22.10.24 | 5 min

Lili Center - where immigrants find a community

A second home for some, a completely unknown place for others: the Lili Centre in Lucerne's Tribschen district. As a contact point for international residents of the canton, the center offers everything they need to settle in successfully in Lucerne - from information events on life in Switzerland to cultural events and barbecues for the whole family.

The Lili Center website welcomes you with the slogans Connect, Grow, Thrive. The lively community center in the city of Lucerne has set itself the goal of making it easier for migrants to get started in Central Switzerland. Anyone entering the center receives a warm welcome. You can feel the open culture where everyone is welcome. And you are instantly transported to another world: The kitchen smells of interestingly spiced food, children stack building blocks in the play area. In the course room, participants listen attentively to the instructor, while people sit at their laptops in the work area. The interior is at least as diverse as the visitors to the center and exudes a friendly and down-to-earth family atmosphere.

If you have little connection to the foreign community in Lucerne, you will hardly know the Lili Center. And will be all the more amazed at the diverse range of activities on offer at the community center. A glance at the events calendar promises something for everyone, from games evenings and talks on healthy eating to language courses and theater groups. Various targeted programs make it easier for immigrants to settle in Switzerland. The Lili Centre uses its large network and targeted measures to connect companies with the right international talent. In addition, every Wednesday morning the Lili Centre is transformed into an information café where you can not only meet like-minded people over coffee and croissants, but also ask questions about life in Switzerland. That's what the people in charge of the Lili Center are all about: being a point of contact for all the small and large challenges of daily life.

Lucerne Business maintains a good exchange with the Lili Center. It makes local companies and their managers aware of the center and establishes contacts.

Nadine Rotzer, Project Manager Promotion & Settlement, met with two driving forces behind the Lili Centre for an exchange - Charlie Hartmann, President of the Lili Centre and Lina Petraviciute, Project Coordinator at the Lili Centre.
 

Charlie Hartmann, what does the Lili Center stand for? How can you support people?

The Lili Center is a project of the LivingIn association. It is committed to the successful integration of the international community in Switzerland. As a community center for the international and internationally oriented residents of Lucerne and the surrounding area, the Lili Centre pursues precisely this goal. It offers international immigrants a local community and support in establishing contacts. We see ourselves as a safe place where people can share their experiences - both positive and negative - without being judged.  We also give them practical tips and offer them a wide range of events and targeted programs to help them integrate. We work closely with the city of Lucerne, Lucerne Business and other local institutions to ensure that our clients receive the best possible support on their journey.
 

Lina Petraviciute, can you tell us more about the programs offered by the Lili Centre?

LP: When we started eight years ago, the Lili Center was a pilot project. Back then, we didn't know how effective our commitment would be. We started with German courses, parents' groups and international evenings, which were very well received. Over time, we developed further and were able to set up numerous targeted projects, some of them together with partners such as the city of Lucerne. For example, the "LiLi PRO" program for international companies, the workshops together with "Jobs For Foreigners (JiFF)" and an initiative for mental health. We have also set up a Digital Information HUB and a Small Business HUB. We develop our programs based on case studies that we have been dealing with on a daily basis for almost ten years.

Where do you see the biggest challenges for new immigrants in Lucerne?

CH: Expectations are crucial: if you assume that everything here in Switzerland is the same as it was back home, it can be difficult. Or if you expect to find your way around quickly and easily. Every culture has its own peculiarities - it takes time and patience to understand them properly. There is also a language barrier in German-speaking Switzerland: Immigrants are encouraged to learn High German, but at the same time are surrounded by the Swiss German language. The basic pace of daily life is also new territory for many. Certain things happen slower or faster in Switzerland than in their home country. You have to get used to this. We encourage all new immigrants to be patient with themselves - integration does not happen overnight. It is a continuous journey.

What role does the Lili Center play in promoting cultural diversity in Lucerne?

LP: We focus on equal rights for all people who settle here. In doing so, we respond to the different cultures and get to know each other. For example, we organize monthly international evenings that are themed around a specific country. We present the country's cultural activities, make music together and cook traditional dishes. As a cultural center, we build a bridge between the locals and the international community. We exchange important information and ensure that the integration dialog is open and understandable for everyone.

 

How can local companies benefit from working with the Lili Center?

LP: Many people have difficulty finding a job despite having a top education. They get lost in the maze of the Swiss employment system. That's why we launched the "JIFF (Job for Foreigners)" program together with partners. In this program, we familiarize people with the Swiss job market and connect them with suitable companies. In addition, many families of international workers need support after moving to Switzerland. We have developed the "LiLi Pro" project for them. This enables us to provide comprehensive support to international companies and their employees and their families. The companies recognize the need - the programme is well and gladly used.

The Lili Center is also a contact point for small companies and talented individuals. Many are in the arts or creative industries. They work hard and want to develop their micro-enterprises. To help them build their communication and network, we have developed targeted training courses. We are proud that a number of our SME partners have successfully launched and optimized their businesses - from yoga studios to dance schools and restaurants.

How does the Lili Center contribute to Lucerne's economic development?

LP: We are proud to be part of the "Lucerne economic ecosystem" - from helping small businesses get started in Lucerne to providing comprehensive advice to people on taxes, the banking system, insurance, and so on. Immigrants want to work, but are often overwhelmed by the system. Many of them do not know where to get help on certain topics. Our team supports them with regular information events, explains the social and legal system to them and puts them in touch with the right organization. We also show them opportunities to get in touch with international companies. This enables them to find the right talent.

What successes has the Lili Center had?

CH: We are pleased when the people who use our services quickly integrate into the local community. This includes being able to build a network, learn the language and overcome obstacles. In keeping with the Lili Center's slogan: We are a place to «connect, grow and thrive».

LP: Many success stories have their origins in the Lili Center. For example, the "Plant" restaurant: the owner is a trained architect. As a passionate and talented chef, he followed his true passion after moving to Switzerland. He was looking for premises for his culinary skills and found what he was looking for at the Lili Centre. From here, we were able to watch him develop new recipes as his fan base grew: more and more people queued up at lunchtime to enjoy his delicacies. Eventually, he was able to fulfill his dream and open his own restaurant in Neustadt Lucerne in early 2024. During this five-year journey, we have been with him and his family every step of the way. We are very proud of his success.

We have another success story to share with a Lucerne-based company: When looking for suitable employees, it asked for our recommendations. In the end, the company was able to hire ten people from our network.

What sets you apart from other organizations in the canton of Lucerne that offer similar services?

CH: We remove the language barrier as English is the main language at the Lili Center. We are also a one-stop shop offering help and support on a wide range of topics, be it language, education, work, family or mental health. Thanks to our many years of practical experience, there is practically no challenge that we have not experienced and solved together.

How is the Lili Center supported by the local community?

CH: We are always interested in expanding our network even further and building partnerships with other organizations in the community. We are grateful that we are able to carry out projects with FABIA – the Competence Center for Migration – the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the University of Lucerne, among others. It is important to us to be part of the local community.

LP: We are very grateful for the ongoing support from the city of Lucerne. We are also pleased that more and more international companies are recognizing the benefits of our programs and partnering with the Lili Centre. Some companies use our programs with their employees, others donate to the Lili Centre as part of their corporate social responsibility. We are delighted that every single franc is invested in our community and our programs.

About the people:

 

Charlie Hartmann is President of the LivingIn Luzern association and the Lili Center. She was born in England, grew up in Corsica and has lived in Switzerland since 2000. Charlie Hartmann is passionate about supporting people in their integration process and is committed to helping them make connections in Central Switzerland.
 

Lina Petraviciute is a Vice President at the LivingIn. Born in Lithuania, she moved to Switzerland in 2016. Lina Petraviciute is a member of the City of Lucerne's Integration Committee, Global Brand Development and Communications Director and is also involved in the JIFF development and other projects.

www.lilicentre.ch
www.livingin.swiss