The foundation supports individuals whose main and permanent place of residence is in Switzerland: these are primarily:

  • Swiss citizens
  • Holders of a settlement permit (C)
  • Recognised refugees

With the proviso of «helping others to help themselves», its support comes in the form of grants for initial training as well as contributions for essential retraining.

To Individual applications

What applicants can expect from us

  • simple application procedure: no unnecessary formalities
  • Case looked at as whole; we are not afraid of unusual projects 
  • Help with breaking free from a difficult situation or making a fresh start 
  • Trust and confidentiality
  • Support that is well thought through: what will happen at the end of the sponsorship?

What applicants should not expect from us

  • Replacement for government benefits (social assistance or cantonal grants) or maintenance support 
  • Support for applicants that have the potential to carry out the project by themselves
  • Support if the applicant’s motives are not clear to us
  • Support which will merely improve the person’s situation and not help them to break free or make a fresh start
  • Scholarship applications for higher education studies (universities, universities of applied sciences): As a rule, the Foundation does not accept applications for scholarships. Instead, we cooperate with EDUCA SWISS, which grants student loans. Please contact them directly with your funding request. In exceptional cases, you may send us an application if the repayment of a student loan is impossible or unreasonable in the long-term. This may result, for instance, from special health or family reasons.

What we expect from our applicants

  • Active cooperation to improve their own situation / personal initiative
  • Transparency and proactive communication before  / during / after sponsorship
  • Report at the end of sponsorship stating what has been accomplished and how the goal of «helping others to help themselves» was achieved.
Examples

Mrs. S. (39 years) is a single mother of three children who are still going to school. The family depends on social assistance. Because of an allergy, Mrs. S. can’t work in her profession as a hairdresser. She hasn’t been working since the birth of her children. Mrs. S. wishes to be financially independent again and to become an office employee with a commercial diploma. The foundation atDta has paid the training costs. Today, Mrs. S. works in her new job.

Mr. N. (26 years) is the second of six children in a farming family. After passing his Matura, he wants to study to become a teacher at secondary level 1 at the University of Teacher Education. But his parents cannot cover the costs. In addition, the canton rejects the application for a scholarship because the family owns its own farm. The foundation atDta supports Mr. N. with a long-term, interest-free loan. Mr. N. now teaches with great pleasure.

 

Mrs. Z. (35 years) is a single mother and lives in a social institution for drug dependent persons with children. Her foreign professional diploma is not recognised in Switzerland. Mrs. Z. has managed to overcome her drug addiction and to work again. She loves sport and wanted to become a fitness instructor. The foundation atDta paid the training costs. Today, Mrs. Z. lives in her own apartment and works as an instructor in a fitness studio.