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A Space for Vulnerable Women

A Space for Vulnerable Women

Project SummaryUnited Women Switzerland (UWS) empowers women who are new to Switzerland and who face challenges integrating into society. Our objective is to provide a secure and encouraging community for refugees, expatriates, and Swiss women, with a particular focus on refugees. Our project, 'bagforeveryone', brings a social tailoring workshop from Lesbos to Switzerland, where the tailor Fatemeh and other refugee women produce sustainable bags. Donations of CHF 200 or more will be rewarded with a voucher for a handmade bag.
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Background

Displaced from their homes due to conflict, persecution or natural disasters, refugee women face unimaginable hardship and a traumatic journey full of uncertainty. Even after arriving in Switzerland, they often face isolation, both social and emotional. United Women Switzerland (UWS) is committed to easing the often difficult integration process for these women, as well as for other foreign women who newly arrived in Switzerland.
We provide a safe space that fosters connections between refugee, expat, and Swiss women, encouraging mutual support and understanding. Through a diverse range of projects, we aim to empower these women, open new opportunities for them, and support them on their journey towards independence and active participation in society.
Together with our partners, Social Fabric and cloudburst, we have designed a solidarity bag — a limited first edition, handcrafted in Zurich by refugees using sustainable materials. Each donation over CHF 200.- receives a voucher for a solidarity bag.
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Idea

The Social Sewing Studio

bagforeveryone is the first project of UWS , a social sewing studio, that will be run by Fatemeh Y. from Afghanistan, a former refugee with a residence and work permit who will offer sewing workshops. The aim of these workshops is to make women experience Swiss culture and language, and its everyday structure, thereby facilitating their social integration. During the workshops they are supported by a job coach and after successfully completing the workshops they receive a certificate.

At the beginning of April we managed to find a generous space for our sewing studio, which is located in Heuried. Therefore, what we need most at the moment is help to provide the equipment. This includes sewing machines and other sewing utensils. Specifically, we need:

  • Two industrial sewing machines

  • 5 simple sewing machines

  • Fabrics

  • Fabric cutters and other sewing utensils


Our objective is to create a multipurpose space for women from diverse cultural and social backgrounds that fosters creative projects, strengthens solidarity, and promotes social integration. Our key priorities include:

  • Social Integration: Our mission is to cultivate a sense of belonging and reduce the isolation that many newly arrived women in Switzerland experience.

  • Empowerment: UWS aims to implement projects that enable women to discover their strengths and qualities, acquire skills that will allow them to become more independent, and learn how to access and integrate into the world of work.

  • Cultural Exchange: We hope that this initiative will facilitate better connections and mutual understanding among women from different backgrounds.

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Implementation

In the year of 2025, we plan to launch our Sewing Module, led by volunteer helpers and Fateme, a refugee from Afghanistan. Additional modules are in development.
Goal: To provide women with early sewing experience and prepare them for internships and professional integration.
The funds raised through this crowdfunding campaign will be used specifically for the following purposes:

  • Space: CHF 5,000 (rent, refreshments, and furnishings)

  • Materials/Machines: CHF 5,000 (sewing machines, fabrics, and accessories)

  • Development mentoring program: CHF 5,000 (administration, communication, and support for volunteers)


Your contribution will help us create opportunities for refugee women to gain skills, confidence, and a path towards independence.
The following partners support us in the implementation:

  • cloudburst: Responsible for consulting on sustainable materials and their delivery. cloudburst.ch

  • Social Fabric: Sewing workshop for the professional integration of people who have fled their homes and manufacturer of the Zurich Edition bag. socialfabric.ch

  • Botanitex: Dyeing workshop that uses natural resources to color our bags. www.botanitex.ch

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Initiators

Website: www.unitedwomenswitzerland.ch

Instagram: www.instagram.com/unitedwomenswitzerland/

Dr. Iulia Tegge, Project Manager
"Our project aims to create a safe space for refugee women, offering them the opportunity to connect and collaborate."

Mieneke Süess, Communications
"We envision a space in Zurich where isolated women can come together to create and support one another."

Alessandra Cesari, Fundraising
"We aim to collaborate with like-minded organizations to make Zurich a more inclusive and welcoming place for newly arrived women."

Olivia Guler, Founder, Partners
"For donations over CHF 200, you will automatically receive a voucher for a handmade bag crafted by refugees at Social Fabric in Zurich, using sustainable materials from Cloudburst."
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We have a room – now it's time to furnish it!

Great news: Our sewing studio has found a home! To get started soon, we still need the necessary equipment. That's why we've adjusted our crowdfunding goal—and we continue to count on your support.

Just in time for Easter, we have some really good news for you: our sewing studio has found a home! In the Heuried district of Zurich, a spacious room is waiting to be filled with life—with creative ideas, encounters, and new perspectives for women who have experienced displacement.

There is just one thing we need before we can move in and start our first workshops: the necessary equipment. We have therefore adjusted our crowdfunding target from CHF 30,000 to CHF 15,000. We will secure the salary for our dedicated sewing coach Fatemeh through other channels, which will allow us to prioritize the equipment and get started more quickly.

What we need now:

  • Two industrial sewing machines
  • Five simple sewing machines
  • Fabric, fabric cutters, and other accessories

Thanks to you, we have already come a long way—now we just need one last push to bring the space to life.

By spreading the word to your friends and acquaintances, you are not only helping us set up a studio, but also giving women a place to settle, learn, and grow. Of course, any additional donations are also very welcome.

As a small token of our appreciation, you will receive a handmade solidarity bag worth CHF 200 or more, made in collaboration with Social Fabric and cloudburst in our new sewing studio in Zurich.

Thank you for your support and happy Easter!

Warm regards

Your team at United Women Switzerland

Marietta Meier 100,00 CHF
Silvia Wehrli 100,00 CHF
Anonymous 200,00 CHF
Jasmin Guler 100,00 CHF
Fabian Kraus 80,00 CHF
Belinda Vaque 100,00 CHF
Event "Solidarität gefragt" 24.3 200,00 CHF
Silvia Guler 50,00 CHF
Olivia Guler 100,00 CHF
Jil Erdmann 30,00 CHF
Corinne Haffter Schaffner 50,00 CHF
Silke Refghi 100,00 CHF
Alice Mathis 200,00 CHF
Mauro Nart 100,00 CHF
Sanathanan Varathalingam 100,00 CHF
Celina Schaumann 250,00 CHF
Andrea Reiter 100,00 CHF
Ladina Glaus 151,00 CHF
Terence Loh 800,00 CHF
Markus Deublein 200,00 CHF
Sarah Ley 50,00 CHF
Monalisa Stiefel 50,00 CHF
Anonymous 10,00 CHF
Astrid Johanna Mayer 50,00 CHF
Lea Spirig 100,00 CHF
Nina Giacomelli 50,00 CHF
Tania Kyburz 150,00 CHF
Alain Gasser 30,00 CHF
Marianne Spirig 50,00 CHF
Val Mahler 50,00 CHF
Julien Jarmoszko 29,00 CHF
Corinna Landis 200,00 CHF
Vreni Siegenthaler 100,00 CHF
Ivan Stefania 50,00 CHF
Anonymous 15,00 CHF
Nora Degonda 100,00 CHF
Silvia Wehrli 100,00 CHF
Marietta Meier 100,00 CHF
Claudia Bachmann 80,00 CHF
Norma Giannetta 100,00 CHF
Yvonne Eisenring 100,00 CHF
Fabienne Fini 100,00 CHF
Tanja Muzik 155,00 CHF
Unsui 50,00 CHF
Laura Keller 50,00 CHF
Laura Keller 50,00 CHF
Daniela Höpperger 50,00 CHF
Anonymous 100,00 CHF
Anonymous 25,00 CHF
Yannick Träris-Kahriman 100,00 CHF
Florian Hoffmann 10,00 CHF
Marcel Widmer 100,00 CHF
Pascal Jenny 50,00 CHF
Kristjan Jozipovic 100,00 CHF
Pinuccia Rustico 50,00 CHF
Mattia Lento 20,00 CHF
Anonymous 50,00 CHF
Anonymous 100,00 CHF
Anonymous 38,00 CHF
Marij Stosic 250,00 CHF
Anonymous 40,00 CHF
Anonymous 20,00 CHF
Alessandra Cesari 80,00 CHF
Anonymous 20,00 CHF
Patricia Zimmer 60,00 CHF
Marlen Marconi 40,00 CHF
Valeria Togni 150,00 CHF
Vermittelt durch Swisscom 600,00 CHF
Currently, there are still no project partners if you are interested, please contact us via info@there-for-you.com.
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Project: A Space for Vulnerable Women

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Donation Total: 100,00 CHF

68 Supporters 125 days remaining

Major donor

Project supported by Swisscom

Impact analysis by there for you specialists

The project by United Women Switzerland (UWS) offers an innovative approach to integrating refugee women by reducing social isolation and opening up professional opportunities. By combining craftsmanship, cultural exchange, and social networking, the sewing and knitting module provides a sustainable foundation for personal and economic independence. Notably, the collaboration with local initiatives and the targeted promotion of empowerment bring long-term benefits not only to the women themselves but also to the wider community. Additionally, the focus on sustainable materials and high-quality craftsmanship fosters greater awareness of responsible resource use.

We will send the donation receipt (for Switzerland) in January of the following year.

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