Equipa wins the Prix Social beider Basel 2025
On March 18, 2025, International Social Work Day, the Equipa project - Crescenda's fair cleaning cooperative - was awarded the Prix Social beider Basel 2025. The professional association AvenirSocial beider Basel has been recognizing a special contribution to professional social work with the Prix Social every two years since 2012.
The jury, consisting of Aysen Karaman (peer), Zsolt Temesvary (science), Mariam Cissé (practice) and Billy Ostertag (politics), honored Crescenda's Equipa project for its important work in social work in the region.
Crescenda's Equipa project supports women with migration experience at various levels and also takes social, economic and political factors into account. Equipa operates as a cleaning company that is run as a social enterprise. The participating women not only benefit from secure employment, but also receive a fair wage for their work. This is particularly important in the cleaning industry, which is often characterized by low wages and unfavourable working conditions. In contrast, Equipa promotes equal opportunities and comprehensive work integration. The women organize their working hours and activities in self-directed groups, which gives them more autonomy and co-determination.
Support for women with migration experience
The model of the cleaning cooperative as a social entrepreneurial project has considerable potential for expansion so that even more women can be involved at different locations in the future. The project also helps to promote the economic independence, personal growth and social participation of the participating women. A significant advantage of Equipa is that the women do not necessarily have to remain in the cleaning industry. Through personalized advice and further training, they have the opportunity to develop additional skills and try out other fields of work later on. This significantly increases the potential for self-determination and, in line with the empowerment principle of social work, strengthens the women not only professionally, but also in other areas of life. Equipa thus combines elements of individual social work and community work in an outstanding way, creating holistic support for women with migration experience.
The award ceremony took place yesterday, Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at Humbug (Klybeck-Areal) in Basel with almost 100 enthusiastic guests. The program was enriched by Nadia Bisang (Co-Managing Director Avenir Social, Franziska Roth-Bräm (Member of the Basel-Stadt SP Parliament) and the Tres Vencejos Band, Flamenco Oriental. The award ceremony concluded with an aperitif organized by "Migrants help migrants". The expert jury and the organization team were delighted with the numerous, very good and varied project submissions.
Source: www.equipa.ch
