Coaching TransFair2

The Coaching TransFair2 Service aims to equip young people with the skills and knowledge necessary for their professional and social integration. The goal is twofold: on the one hand, to reduce the impact of youth unemployment and inactivity by focusing on long-term integration into the labor market; on the other, to prevent a prolonged period of inactivity from leading to social exclusion and isolation. Autonomy, independence, and the assumption of responsibility by young people are at the heart of the Coaching TransFair2 Service’s objectives, as is raising awareness, particularly among companies, to foster a culture of employment promotion that is more responsible toward younger generations.

Youth unemployment remains a critical issue on the global agenda. Structural trends have led to a paradoxical situation in which young people—who should be the driving force behind economic growth and societal progress—are instead increasingly marginalized from the workforce. Professionals working in socio-professional integration face a wide range of complex challenges, including the misalignment between educational programs and labor market demands, social exclusion, prolonged detachment from employment and education (NEET), precarious job conditions, and financial instability. The outlook for youth employment remains uncertain, both in Switzerland and internationally, with far-reaching economic, social, and psychological consequences.

It is of fundamental importance to intervene on multiple fronts to promote youth employment that is stable and capable of ensuring both professional and personal growth for individuals. It is necessary to offer young people viable prospects for their present and future, provide them with the tools to act autonomously and independently, encourage them to take responsibility, and support them in overcoming the challenges of accessing the job market. This requires action on multiple levels—emotional, relational, and strategic—because society cannot afford to forgo the contribution of new generations, and new generations cannot remain excluded from building the society of the future. Changing the structural foundations that contribute to the current state of affairs is not feasible in the short term. However, as an organization focused on professional integration, it is possible to intervene by maximizing the effectiveness of the tools young people have to secure employment.

To offer the widest possible range of opportunities for access to the job market, the Coaching TransFair2 Service provides a diverse set of measures grouped into three main operational areas: 1. Practical support through job coaching sessions, including assistance in job searching, preparation of application documents, reviewing job postings and opportunities in the hidden job market, and preparation for job interviews. 2. Tutoring for education choices and completion of studies, particularly aimed at preventing early dropout from apprenticeships. 3. Emotional and motivational support through counseling sessions, promoting agency, self-determination, and individual responsibility. At the same time, ongoing efforts are made to establish and maintain contacts with companies, raising awareness and providing information to foster greater corporate social responsibility (CSR) among employers and create new opportunities for young people.

The service operates under the aegis of the Swiss umbrella association Check Your Chance and collaborates with five other organizations that form the "Tavolo Check Your Chance Ticino " (IPT, LIFT, Rock Your Life!, Pro Juventute, YES). Additionally, CT2 works with municipal proximity services, as well as social workers and curators of the Canton, who refer young people in need of targeted support to SOS Ticino. The Ufficio dell'orientamento scolastico e professionale and the Città dei mestieri in Bellinzona also collaborate with us in this regard. Starting in 2024, the "Tavolo Check Your Chance Ticino" of which CT2 is a member, has opened a free consulting desk at the Mendrisio Youth Center. CT2 regularly offers training sessions and workshops at USI, SUPSI, and the Scuola Cantonale di Commercio in Bellinzona and has established a Workshop for Digital Technologies in collaboration with RSI Wetube in Lugano-Besso.

Coaching TransFair 2 targets both young people who, upon completing secondary education, enter the job market or are in a career transition phase, as well as those who have been distant from the job market for an extended period, relying on parental support or social assistance benefits. For both categories, the Coaching TransFair2 Service has seen a steady increase in requests over the years, highlighting a growing need for active measures of this kind. The flexible, individualized, and personalized approach of CT2 allows for excellent placement rates (89% rate of sucess in 2024). This is particularly true for the support provided to NEET youth, to whom the Coaching TransFair2 Service offers specific guidance and a gradual, effective reintroduction to the workforce with excellent results.

SOS Ticino has had its own "Sector of socio-professional integration" for 40 years, focusing particularly on long-term unemployed individuals. In Ticino, our organization is a key point of reference not only for issues related to unemployment but for labor matters in general. SOS Ticino works closely with cantonal and federal authorities and other organizations, establishing strong roots in the local community, and our work is well-known and appreciated. The Coaching TransFair2 Service was created to address the growing problem of youth unemployment. It is staffed by a team of job coaches, counselors, and certified trainers with years of field experience.