Integration offerings

People arriving in the Canton of Jura receive information and advice on, for example:

• everyday life
• rights and duties
• French courses
• support for young children
• training
• work
• protection against racism.

Upon arrival, people are invited to a welcome session. The municipality and canton welcome them and provide them with information about life in the canton and useful services.

For more information and advice on integration and combating racism, contact this office:

Office for the Integration of Foreigners and the Fight against Racism (Bureau de l’Intégration des étrangers et de la lutte contre le racisme)

Faubourg des Capucins 20—2800 Delémont

email: secr.bi@jura.ch

Tel. 032 420 51 12

Monday and Thursday from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The AJAM offers information and counselling services specifically for people coming from asylum.

At the Jura Cantonal Library (Bibliothèque cantonale jurassienne) in Porrentruy, a documentation centre is open to everyone, the public and professionals alike. Information on integration and racism can be found.

Learning French is important to understand each other well and to find a job or training. It also helps to solve everyday problems.

The COMUNICA programme offers French courses for foreigners, from beginner level (A1) to advanced level (B2). These courses are inexpensive. The COMUNICA programme also provides courses for people who are not familiar with our alphabet or have difficulty reading or writing: literacy courses.

Some municipalities pay part of the registration fee.

The Animation and training centre for women and families (Centre d’Animation et de Formation pour Femmes et Familles) (CAFF) offers French courses for women, with a childcare service on site. These courses are inexpensive.

There are other French courses in the area.

The AJAM also offers courses in languages specifically for people coming from asylum

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – Learning, Teaching, Assessing (CEFR) is often used to determine a person’s level of French.

This framework ranges from level A1 (beginner) to level C2 (perfect mastery). Vocational training often requires a B1 or B2 level.

The fide test checks the level of French for everyday life in Switzerland. It tests the level of oral (spoken) and written language. The results are given in a “language passport”. This passport can be used to look for a job, apply for a residence or settlement permit, or apply for Swiss nationality.

Many people come to the Canton of Jura to work. In addition, 5% of foreigners come to the Canton of Jura for vocational training.

But it is often difficult for foreigners to integrate into the world of work. This is difficult for a number of reasons: the administrative procedures are complicated, the schools and training courses in their country are not the same as in Switzerland, experience and qualifications from their country are not recognised in Switzerland, people do not speak French well enough, they do not have many friends or acquaintances. Sometimes people face discrimination or injustice when looking for work or at their place of work.

The Regional Employment Office (Office régional de placement) (ORP) helps people look for work .

Two brochures are available from the Office for the Integration of Foreigners and the Fight against Racism (Bureau de l’intégration des étrangers et de la lutte contre le racisme). The titles are:

• “Finding a job in the Canton of Jura” (Rechercher un emploi dans le canton du Jura) (information and tools)
• “All equal in terms of employment. Good Practice Guide for the Prevention of Racism and Discrimination in the World of Work” (Tous égaux face à l’emploi.Guide des bonnes pratiques pour la prévention du racisme et des discriminations dans le monde du travail) (especially for employers)

The PréFOR and PAI + programmes are for young people between the ages of 16 and 25 who have arrived in Switzerland.

These programmes help young people to enter vocational training later on.

The Post-Compulsory Training Service (Service de la formation post-obligatoire) assists young people and adults who have finished compulsory schooling in finding [vocational] training(90315).

The AJAM also offers assistance in finding training specifically for people coming from asylum.

The first years of life are important for a child’s development. The child learns a great deal in this time. It is important to give the child a solid foundation, especially for their school career.

The Animation and training centre for women and families (Centre d’Animation et de Formation pour Femmes et Familles) (CAFF) offers workshops for parents and children.

In these workshops, we talk about parenting. We also talk about this subject: “How to prepare the child for a good start to school”.

“Little:steps” (“Petits:pas”) is a programme offered by Families2000 (Familles2000).

This programme supports the development of children. It helps them integrate into society. Through games and activities with their parents, children learn to talk, move, have friends, manage their emotions, etc.

“Book Bath” (“Bain de livres”) organises activities focusing on books and stories in more than 80 languages.

Books and games on living together: there are books and games for children to talk about different cultures and living together. Some books and games are available at the Jura Cantonal Library (Bibliothèque cantonale Jura) in Porrentruy.

Children who speak a foreign language should be in touch with French-speaking children as soon as possible. It is important that they learn French before going to school. The nurseries, kindergartens and special offerings for parents and children are great for this.

Parents also have to use their own language a lot with their children. This is very important too.

For example: talking to children a lot, listening to them, telling them stories in their own language.

Schoolchildren can also attend classes in their own language. These courses are called: the language and culture of origin courses (LCO courses). These courses are usually organised by the embassy or consulate or an association from the home country.

Schools provide full information about LCO courses.

Everyone should feel at home in our canton. Every person is part of society and contributes their skills to the benefit of all. Everybody can get involved in everyday life, in their municipality, neighbourhood or with their neighbours.

Associations, groups of foreigners and religious communities are important for this. It is also possible to do volunteering.

Do you want to create projects to support “Living Together”?

Useful information and advice can be found here:

Office for the Integration of Foreigners and the Fight against Racism (Bureau de l’Intégration des étrangers et de la lutte contre le racisme)

Faubourg des Capucins 20

2800 Delémont

email: secr.bi@jura.ch

Tel. 032 420 51 12

Monday and Thursday from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Animation and training centre for women and families (Centre d’Animation et de Formation pour Femmes et Familles) (CAFF) offers workshops and activities for migrant women. These workshops provide an opportunity to speak French and meet new people.

LARC, run by Caritas Jura, is open to all. This venue offers activities to meet and get to know new people.

The Office for the Integration of Foreigners and the Fight against Racism (Bureau de l'intégration des étrangers et de la lutte contre le racisme) sometimes organises events such as round tables or exhibitions on topics related to integration or racism.

Is someone being treated unfairly? Are they less respected than others because of their

• origin?
• gender?
• age?
• language?
• social situation?
• lifestyle?
• religion, values, or political beliefs?
• or because of a physical, mental or psychological disability?

If so, that person is a victim of discrimination.

We also say: this person is being discriminated against.

The Swiss Constitution says that no one should be discriminated against.

Article 261bis of the Criminal Code punishes public acts of discrimination.

Yet discrimination and racism can be found in many areas of life.

For example, at work, looking for accommodation or dealing with neighbours.

This can take the form of hurtful words, aggression or even injustice.

Unfortunately, this often happens in secret. We don’t see it.

Or have you seen acts of discrimination or racism?

Then contact this office:

Office for the Integration of Foreigners and the Fight against Racism (Bureau de l’Intégration des étrangers et de la lutte contre le racisme)

Faubourg des Capucins 20—2800 Delémont

email: secr.bi@jura.ch

Tel. 032 420 51 12

Monday and Thursday from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

You will find a listening ear, information and advice.

This office notes and registers all cases of discrimination in the Canton of Jura.

Want to get involved against racism?

This office advises and supports you in your projects against racism.

When you arrive in Switzerland, you do not yet speak French, or you do not understand it well. But very often, it’s important to understand each other.

For simple situations, you can ask friends, family or people in your community to help you translate.

But for important or private conversations (e.g. with a doctor, at school or for official documents), it is better to call a professional interpreter.

Caritas Switzerland’s “Understanding” (se comprendre) Service offers professional interpreters.

These are community interpreters. Some are from your country. They speak your language and are also familiar with your culture. They work in person, by phone or by video. These interpreters can also help you with special procedures.