Onyx Circle and Connoppo enter fundraising partnership 

Connoppo, a Swiss charity start-up, has entered a fundraising partnership with Zurich-based headhunting agency Onyx Circle. The companies have committed to support the work of GATE Foundation, which offers vocation training in hospitality for young adults living with disabilities in Nepal.

Onyx Circle was founded in 2019 in the city of Zurich, offering specialist headhunting services for executives and professionals. As part of the charity partnership, Onyx Circle is funding scholarships for over ten young adults living with speech and hearing disabilities to complete vocational training in hospitality, with guaranteed employment at the end of the course. 

GATE Foundation was established in 2017 and is part of the Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education with campuses in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal. The foundation not only offers a path to financial independence but aims to break down social taboos around disability.

Connoppo works closely with GATE Foundation, having previously organized a fundraising dinner in the city of Zurich last year. The charity start-up offers “impact as a service” to connect businesses in Switzerland to select global causes, with Connoppo managing fundraising, ensuring that funds go to the people who need it most and reporting transparently on the status of the project. Connoppo has a direct link to all the projects it supports. 

Arianit Bytyqi, Co-founder and Executive Board member of Onyx Circle, said: “We are delighted to work with Connoppo to support the valuable work of GATE Foundation. We recognize the immense privileges that we enjoy here in Switzerland, especially when it comes to vocational education, which is why this cause is so close to my heart. The young adults that we sponsor will receive guaranteed employment at the end of their studies, which is closely aligned with our work as a headhunting agency. At Onyx Circle, our focus is on people and their individual needs, and I believe these values are fully reflected in this charitable project. Personally, I am proud that we can give something back to society, and Connoppo has enabled us to do just that.”

Marco Wijeratne, Founder and President of Connoppo, said: “This partnership is a major milestone for the Connoppo community. I am proud that by working together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of the young people we support through our fundraising activities. Thanks to this partnership with Onyx Circle and our events, dozens of young adults living with hearing and speech disabilities in Nepal will come closer to achieving financial independence for themselves and their families. I look forward to continuing to support the vital work of GATE Foundation in Nepal and strengthening our partnership with Onyx Circle over the years to come.

Khem Lakai, Founder and CEO of Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education, said: “I would like to thank Onyx Circle and Connoppo for their generosity and outstanding support. It is truly inspiring to see what a difference education can make in the lives of young people and their community. The students supported by our partners will learn hospitality skills, including housekeeping, cooking and baking, based on the skills I learned myself when studying in EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality.”