What a plant has got to do with empowerment…

It is the year 1991. A mother arrives in Switzerland with her three young children. In her luggage, only the essentials. And a great hope. That life here will be safer. Calmer. That there will be a future.

But a new country does not automatically mean a new home. The language is unfamiliar. The rules are unclear. Qualifications are not recognized. Work feels out of reach. While the children begin to settle in at school, make friends, and learn, the mother often remains alone. Her world shrinks. Home. Grocery store. Waiting. Waiting again and again. This story is not an exception. It stands for many.

One of many

Especially women with a migration background face particular barriers. Professional experience is not recognized. Children need care. Language barriers arise. Dependence grows. And often there is pressure to accept informal work, without protection or security. Truly arriving becomes a long, quiet struggle.

When Salomé hears a story like this, one thing becomes clear to her. The problem is not a lack of skills. It is a lack of access. Of structure. Of fair opportunities. She builds a simple website and offers exactly the services these women already master. Household work. Sewing. Laundry. Care. Reliability. Dignity. Soon the first requests come in. Then more. Before long, one person is no longer enough. More women join. Valeriana is born.

Valeriana is a social impact project with a clear goal. Integration through work. Fairly paid. Legally sound. Human.

On one side are women with a migration background who want to work and are fully capable. They receive fair wages, structure, security, and a sense of belonging. On the other side are people looking for support in their households and who consciously want to contribute to something meaningful.

Anyone who books through Valeriana does not only receive help in everyday life. They give someone the chance to arrive. Step by step. With dignity. Through our own platform and technology, we ensure that this impact continues to grow. Like a plant that takes root when it is given the right soil. Empowerment begins where work becomes fair. And where work connects.

Our Mission

At Valeriana, our mission is to redefine care work: We create fair and secure jobs for women with a migration background who work in this field. With respect, recognition, and fair pay, we make visible that care work is an essential contribution to our society.

Our Vision

We envision a future in which care work is no longer invisible but is recognized as an equal and indispensable part of society — fairly paid, highly valued, and essential.

“Societal work” encompasses all activities that contribute to the functioning, maintenance, and improvement of society: paid work in companies and public institutions, as well as unpaid, volunteer work and domestic or family tasks that are essential to the common good. This term highlights the importance and value of work that is often underestimated — without it, society could not function.

Through integration via work and meaningful community engagement, we aim to strengthen the sense of “togetherness” within the population and bring society closer together. We give people with a migration background a real opportunity to participate in life in Switzerland. We give their work fair value and actively promote intercultural exchange wherever we can.

In addition, our work is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 goals form a global plan to promote sustainable peace, prosperity, and the protection of our planet. Since 2016, countries around the world have been working to translate this shared vision — to end poverty and reduce inequalities — into national development strategies.

We integrate women with a migration background into the primary labor market through WEC – Work, Education, and Community, creating sustainable opportunities for participation, growth, and self-determination.

We are focused on the following four goals:

SDG 4 Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

SDG 5 Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.


SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries.