On August 30th, Strängnäs municipality in Sweden launched a community sponsorship programme.
Community Sponsorship Programs are now spreading to more Swedish municipalities. On August 30th, the program was launched in Strängnäs municipality. Residents, representatives from civil society, and local politicians had gathered to celebrate that the municipality will pilot a community sponsorship project.
The evening began with Sermon Shaba, integration coordinator and project leader, welcoming everyone who had gathered in the auditorium of Paulinska School in Strängnäs:
“The fact that we have managed to attract so many interested residents tonight show the strong engagement and positive commitment that exists in this community. I am convinced that what is happening now will have a positive impact, not only for those participating in the project but also for society as a whole.”
The aim of the program is to match refugees with established local residents to facilitate their integration. With funding from the Södermanland County Administrative Board, Strängnäs municipality in collaboration with the civil society organization “Starka Händer,” (Strong Hands) has designed the project. UNHCR has been involved in the promotion and development of the project from the start and will continue to support the work.
The recipe for success is allowing citizens to support newly arrived refugees by offering emotional and practical support, and the model originating from Canada has been in use for over forty years. Representatives from the Canadian Embassy in Stockholm were present during the launch event and mentioned that the model is now in use in nearly forty different countries around the world. In Sweden, Danderyd, Mora, and Sjöbo have already implemented or are in the process of implementing the model.
It’s about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to feel welcomed in the society as quickly as possible,
But there is no one-size-fits-all solution for community sponsorship programs; different approaches work in different countries and municipalities says Erika Löfgren, Senior Durable Solutions Associate at UNHCR:
“It is interesting to follow how the Canadian model has been adapted to the Swedish and local context. The goal is for the pilot projects to build on existing local integration structures and engagement, and Strängnäs is definitely an inspiration there. The pilot project municipalities have already set up a coordinating structure where they can share experiences straight away. We hope that this type of cooperation and engagement can inspire more municipalities to get on board and initiate similar projects.”
A crucial cornerstone of community sponsorship programs is collaboration with the local civil society. A dozen young volunteers from the organization “Starka Händer” shared how they work to break social isolation and make it easier for newcomers with refugee backgrounds.
“We work on inclusion and spreading knowledge, as well as facilitating everyday life. It’s about ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to feel welcomed in the society as quickly as possible,” said Mohmad Allatif, chairman of Starka Händer.
“We see that our work has significant impact both for the individual and for the goal of creating a sustainable society. And we are convinced that our model can serve as a source of inspiration for the rest of Sweden.”
The organization offers services such as homework help, language courses, and various activities and workshops for refugees and other newcomers.
Jacob Högfeldt, chairman of the municipal council in Strängnäs, emphasized the importance of building bridges between Swedes and newcomers:
“Our goal here in Strängnäs is to talk to each other, not about each other. That’s exactly what this project facilitates. Civil society, in our case in the form of the Starka Händer association, together with volunteers and the municipality now have increased opportunities to collaborate and create a more welcoming society.”
Click here to read more about the launch and here to learn more about community sponsorship programmes.
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