Colour of Arrival

An association dedicated to bridging cultures through creativity

About Us

Colour of Arrival, founded in Basel in 2024, is a purpose-driven association operating at the intersection of culture, social innovation and community development. We leverage the arts as a strategic medium to foster integration and intercultural dialogue – both within Switzerland and internationally.

Our Mission: We focus on giving voice to individuals by creating meaningful opportunities for creative engagement. Through initiatives such as curated art packages and collaborative projects, we empower individuals to reflect on their experiences, share their perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to public life. We view creative expression not only as a cultural asset but as a catalyst for civic participation, mutual recognition, and systems-level change.

Our Focus Areas: Our engagement is structured around five key disciplines – Visual Art, Literature, Music, Theater & Film, and Media Art. Together, these artistic fields function as scalable tools for bridging cultural divides, amplifying marginalized voices, and strengthening inclusive, future-ready communities shaped by migration and displacement.

5 Key Areas

Art is a universal language that expresses identity and emotion beyond words. It allows for cross-cultural connection and individuals to share their stories through different mediums. Especially in communities shaped by migration, art fosters personal growth, cultural understanding, and meaningful integration.

Visual Art

Literature gives voice to the unheard, offering insight into personal and collective experiences, which preserve cultural heritage and strengthen social networks. By sharing narratives of cultural conflicts and the quest for belonging, literature becomes a powerful tool for change and understanding.

Literature

Music, as a shared human expression, opens hearts and overcomes prejudices. Through rhythm and melody it serves as a powerful forum for cultural exchange in multicultural societies.

Music

Theater and film bring stories to life through powerful performances on stage and screen. They explore social and cultural differences and commonalities, offering space for dialogue, reflection, and deeper understanding.

Theater and Film

Media art uses the latest technologies to redefine artistic expression. Through interactive and multimedia works, it addresses themes such as migration and diversity by conveying complex stories in innovative, accessible ways.

Media Art

Book Project

The association’s first project focuses on a book that provides seven Afghan women from various countries with a platform to share their personal stories. The aim is to offer these women a space to authentically describe their experiences, thoughts, and dreams through two central questions posed to all protagonists.

The stories highlight the strength of hope and the importance of initiative. By immersing themselves in the lives of these women, readers will see how personal commitment and determination can build bridges to a brighter future.

Meet the CoA Team

  • Lida Naeim-Jäggi

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Lida is the Director of Colour of Arrival. She studied psychology in the Netherlands and earned an MA in Ethics in Ireland, where she began her PhD at Trinity College Dublin. Her work is shaped by lived experience—having fled Kabul with her family after the Soviet invasion and resettled across Pakistan, India, and Germany.

  • Dr. Christian Jäggi

    PRESIDENT

    Christian is an economist and entrepreneur with a PhD from the University of Basel. He founded the Institute for Medicine and Communication (IMK) and is active in the MedTech start-up scene. His passion for the arts runs in the family—from a conductor and painter grandfather to a father who promoted cultural life through bookselling.

  • Samantha Levitt

    BOARD MEMBER

    Samantha, a former actress and producer, holds a BFA from NYU Tisch and Meisner training from the William Esper Studio. With 15 years in theater and development in NYC and LA, she worked on projects at The Public Theater, Rattlestick, and Ars Nova. She is now pursuing an MA at Harvard in Creative Writing and Literature and writing a nonfiction collection.

  • Sterre van Egmond

    BOARD MEMBER

    Sterre is a master’s student in Management at the University of St. Gallen. She holds a BA degree in Philosophy from Trinity College Dublin and brings a strong interdisciplinary mindset to her work. Having grown up in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Ireland, she thrives at the intersection of innovation, strategy, and impact.

  • Shabnam Simia

    ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

    Shabnam, a legal expert and human rights practitioner, has a BA in Law and Political Science and an MA in Criminal Law and Criminology. Her past roles include defense attorney, counterterrorism prosecutor, and legislative committee member of the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

  • Shoaib Barinmehr

    ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

    Shoaib is a Programme Coordinator at the German NGO Kindernothilfe. He started his career at Save the Children in Kabul and holds a BA in Economics, Politics, and History from the University of Pune, along with an MA in Development Management from Ruhr University Bochum.

  • Morgan Otagburuagu

    PHOTOGRAPHER & ARTIST

    Morgan is an award-winning Lagos-based photographer whose work celebrating Black identity and beauty has been featured in The Guardian, Vogue Italia, Deutsche Welle, and The Times. He has exhibited internationally and headlined PHOTOBASEL in 2024.

  • Abdul Ghafoor Arian

    AFGHANISTAN COUNTRY DIRECTOR

    Arian holds a degree in Social Sciences and has worked with leading international organizations including UNESCO and Children in Crisis.

  • Marjan Arian

    AFGHANISTAN DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR

    Marjan is visual artist and journalist with a diploma in Journalism. She works across drawing and painting.

  • Dara McMahon

    STUDENT

    Dara is studying International and European Law at the University of Groningen and plans to specialise in human rights.

Founders Message

A donkey, a disguise, and a border crossing on foot – my first lesson in resilience came early. Forced from Kabul during the Soviet invasion, my family journeyed through Pakistan and India before receiving asylum in Germany after three years in shelters. It was a challenging start – but one that shaped my drive to move forward with purpose.

I completed school in Germany, studied psychology in the Netherlands, and earned a master’s in ethics and philosophy in Ireland, where I began my PhD on migration at Trinity College Dublin, driven by a desire to understand the deeper structures behind displacement and belonging. Alongside academia, I’ve always pursued creative ventures—from founding a children’s clothing label to painting as a means of expression. 

In 2023, I relocated to Switzerland with a clear vision. The result is Colour of Arrival – an association that deploys the arts as a means for integration and intercultural dialogue. Having lived across cultures, I recognize that arrival is a continuous process requiring intentional design, enabling infrastructure, and participation.

At CoA, we create that space. Through curated programs and collaborative projects, we enable cross-cultural creation and connection. My life philosophy, “Colour is Life,” reflects the belief that creativity carries identity, emotion, and the power to build community.

CoA invites mission-aligned partnerships with artists, businesses and institutions to promote art-based initiatives.