Building a More Inclusive Zurich Together

How can we create a city where everyone feels welcome and has equal opportunities to participate in society? This question was at the heart of the 2026 Zurich Migration Conference, held under the theme "Our Children, Our City: Growing Up in a Post-Migrant Society".

On September 17, around 220 professionals from education, social services, integration and research gathered at Kunsthaus Zürich to discuss the experiences of children and young people growing up in a diverse society. The conference was organised by AOZ and the City of Zurich's Department for Diversity, Integration and Anti-Racism (DIA). Our CEO Aybüke Yildirim was invited to participate in a panel discussion, bringing SPORTEGRATION's perspective to the conversation.

The discussions focused on belonging, equal opportunities and social participation. A key question was how to better reach families facing difficult living conditions and remove barriers that prevent them from accessing existing services and opportunities.

One particularly meaningful part of the conference was hearing directly from young adults about their experiences of growing up in Zurich. Their personal stories of cultural identity, belonging and everyday racism highlighted the importance of listening to different perspectives and taking them seriously.

Participation Starts with Connection

The topics discussed at the conference are closely connected to our daily work at SPORTEGRATION. We believe that integration succeeds when people, regardless of their background, have opportunities to connect, contribute and actively shape their communities.

Through our free and accessible sports programmes, we create spaces where people with and without refugee backgrounds can come together. Our activities not only encourage social connections and strengthen community ties, but also promote the physical and mental health of our participants.

The conference reinforced the importance of removing barriers and making opportunities accessible to as many people as possible.

We would like to sincerely thank AOZ, the City of Zurich and everyone involved for the invitation and the valuable exchange. Together, we are working towards a society where diversity is embraced and everyone has the opportunity to belong.

You can find more information and a brief report on the conference here.