Refugees go Solar+
Bridges between two worlds
From 2019 to 2023, Solafrica worked with Root & Branch on the award-winning Refugees go Solar+ programme for the professional integration of refugees in Switzerland. The programme used the potential of refugees to counter the shortage of skilled workers in the booming solar industry – and enabled them to enter the primary labour market. This created a bridge between an industry with growing demand and people who want to work but find it difficult to access the labor market.
Video: SRF Tagesschau, 12.01.2023: Spezialpreis von “Watt d’Or” 2023 geht an “Refugees go Solar+”
Context and challenges
During the five years of the project, Refugees go Solar+ was able to show that refugees are also valuable employees in the demanding, technical solar industry. Thanks to practical training and support, a large number of the more than 90 participants were able to enter the primary labor market. They are now contributing to Switzerland’s energy transition on a daily basis.
The programme was awarded the Watt d’Or 2023 for this innovative approach: The Swiss Energy Prize is awarded annually by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy for exceptional achievements in the energy sector.
The Refugees go Solar+ programme gave rise to the idea for the Solar Perspectives project in Senegal: