About us —
Social Fabric
WHO WE ARE?
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We are an independent atelier that is committed to creating education and work integration in Switzerland.
Together with people from refugee backgrounds, we promote self-determined integration, empowering our participants to make informed choices and have control over their lives.
Our integration programme has three branches: social inclusion, employment or work integration, and education.
Since we first opened our atelier’s doors in 2016, we have accompanied over 300 people who have refugee experience on their path towards inclusion.
Additionally, we oversee a community sewing atelier in Zürich and our work on a local level is designed to contribute to an inclusive and strong society.
Our values
Social Impact
We are humanists, and we strive to make a positive contribution to the lives of people we work with.
Community
We bring together a group of engaged and motivated people who share our core values, and who care about each other.
Sustainability
We believe in developing strong and resilient business practices that support people and communities, and are ecosystem-focused.
Respect
We value and care about our team members, partners, suppliers, community members, customers, and the environment.
Transparency
We hide nothing. We tell you who our suppliers and partners are, and we admit when things are not perfect.
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Design
We strive to develop beautiful products and experiences that people value and appreciate.
Our Team
Justine Portenier​
Managing Director —
Strategies and Partnerships​
Mari Kuuse​
Marketing, Communication & Community Management
Ruth Knipping​
Production Management and Education
Marina Kupper​
Production Management and Education​
Martina Feer​
Production Management and Education
Annette Kres​
Production Management and Design
Nassibe Haydari​
Production Team Member
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Mariia Zamula-Kotliarevska​
Production Team Member
Kouassi Amoussou Doh​
Production Team Member —
AOZ GEP-Programme
Rula Hassan​
Production Team Member —
Apprenticeship EBA
Sabir Sidiqi​
Production Team Member —
Apprenticeship EBA
Svitlana Sharafeieva​
Production Team Member
Salif Diallo
Production Team Member —
Voluntary Support​​
Liudmyla Zubal
Production Team Member​
Janine Cleophas​
HR Management —
Temporary
Vita Skalozub
Production Team Member​
OUR VISION —
We believe that education, employment and social engagement play vital roles in generating positive social impact. While available to most citizens of Switzerland, these opportunities are often limited to people with refugee backgrounds. Our aim is to change that.
OUR MISSION —
Our mission is to facilitate integration and social inclusion of people with refugee backgrounds into Swiss society through education and work experience. We do that by providing a holistic training programme and a variety of social community activities centred around sustainable craft and textiles.
Our Board
Megan McGill​
Board Member
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Expertise in circular economy and NPO management
Anna Takihara​
Board Member
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Expertise in B2B marketing and business development
Rosanna Wepfer​
Board Member
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Expertise in financial analytics
Andrea Gerber​
Board Member
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Expertise in textile industry and vocational training
ADVISORS
Dr. Heather Kirk​
Founder of Social Fabric. Expertise in social impact.
Dr. Dominique Bourqui​
Expertise in entrepreneurship and business thinking
Véronique Riccio-Derksen​
Expertise in international humanitarian law
Sonja Astier
Expertise in IT operations
Ksenia Starikova​
Expertise in branding and story-telling
OUR SUPPORTERS —
eBay Foundation
Ernst Göhner Stiftung
Fondation Claude & Giuliana
GGKZ
Kanton Zürich, Fachstelle Integration
Lindenhof Stiftung
Otto Erich Heynau - Stiftung
Stiftung Fons Margarita
Stiftung Temperatio
Stiftung Walter und Inka Ehrbar
Symphasis Stiftung
Zürcher Spendenparlament
roem.-kath. Kirche Dübendorf
Stadt Zürich Integrationsförderung
Netcetera
Migros Kulturprozent
Kathrin Schweizer Stiftung
Hans Konrad-Rahn Stiftung