility Projects for Youth Workers

Movetia

Together with partners from other countries, organisations and individuals who are active in the area of youth work organise international seminars, training courses and networking opportunities for youth workers. These are used for further education and the qualitative development of youth work.

Only for groups
Additional funding for inclusion
Project duration: 2-60 days
Deadline for applications: Three times a year
Link: Mobility Projects for Youth Workers
Contact person: E-Mail

Schools in Exchange

Movetia

The aim the program is to strengthen the contacts between educational institutions and their staff, and to facilitate the exchange of teaching practices, the transfer of innovation and the strengthening of language skills.

Observed lessons or teaching activities

Project duration: 2-19 days
Deadline for applications: ongoing
Link: Schools in Exchange
Contact person: E-Mail

Youth Exchange

Movetia

At a youth exchange, youth groups from two or more countries meet for a few days or weeks to carry out activities together.

Only for groups
Additional funding for inclusion
Participation: Active involvement and participation of young people
Project duration: 5-21 days
Deadline for applications: Three times a year
Link: Movetia Youth Exchange
Contact person: E-Mail

Youth and Politics

Movetia

Projects in the area of youth and politics support the development of youth-related political strategies as well as the active involvement of young people in democratic life. This occurs in a dialogue between the young people and political decision-makers. The transnational activities in the area of youth politics are extremely diverse and range from events to seminars all the way to debates.

Only for groups
Additional funding for inclusion
Participation: Active involvement and participation of young people
Project duration: 2-14 days
Deadline for applications: Three times a year
Link: Youth and Politics
Contact person: E-Mail

Small project fund

High-Rhine Commission

Promotes cross-border exchange projects in the areas of children and youth work, education, culture, sport, school, tourism, nature and the environment.

Only for groups
Project duration: free
Deadline for applications: ongoing
Link: High-Rhine Commission
Contact person: Heike Stoll

Youth Project Fund

Upper-Rhine Conference

The goal of the project fund is to bring young people from Germany, France and Switzerland from the Upper Rhine region closer together.

Only for groups
Participation: Active involvement and participation of young people
Deadline for applications: ongoing
Link: Upper-Rhine Conference
Contact person: E-Mail

Youth and Sport

Federal Office for Sport

A sports camp for at least 12 children and young people in around 70 different disciplines.

Only for groups
Project duration: at least 4 days
Deadline for applications: ongoing
Link: Youth and Sport
Contact person: E-Mail

Youth and Sport

Federal Office for Sport

Sport classes for at least three children and young people in around 70 different disciplines.

Only for groups
Project duration: at least 15 trainings during 15 weeks
Deadline for applications: ongoing
Link: Youth and Sport
Contact person: E-Mail