Historical background
The Uccelli association was founded on July 16, 2021 by the founding members Ato Asiedu Akrofi, Chris-Aimé Andrea, Karim Moutiq, Ardit Sopi and Louis Galla. Its official headquarters are in Zurich.
The origins of the idea for the Uccelli association date back to 2015. One weekend day, board members Ato and Karim met at Meierhofplatz in Höngg to have lunch together. What began as a casual get-together quickly developed into lively discussions about power relations, society and their shared field of interest, anime. During their exchange, it became clear that both felt a strong need to belong to a group of like-minded people. A group where social support was central and where there was also room for "unusual" activities. This desire ultimately led to the idea of the Strana Uccelli, which translates as "funny/peculiar birds". Birds were chosen as a symbol as they represent freedom and independence.
Ato and Karim spontaneously decided to put this idea into practice. Friends who had heard about Strana Uccelli and were interested were offered membership. Among the first members, alongside Ato and Karim, was current board member Chris-Aimé Andrea. In the beginning, Strana Uccelli looked more like a clique than a formal association. The group existed, but without clear goals and visions, it lacked a clear perspective and a sense of purpose. Common interests and leisure activities alone were not enough to define the Strana Uccelli as a real group or association. Over the years, the number of members fluctuated greatly and there were times when the group was even inactive.
In 2019, however, the idea of Strana Uccelli received a decisive boost. A conversation between Ato and Ardit Sopi, a former board member, led to a revision of Strana Uccelli. The group was no longer to be just a clique, but a more or less open association characterized by great inclusion and cohesion. The primary target group became people from lower socio-economic classes. However, this did not mean that people with a higher socio-economic status were excluded from membership. In addition, the network should be oriented towards the structural characteristics of an association.
With these thoughts in mind, Ato rounded up the remaining members of Strana Uccelli for a meeting. The name of the group was shortened to Uccelli. After hours of meetings, discussions and extensive research over the following months, the current Uccelli association was finally founded.
Target group
The Uccelli's primary target groups are people with a migration background and the socially disadvantaged. This includes people who are disadvantaged due to various factors such as a lower social class, single-parent status or belonging to minorities in society. However, it is important to emphasize that the Uccelli association is fundamentally open to all interested parties. Our doors are wide open to anyone who has an interest in our vision and our projects. Regardless of background or social situation, everyone is welcome to join our community and benefit from the many advantages of our network. Uccelli strives to create an inclusive environment where diversity is valued and where people from different backgrounds can grow together and learn from each other.
The Uccelli association provides an inclusive platform where people can come together regardless of their background or origin. Here are some reasons why a network like Uccelli can be beneficial:
- Community and support: Uccelli creates a supportive community where members can meet like-minded people, share experiences and support each other.
- Professional development: Through the network, members gain access to professional development resources, educational initiatives and career opportunities.
- Cultural exchange: Uccelli promotes cultural exchange, enables the discovery of new perspectives and contributes to the promotion of understanding and tolerance.
- Strengthening self-efficacy: The network encourages people to strengthen their own self-efficacy and offers resources for personal growth and empowerment.
- Diverse perspectives: Members benefit from the diversity of perspectives represented in the network, which can lead to creative ideas, innovation and a broad exchange of knowledge.
By opening the association to all interested parties, regardless of their social situation, Uccelli creates an inclusive environment that aims to improve the quality of life and opportunities for all members.
Vision
As the Uccelli Association, we not only strive to create an inclusive community in Switzerland, but also aim to establish several subgroups within the association. These subgroups are designed to address and promote specific needs and interests within our diverse membership.