Fika and flourishing friendships: how a community support programme is making a difference in southern Sweden
Fika and flourishing friendships: how a community support programme is making a difference in southern Sweden
Local welcome guide Minette (left) and daughter Vanessa were matched with Syrian refugee Lana through Sjöbo Municipality's community support programme. Here they are pictured with Lana's mom, Rajaa Alnajjar, and young sister Alma.
“I just like spending time with Minette, and I would like our meet-ups and talks to continue,” says 21-year-old Syrian refugee Lana Alnajjar when asked what she likes the most about her local welcome guide, 33-year-old Minette Månsson.
Lana, who came to Sweden in 2022 together with her parents and four younger siblings, first met Minette in the summer of 2024 after they were matched by officials from Sjöbo’s community support programme. Minette signed up for the programme because she loves meeting new people, and it quickly turned out that her match with Lana was a win for both her and her 5-year-old daughter Vanessa.
“Vanessa's father is from Syria, but they don't have any contact today, so when I found out that Lana and her family were from Syria, I thought it was so nice. It gives Vanessa a chance to learn more about her father's language and culture,” Minette explains.
Friendships across generations
Sjöbo, a municipality in southern Sweden, officially introduced a pilot community support programme in July 2023. The programme, which is also being piloted in the Nordics, is inspired by the Canadian “community-based sponsorship programme”, which has shown to improve and accelerate the integration of newcomers through more personalized contact with local welcome guides. So far, 15 volunteers have been matched with refugees in Sjöbo. Marie Andersson, an Integration Officer in the municipality, can already see the effect:
“The refugees learn about their new society from established locals who speak the language. Refugees might be able to read about Swedish laws, traditions, and culture but for them to actually learn it, they need to talk to someone who knows about it.”
The municipality's decision to match Minette and Lana has been a win for both Lana, Minette and her daughter Vanessa.
One of the things that Lana and Minette enjoy doing together is meeting up for fika (the Swedish term for a break where people drink coffee, eat cakes, and relax). The fikas at Lana's family home have become a big family gathering where Vanessa and Lana's younger siblings play together while Minette and Lana catch up.
“When they invite us over for fika they really put in such an effort with a nicely set table and so many different cakes and desserts. It is quite different from the more lowkey Swedish fika,” Minette says, laughing.
Minette has been a great support to Lana, who is about to become a mother for the first time. Minette has answered some of Lana's concerns and questions regarding the upcoming birth and life as a mother in Sweden.
“It's good to know someone who knows what it is like to have a child in Sweden and knows when and who to contact. Even though Lana has her mom and other women in her life, Minette knows how it works in Sjöbo,” Marie explains.
Better Swedish skills
For refugees, learning the language of their host country is an important step in their integration as it enables them to become active members of society. Studies from Europe, Canada, and the US show, that refugees who are resettled through some form of community sponsorship or support programme have a better chance of learning the language. This is something Lana can attest to:
“When I arrived in Sweden, it was quite tricky with the language, but now it is much better. When I meet Minette, we talk and exchange words, and she helps me with certain words, and if I have problems understanding something, she explains it to me.”
Marie has also witnessed Lana’s development:
“I remember when I first met her six months ago, it was mostly Leen [the oldest of Lana’s four younger siblings] that spoke and wrote to me in Swedish, but now Lana both writes and speaks herself.”
Hope to inspire others
UNHCR has supported the introduction of community support programmes in Sweden and other Nordic countries and assisted the municipalities with guidance and best practices. Sjöbo is the fourth municipality in Sweden to introduce a community support programme and UNHCR's Senior Durable Solutions Associate, Erika Löfgren, is thrilled about the positive results:
“The story of Lana and Minette is a testament to the importance of a community support programme,” Erika says.
“It is very positive that Sjöbo municipality has decided to include the community support programme model into their regular activities after the pilot phase. This development is exactly what we are hoping and advocating for, as we see that a systematic and long-term approach to social inclusion of refugees in local communities is lacking in both Sweden and other Nordic countries."
Marie hopes other municipalities will follow in the footsteps of Sjöbo and introduce a community support programme. When asked what her message is to other municipalities who are considering implementing a similar programme, her answer is clear,
“Do it! A community support program can make such a big difference for both the refugees and the volunteers. We see how many of the participants include their children in the programme, which I think is a great way to teach the next generation about the importance of volunteering and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds.”
