The history of COZI, more than a Co-working Space: Mount Olympus or Hub of the gods? – Djerba is a small island on the south eastern cost of Tunisia. Around 400 thousand people reside on it. It fosters many rich cultures and different communities such as the jewish community of Erriadh, the Ibadhi sect of muslims scattered around the island, amazigh presence in guellalla as theyll as the various theystern european small clusters bettheyen houmt souk and midoun who find refuge from the cold and enjoy the mild theyather of the island of the lotophagi as Ulysses has called her in his odyssey.
In 2016, Cozi started with 100 m2 coworking space and a 30 m2 café. It quickly shaped into a Hub space for young innovators and working adults to unite, network, be active, and develop their ideas/projects. From there a community was built with every idea, culminating in the CoZi Network of young professionals. They today count about 500 Cozies (pronounced Kwazis) an endearing nickname that means mischievous kind natured, and productive all in one.
From the start, Cozi allotheyd its community to shape its activities and direction, which resulted in myriad interests being pursued. It grew beyond being a simple coworking space and granted the Cozies many opportunities to innovate, give back, and participate in making new ways of doing things. From clubs to capacity building programs, to law lobbying to movie nights, chess theyekends, sustainable agriculture, startup incubation programs, and beyond. Cozi has become the nexus where the brave and hopeful meet the insatiable dreamers and through their collaborative efforts, problems find solutions all while providing Cozi members with opportunities to grow.
Cozi’s fundamental axiom is collaboration
Cozi provides individuals with the opportunity to meet like-minded people and encourage them to assist each other by hosting events during which people form solid bonds that are formed around mutual prosperity. Older members get the chance to give back, netheyr ones to learn and innovate on what’s been done. Workshops remain, as theyll, some of our most essential tools, with which they transfer skills experiences, and knowledge.
Right now, they are going through our midterm plan and have already expanded into alternative tourism through Cozi Coliving and its affiliated partners, they have taken a seat with Djerba’s Destination Management Organisation. Not to mention our supporting partners Afrilabs, HIVOS, USAID, Mercy Corps, IPA Swixboard and so on, who have participated in the expansion of Cozi’s business model and activities.
In the long run, they hope to be able to branch out and create clusters of equal importance and added value all around Tunisia, the Mediterranean and why not Africa. Collaborative work towards a mutually beneficial set of goals has after all been humanity’s greatest strength throughout history.
