As soon as you step through the threshold of the office in Plan-les-Ouates (Geneva) of Digitalizers, the program funded by the Canton of Geneva to redesign the professional future of unemployed individuals, you will find a large cabinet in wood, ochre, and gray tones, composed of many drawers, each labeled with the name of a participant in the program. Here, each person has their own space where they can store their personal belongings and their own computer.
This is how a busy day of activities begins: working on personal and group projects, meetings, and training sessions to develop professional skills. For 4 months, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days a week, participants engage in a series of activities supported by 4 specialized coaches in marketing, human resources, administration, and user experience. Any unjustified absence or delay may lead to penalties on unemployment benefits. Here, dreams intersect. Aspiring videographers, would-be dancers, freedom-seeking travelers, artisans of their passion, or those searching for their path. It’s a whirlwind of ambitions, where one works on skills but also nurtures desires.
In this unique environment, a strong community forms, where everyone shares the common thread of unemployment, uniting their stories and aspirations. Here, they support and joke with one another, helping each other out. It’s a time of vulnerability that transforms into strength, as it’s not only about careers but also about passions, fears, and dreams to b
e fulfilled. Like the cabinet that welcomes you at the entrance, the drawers are not alone but united; it’s a place where everyone seeks to find their way in the warmth of a family: the family of unemployment.
