UNI-R

The UNI-R project is organised in collaboration with Cafés Solidaires, but is not run by the association..

UNI-R Project

The integration of people who have been forced to migrate into our city of Geneva is a major social challenge, the key to which is mastering the French language. Beyond French lessons, practising and using the language in everyday life is fundamental, and something that the vast majority of these people sorely lack. In addition, many of them report difficulties in meeting and forming relationships with “locals”, especially young people.

In order to promote exchanges, the Global Studies Institute at UNIGE, in collaboration with AGPsy, oversees the Uni-R programme, which connects University students with people who have been forced to migrate. The programme runs for one semester, at a rate of two hours per week. 

In previous semesters, around 100 people, including students and forced migrants, took part in the programme, forming pairs in which many friendships were forged.

These meetings are not French lessons, nor are they psychological support or legal advice sessions. They are in line with the University's principles, which promote international openness, respect for human rights, sensitivity to different cultures, ethics and humanism.

Supervision

The programme is supervised throughout the semester. Four 2-hour supervisory sessions are provided for students.

1. The opening session, led by a professional coach, aims to present the programme, introduce the pairs and guide them through their first meeting.

2. The second session, led by a psychologist with extensive experience in the field of migration, provides students with some guidelines and tools for establishing the relationship.

3. The third session, led by the Uni-R coordinator and a law expert, aims to review the status and legal situation of forced migrants, based on a few specific cases among the Uni-R migrant participants.

4. The closing session focuses on sharing the experiences of all Uni-R participants during the semester. It is followed by a potluck dinner.

To register

If you would like to devote two hours per week over three months to meeting and talking with a migrant in Geneva as part of the Uni-R programme, a registration form is available. All University students are invited to participate, but students taking the class Regard interdisciplinaire sur la migration forcée will be given priority. 

Registration deadline : 24th of September 2025

• Registration form for students
  https://fpse.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a41s6LkJD2ed1Z4 

• Registration form for migrants and participants in the Academic Horizon programme :
  https://fpse.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0HxCtC6hUcggHdQ

We will confirm your participation at the end of September. If your registration is accepted, we will welcome you at the opening session on September 30th.

Contact

• Person to contact for any questions regarding the organisation of the programme:
  Julie Franck Julie.franck@unige.ch 

• Psychologist to contact for any questions or difficulties encountered within the pair:
  Abdurahman Mah: Abdurahman.mah@psy-ge.ch (tél. 076 842 70 50)