We’re on a mission to bring together the amazing strengths, experiences and talents of people from all walks of life. Out goal is to give refugee women access to valuable skills to foster their job integration.
Our bags are crafted with love using local vegan materials right here in Zurich. We’re part of the wonderful non-profit organisation UWS (United Women Switzerland).
Zurich Edition
Having the experience of “bagforeveryone” Lesbos, we bring our beloved project home, in Zurich and, together with a new team, we emphasize its educational purpose. We found a motivated refugee tailor with a working permit that is willing to share her knowledge to other women. At the end of these workshops, the trainee will obtain a certificate allowing them to persuade internships and get jobs in the textile domain.
How it started
Our project was founded on the principles of producing bags made from locally sourced vegan materials in the city of Mytilene on the Greek island of Lesbos. These bags were not just a product; each one had a personal story attached to it, relating to a refugee who had crossed the Aegean Sea from Turkey. Each bag we produced conveyed a sense of hope, happiness, and positive energy. The purchase of a bag automatically supported the tailoring team on Lesbos.
A safe place for refuges in Lesbos
People learned how bagforeveryone Shoppers were made in workshops on two afternoons a week. It was important to have a contact point for women, who were the most vulnerable. It also gave them peace and quiet while they left the camp, where they had to live under terrible conditions. The taylor-atelier room was offered by Starfish. It was also a place where Greeks could work with refugees.
We took action to support those affected by the refugee crisis. Diana and Markus met in Lebanon while working as volunteers. Upon returning to Switzerland, they founded the non-profit organisation #EducationEveryone. Olivia volunteered in Lesvos (GR) in several projects to support refugees. Melinda is a local woman from Lesbos who helped from the beginning when the crisis broke out. Marieke has already worked in a women’s project in Guata Mala and will continue her involvement in Lesbos.
