CO-OPERAID: Prospects for a brighter future for children in Africa and Asia

Ueber uns Herobild

All children should have the opportunity to learn, play and develop their talents. Education is a basic requirement for the development of individuals and society as a whole, as it enables children to live independent and self-determined lives.

CO-OPERAID guideline

CO-OPERAID supports the schooling and vocational training of children, adolescents, and young adults from disadvantaged families in Africa and Asia. Quality education gives them the opportunity to develop their skills and break free from poverty.

Our projects are developed in close collaboration with local partners and are sustainably embedded in the communities. We focus on effective solutions that create long-term prospects.

CO-OPERAID is a non-profit, independent organization with over 40 years of experience. Our work is ZEWO-certified and aligned with international standards in development cooperation.

Nicole Stejskal

Since 2012, Nicole Stejskal has been the co-managing director at CO-OPERAID. Since 2025 Nicole optained the position of managing director and is responsible for several educational projects. She is originally an economist and also studied development cooperation at ETH Zurich (NADEL). She has worked for various Swiss development organizations in Switzerland and Brazil.

"Education is the key to a life without poverty. This is why CO-OPERAID's projects for children and young people are so important. This is what I am committed to!"

Contact:
stejskal@co-operaid.ch

Katharina von Allmen

Since June 2023, Katharina von Allmen has been working as Head of Fundraising and Communication at CO-OPERAID with a 60% workload. She holds a federal diploma as a PR consultant (MA) and has obtained a translation diploma in English/German as well as a CAS from NADEL at ETH. She has worked for various Swiss NGOs and has many years of experience in fundraising and organizational communication.

Contact:
vonallmen@co-operaid.ch

Stephanie Theis – Projektleiterin

Since January 2025, Stephanie Theis has been working as a project manager at CO-OPERAID. She holds a Master's degree in Development Studies and has several years of professional experience as a program coordinator and consultant in the fields of human rights and education.

Her career path took her from Germany to Nepal and finally to Switzerland, where she worked as a project manager for various international and national organizations. In a volunteer capacity, she supports an NGO in Nepal, which she co-founded.

Kontaktieren Sie mich:
theis@co-operaid.ch

Anabel Wörner Managerin Fundraising und Kommunikation

After extensive practical fundraising experience, Anabel Wörner completed a DAS in Fundraising Management at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. Since January 2025, she has been strengthening our team as Fundraising and Communication Manager.

Contact:
woerner@co-operaid.ch

Réka Fall Profil

After studying accounting and management information systems at West University in Timișoara, Romania, she completed her training as a certified accountant in Hungary. After various positions and voluntary engagements, she joined CO-OPERAID as a volunteer at the end of 2020. Since January 2022, Réka Fall has been supporting the team as a full-time employee in administration and accounting.

"A meaningful job that makes the world a little better has always been close to my heart. That’s why I feel very privileged to work at CO-OPERAID and contribute to the goals of the organization."

Contact:
fall@co-operaid.ch

Ignaz Rieser

Dr. Ignaz Rieser (since 2019), Business Economist. Career at University of Basel and HWV Luzern. Director at HWV Basel. Expert and Project leader for DEZA and Swisscontact in Vietnam, Thailand, Nepal and Kosovo.

«CO-OPERAID’s education projects are small but powerful. They offer children and adolescents the unique chance to live a self-determined life in dignity.»

Laurence Treceño

Laurence Treceño (since 2019), Graphic Designer. Education at the School of Arts in Lausanne (ECAL). Self-employed occupation as Art Director. Activist, Co-founder and board member of aid agencies for street children in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as a NGO in Pakistan.

«Little streams make a mighty river!»

Her art work can be found here:

https://www.unikart.shop/

Thomas Stadtmüller Vorstandsmitglied

Thomas Stadtmüller (since 2023), forestry expert.
Studied forestry at the University of Munich. Over 30 years of experience in development cooperation in the field of sustainable resource use and rural development (with FAO, GTZ, SDC and Helvetas).

«The promotion of education is of crucial importance for a fair social development. I am happy to support and accompany CO-OPERAID in this task.»

Stefan Issler Vorstandsmitglied

Stefan Issler (since 2023), economist.
MAS in Development and Cooperation at the ETH (NADEL). Professional experience in financing the energy and microfinance sector in developing and emerging countries. Several years of residence in Kenya.

«Education enables opportunities for professional development and is therefore a central building block of an independent life.»

Urs Vögeli, Vorstandsmitglied

Urs Vögeli (since 2019), lawyer.
Study at Zurich University, certificate of admission to the bar in Zurich. Worked from 1990-2019 in his own lawyer's office.

«CO-OPERAID's work in the field of education for children and youth appeals to me. I want to contribute to it within the team.»

Virginie von Muralt, Vorstandsmitglied

Virginie von Muralt (since 2019), Senior Analyst/Financial Controller.
Professional experience in several departments of financial controlling. Analysis and conception, process optimization.

«Gladly I contribute for families and children who live in a less privileged situation than we in Switzerland do.»

Petra Wiesler

Petra Wiesler, volunteer for administration.

Thonic Grafikbüro

THONIC is an agency for digital and analog projects with a focus on concept, consulting and graphic design. THONIC supports CO-OPERAID through a voluntary engagement

www.thonic.ch

Levi Fall

Levi Fall is a volunteer IT supporter for CO-OPERAID.

Elisabeth Postle, freiwillige Mitarbeiterin

 Elizabeth Postle is a volunteer translator for CO-OPERAID.

Juliane Taffé, Übersetzungen

Juliane Taffé is a volunteer translator for CO-OPERAID.

Liliane Waldner Praesidentin CO-OPERAID

Liliane Waldner was one of the first board members and later became the president of CO-OPERAID. Today she is a courageous fighter against Multiple Sclerosis who inspires others.

Dr. Rao Satapati - Geschäftsführer 1995-2012

Dr. Rao Satapati was the first director of CO-OPERAID, after it left the InterAid network. He stayed in charge from 1995-2012 and established the organisation in Switzerland.

The paediatrician Marie Meierhofer († 15. August 1998 in Unterägeri) created a concept for the support of aids orphans that served CO-OPERAID as a theoretical guideline for its work in Uganda. Until about 2010, the support for aids orphans was in focus of CO-OPERAID's work in different parts of Uganda.