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Community and Participation  Volunteering and Intergenerational Projects

The Competence Centre for Community and Participation explores topics related to social cohesion. Studying these issues is essential in a pluralist society of people in diverse circumstances who, in turn, are shaped by cultural factors such as gender, migration, or stage of life.

The Competence Centre focuses on the multifaceted opportunities to participate for a maximum number of stakeholder groups. In its projects, the team of the Competence Centre for Community and Participation empowers various actors in civil society in building communal life and strengthening democracy.

The Competence Centre’s sociocultural and socio-spatial approach enables locally and situationally aligned methods of participation. The Competence Centre advises and evaluates volunteering and participatory projects, supporting municipalities and organisations within civil society in the development of inclusive participation processes.

Its focal points in research, development, and teaching include

  • Integral project methodology and sociocultural practices
  • Fostering of social, political, and cultural participation
  • Participatory methods, specifically with children, young people and the elderly

The team

Research projects

Ältere Frau am Laptop

Folgen der Corona-Pandemie für ältere Freiwillige und ihr Engagement

Engagement im Homeoffice? Das Projekt untersucht die Auswirkungen der Corona-Pandemie auf das freiwillige Engagement älter Menschen in der Schweiz.

Grafitti Future

Enabling youth participation in municipalities

Enabling youth participation in municipalities This cooperation project of the Umbrella Organization of Swiss Youth Parliaments DSJ and the Lucerne School of Social Work aims to foster the long-term political participation of teenagers and young adults in Swiss municipalities.

Labor Siziokultur

Labor Soziokultur

Im Labor Soziokultur entwickeln Fachpersonen zusammen mit Organisationen die Profession der Soziokulturellen Animation durch gemeinsames Experimentieren, Reflektieren, Verwerfen und Entwerfen weiter.

Gülcan Akkaya Publikation

Capacity building for rainbow families in Switzerland and beyond

Families with at least one parent identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or trans face significant challenges in (the rural parts of) Switzerland.

CONTINUING AND EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

Specialist seminar on the fundamental and human rights of people with disabilities

In their practical work with people with disabilities, specialist workers are regularly confronted with basic ethical and fundamental rights questions. They often have to make difficult decisions that infringe the personal rights of their clients.

Specialist seminar on fundamental rights in social welfare practice – challenges and opportunities of restrictions, directives and sanctions

The specialist seminar discusses the many intersections between social welfare and the rule of law. It aims to shed light on the significance of constitutional principles in practice and the structuring of social welfare in everyday life.

Publications