Corporate Volunteering: Cricket for Integration

The goal of our corporate volunteering project is to use cricket as a platform to foster meaningful connections between corporate employees and refugee youth, promoting social integration, cultural understanding, and community engagement. Through joint cricket sessions, team matches, and interactive activities, we aim to break down barriers, build trust, and develop communication, teamwork, and leadership skills for both volunteers and participants. The programme also provides a structured space for sharing experiences, mentoring, and dialogue, creating lasting social impact while giving corporate teams an opportunity to contribute positively to the refugee community.

The challenge our project seeks to address is the social isolation and limited integration opportunities faced by refugee youth in Switzerland, especially during periods without structured activities. Many young refugees struggle to build social connections, develop language skills, and access recreational or leadership opportunities, which can lead to disengagement, low self-confidence, and mental-health challenges. Simultaneously, corporate employees often lack meaningful, hands-on ways to engage with refugee communities. Our project tackles both challenges by creating a shared, inclusive environment where cricket becomes a bridge for interaction, mentorship, and intercultural understanding.

There is a clear need for action to provide structured, engaging, and culturally relevant opportunities that promote social integration, skill development, and community engagement for refugee youth in Switzerland. Without targeted initiatives, these young people remain at risk of isolation, disengagement, and reduced well-being. At the same time, corporate employees need accessible and meaningful ways to contribute to social impact. By leveraging cricket as a shared activity, we can address these gaps, fostering connections, mutual understanding, and personal growth for both refugees and volunteers, while strengthening social cohesion within local communities.

To achieve our goal and address the challenges identified, the project will implement the following concrete measures: Cricket Training & Matches: Organize structured cricket sessions where refugee youth and corporate volunteers play together in mixed teams. Sessions will teach fundamentals of cricket while fostering teamwork, communication, and mutual respect. Mentorship & Exchange: Facilitate small-group discussions and tandem exchanges where volunteers share personal and professional experiences, offering guidance, inspiration, and practical insights to refugee youth. Community & Cultural Events: Host inclusive cricket festivals, cultural showcases, and shared meals to strengthen social bonds, celebrate diversity, and provide a platform for meaningful intercultural interaction. Leadership Development: Provide opportunities for both refugee youth and corporate volunteers to take on leadership roles during events, fostering skills in organization, coordination, and decision-ma

Embrach Cricket Aademy will foster collaborations with: Asylum centers, AOZ, Cricket Switzerland

The effectiveness of the project lies in its ability to create tangible social, educational, and personal outcomes for both refugee youth and corporate volunteers. By combining structured cricket sessions, mentorship, and cultural exchange, participants develop key life skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and resilience. Refugee youth gain confidence, social connections, and a sense of belonging, reducing isolation and supporting mental well-being. Corporate volunteers benefit from hands-on engagement, intercultural learning, and meaningful social impact. The mixed-team approach, repeated interactions, and community events ensure lasting relationships, measurable improvements in integration, and strengthened social cohesion between refugees and local communities.

he special quality of this project lies in its innovative use of cricket as a bridge between cultures, combining sport, mentorship, and cultural exchange in a single programme. Unlike traditional integration initiatives, it creates an interactive, hands-on environment where refugees and corporate volunteers build trust, understanding, and social bonds through shared experiences. Embrach Cricket Academy (ECA) is particularly suited to realize this project due to its proven expertise in using cricket for refugee integration, years of experience running inclusive cricket programmes, and strong partnerships with local refugee organizations, corporate partners, and cricket clubs. ECA’s team has first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by refugee youth and the practical experience to design sessions that are engaging, culturally sensitive, and impactful. This combination of sport expertise, community engagement, and established networks ensures the project’s success and sustainability.