Association Sunflower

What Association Sunflower does

Association Sunflower is a Swiss non-profit humanitarian association founded in 2014 in Geneva by Ludmila Meuwly, a Ukrainian-born Swiss citizen. It is independent of all political, ideological, and religious affiliations and operates two main programs: (1) socio-professional integration of Ukrainian refugees holding Swiss S status, delivered through the Sunflower Planet integration center, a psychosocial support office, Job-Coaching workshops, language courses, sports clubs, and children's play programs; and (2) humanitarian aid coordination to Ukraine, including collection and shipment of food, hygiene products, medicines, and clothing to hospitals, orphanages, social centers, and emergency shelters.

The association is built around a multidisciplinary team of roughly 15 staff — including Ukrainian psychologists, social workers, HR specialists, and administrators — supported by a broader volunteer base. Service delivery is anchored at a headquarters at 4 rue Baudit, Geneva, three minutes from Cornavin station, with the Sunflower Planet center consolidating children's services, adult integration, and the Sunny Club conversation club. Key institutional partners include Hirslanden Medical Group (consultation space), Geneva University Hospitals (psychosocial collaboration), the City of Geneva, FC Servette, and other Swiss sports clubs and municipalities.

The business model is that of a tax-exempt association: revenue is derived from individual and corporate donations (all evidenced with receipts) and annual membership fees (50 CHF individual, 80 CHF family; free for S-status refugees), while all beneficiary services are provided free of charge. Distribution is community-led through events, social media, and partnerships with Swiss authorities. Brand visibility has been reinforced by Guest-of-Honor status at Paléo Festival 2022 and Reuters media coverage.

Name

Association Sunflower

Legal name

Association Sunflower

Website

https://association-sunflower.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Association Sunflower is a Geneva-based Swiss non-profit founded in 2014 that provides free socio-professional integration, psychosocial support, children's programs, and humanitarian aid coordination for Ukrainian refugees with S status in Switzerland and war-affected populations in Ukraine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Refugee Integration Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Migrant Integration Enterprises (Livelihoods, Services) (BPAGALAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Integration & Inclusion Services (Housing, Education, Employment) (BPADAHAI)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Refugee integration programs
• Psychosocial support services
• Nonprofit association services
• Language and job coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-exempt donations from individuals and companies supporting humanitarian causes. All donations are evidenced with receipts.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees: Individual 50 CHF/year, Family 80 CHF/year, Refugee/Status S free of charge. Valid from January 1 to December 31, payable by March 31 each year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Association Sunflower is a Swiss non-profit humanitarian association that provides socio-professional integration support, psychosocial services, language courses, children's programs, sports activities, and cultural excursions to Ukrainian refugees with S status in Switzerland. It also coordinates the collection and shipment of humanitarian and medical aid to Ukraine. All services to refugees are provided free of charge, funded by tax-exempt donations from individuals and companies and annual membership fees.

Product overview

Association Sunflower is a Swiss non-profit humanitarian association offering a portfolio of integration and support services rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include: the Job-Coaching Program for professional integration; the Sunflower Planet Integration Center (with Kid's Club Malyatko, adult Integration Center, and Sunny Club); the Psychosocial Support Office; and the Sports Club Sunflower. Additional services include children's programs (Zernechko play area, summer/sports/creative camps), humanitarian aid coordination to Ukraine, and cultural excursions. All services target Ukrainian refugees with S status in Switzerland, with most activities provided free of charge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Job-Coaching Program Personalized professional integration support through weekly workshops (group and individual sessions) held in Geneva and Nyon, offering career orientation, job search assistance, CV preparation, interview preparation, and follow-up support for Ukrainian refugees with S status, including young graduates, jobseekers, and people in professional transition.
• Sunflower Planet Integration Center Multi-space integration center near Geneva's Cornavin station offering a Kid's Club for children (0-10 years), an Integration Center for adults with language courses (French and English) and job-search assistance, and the Sunny Club conversation club. All activities are free for Ukrainians with S status.
• Psychosocial Support Office Office in Geneva providing psychological consultations (individual and group) for Ukrainian refugees, volunteers, and host families, available in Ukrainian, Russian, French, and English. Staffed by 15 Ukrainian psychologists and administrative personnel in active collaboration with Hirslanden Medical Group and Geneva University Hospitals.
• Zernechko Play Area Play area for children aged 0-4 opened in partnership with the City of Geneva and Cerf Volant Association, offering a warm and welcoming environment for Ukrainian children and mothers with S status, with activities supervised by Swiss psychologists and Ukrainian-Russian-French translation.
• Sports Club Sunflower Sports club at Ecole des Grottes in Geneva offering supervised activities by a professional coach (Ukrainian and Russian speaking) for both adults and children every Sunday, focusing on harmonious physical development, healthy lifestyle, cardiovascular disease prevention, and socialization, free of charge for Ukrainians with S status.
• Summer and Sports Camps for Children Seasonal camps including summer sports camps (football camp with FC Servette, multi-sport camp at Centre Sportif de Vessy), creative day camps on Swiss farms, and autumn camps offering activities like theatre, crafts, sports, and team games for Ukrainian children with S status, free of charge with equipment and meals provided.
• Humanitarian Aid Program for Ukraine Regular humanitarian actions to help war victims in Ukraine, including collection and distribution of food, hygiene products, healthcare items, medicines, and clothing to hospitals, social centers, orphanages, and emergency shelters, coordinated with Swiss and Ukrainian partners including La Caravane de Solidarité.
• Excursions and Cultural Activities Recurring excursions for Ukrainian refugees including visits to CERN, Patek Philippe Museum, RATH Museum, Aquatis, Barryland, Manège in Divonne-les-Bains, and cultural events such as Halloween celebrations, Christmas shows, and Geneva Inspiration tours, provided free of charge to S status holders.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hirslanden Medical GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership where Hirslanden Medical Group provides consultation space for the psycho-social support office serving Ukrainian refugees. The partnership enables 24/7 consultations offered in Ukrainian, Russian, French and English.
• Geneva University HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Geneva University Hospitals for psycho-social support services to Ukrainian refugees. The team of 15 staff works in active collaboration with Swiss counterparts.
• FC ServetteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFootball camp partner supporting Ukrainian boys and girls with S status. The camp includes activities, balanced meals, equipment and materials free of charge.
• Club Sportif Chênois OfficielminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports camp partner for Ukrainian children aged 8-18, providing sports activities at Centre Sportif de Vessy.
• STAR LogistiqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting creative day camp and summer camp activities for Ukrainian children.
• SWITZERS RUGBYminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for sports camp activities including rugby for Ukrainian children.
• Ville de GenèvecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partnership supporting various activities for Ukrainian refugees including sports facilities.
• La Caravane de SolidaritéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for collection and shipment of humanitarian and medical aid to Ukraine.
• City of GenevacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Zernechko' play area for children aged 0-4, providing a caring environment for Ukrainian children and mothers with S status.
• Cerf Volant AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in operating the 'Zernechko' play area for young Ukrainian children.
• FC LuzernminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity match partnership for Dynamo Kyiv farewell match in Switzerland.
• FC BSC Young BoysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity match partnership for Dynamo Kyiv match in Fribourg.
• FC SionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity match partnership for Dynamo Kyiv match in Valais.
• FC Lausanne SportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity match partnership for Dynamo Kyiv match in Lausanne.
• Yverdon Sport FCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity match partnership for Dynamo Kyiv match in Yverdon.
• EmalojaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting creative day camp activities.
• La Commune de VeyrierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner hosting creative day camp on authentic Swiss farm.
• Swiss AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Swiss governmental authorities for humanitarian and integration projects.
• Paléo FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGuest of Honor at Paléo Festival 2022 - a world-known event. Information stand highlighted to present mission, projects, Ukraine culture, and recruit members/partners.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Swiss Red Cross (Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz): National humanitarian organization delivering health, integration, and refugee support services across Switzerland. Overlaps with Association Sunflower in psychosocial support, language training, and integration programming for refugees, but operates at a much larger scale with established institutional infrastructure.
• Caritas Switzerland: Large Swiss humanitarian and social services organization providing integration support, refugee aid, and social services nationwide. Comparable to Association Sunflower in the refugee integration and humanitarian aid space, but with significantly larger organizational scale, government contracts, and a broader multi-cause mandate.
• HEKS / EPER (Swiss Protestant Church Aid): Swiss humanitarian organization providing refugee integration, social services, and humanitarian aid. Comparable to Association Sunflower in the Swiss integration and Ukraine-related humanitarian space, though with broader programs and institutional church backing.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Global humanitarian organization providing refugee resettlement, integration, and psychosocial support across multiple countries. Comparable to Association Sunflower in the refugee integration and humanitarian aid space, though operating at vastly larger scale with multi-country program delivery and institutional donor funding.
• Swiss Refugee Council (Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe): Switzerland's national umbrella organization for refugee aid, providing legal aid, advocacy, and integration support. Comparable to Association Sunflower as a refugee-focused organization in Switzerland, but operates at national scale with government funding rather than as a community-led volunteer association.
• Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz (HEKS): Swiss NGO providing refugee integration, language courses, and humanitarian aid programs. Comparable to Association Sunflower as a Geneva-region integration service provider, with overlapping psychosocial and language training programs but more institutional funding.

Direct peers

• Caritas Genève: Geneva-based branch of Caritas providing social assistance, refugee support, and integration services in the same geographic market as Association Sunflower. Comparable as a direct local competitor serving the same Francophone Swiss refugee population, particularly vulnerable Ukrainians, with overlapping socioeconomic integration programs.
• Ukrainian Association in Switzerland (Ukrajinci v Švajčiarsku): Swiss-based Ukrainian diaspora organization providing community support and advocacy for Ukrainian refugees. Direct peer to Association Sunflower given same target population (Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland) and overlapping community-driven service model, though it focuses more on advocacy and cultural integration than operational humanitarian services.

Emerging players

• Medair: Switzerland-based humanitarian organization delivering relief and recovery aid in Ukraine and other conflict zones. Comparable to Association Sunflower in the Ukraine humanitarian aid logistics and emergency response space, though with broader geographic scope and institutional humanitarian funding.

Regional players

• EVAM (Établissement Vaudois d'Accueil des Migrants): Cantonal body responsible for housing, assistance, and socio-professional integration of asylum seekers and refugees in Vaud canton, including Nyon. Comparable to Association Sunflower as a Lausanne-region refugee integration provider, with overlapping beneficiary populations and similar socio-professional integration services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZ5Ak1hmh4a5a5a5a5a5a5a
• Facebookfacebook.com/AssociationSunflower
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-sunflower

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association Sunflower