Bridging the divide - integration in northern Sweden

The small town of Haparanda, right on the border with Finland, is as far from Stockholm as Berlin. Here, a locally driven integration initiative brings people together.

- Everybody has been so kind to me, says 19 year old Joma Rezaee from Afghanistan about his time in Sweden. He arrived some two years ago, after a long journey through Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. Part of the journey he traveled together with 13 boys, but not all of them made it to Sweden. - Some were apprehended by the police, Joma Rezaee adds with a sad expression.

In Haparanda Joma Rezaee participates in the "Integration Project" started by a group of volunteers, among others Lars Suo from the Swedish Red Cross and Ulla Hardelin from Save the Children*. Through the project Lars and Joma have become good friends.

They meet every week in a "man's group" consisting of both refugee and Swedish men. The participants take part in many different activities, like lectures, sports and trips. Within the project the participants share their experiences and different backgrounds. Joma Rezaee has spoken about his home country Afghanistan and why he had to flee.

- I did not come to Sweden to get a better life financially. I had to flee, he says. Joma Rezaee’s parents are dead. A friend helped him with money for the travel, and then he embarked on a long and perilous journey. Back in Afghanistan he has four minor siblings whom he continues to support by sending them money.

The aim of the "Integration Project" is to enhance the social integration of refugees accepted by the municipality of Haparanda and to complement the integration services provided by the municipality. It is also an additional forum where refugees can speak Swedish.

One of the activities the group has arranged was a two days bus trip through the Torne-valley, with some 30 participants, both men and women. During the trip they visited for example the Sami area of Karesuando and the mine in Kaunisvaara.

- I very much appreciated the trip as it gave the opportunity to get out in the countryside, to see the surroundings and to learn about the Samis, says Joma Rezaee. Lars Suo nods and adds that most importantly it really brought people together. - Now the refugees are not viewed as a group, but as individuals. I believe I have been enriched by the friends I have made through this project and by the experiences we have shared, stresses Lars Suo.

Within the "Integration Project" the participants wanted to learn more about the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), so they asked UNHCR Regional Office in the Baltic and Nordic countries to give a presentation about its mandate and global work for refugees, something that both Lars Suo and Joma Rezaee are interested in.

- I want to study and get a job by which I can help other Afghans, maybe as an engineer, a teacher or perhaps I can work to help refugees, like UNHCR does, says Joma Rezaee.

* The "Integration Project" in Haparanda was started by a group of volunteers from the local branches of the Swedish Red Cross, Save the Children and the UN Association, with economical support from the EU. Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan is the project manager.

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