Maryam Hasan has started a group with ambitions

Maryam Hasan, 62, has wide experience of group activities in Syria. Now she is carrying on her good work here in Sweden.

She has been enthusiastic right from her first day in Sweden, and spreads a positive atmosphere wherever she goes.

– I want to help children, women who are on maternity leave, people who don’t have a residence permit. That’s why I ’ve worked so hard to give them support.

Eighteen months ago she managed to start a ”Culture and Handicrafts” group at Österäng. The group works in different areas, for instance teaching Arabic, Swedish, IT, art, crafts and needlework.

– Thanks to Österäng church we have somewhere to hold our activities, such as teaching children Arabic, says Maryam.

Sham Khadam, aged eight, is learning Arabic. She says:

– My Arabic is much better, thanks to the group. I like it here. Coming here is gives me a lot .

Maryam sees to it that their activities increase understanding between people who have grown up in Sweden and those who have just arrived.

– We have get-togethers at different times that everyone an take part in, where everyone can talk to everyone else, she says.