Inga-Lill Bengtsson: Inga-Lill Bengtsson: ”I've been the target – of a lot of love”
A couple came in with some amazing dishes. And they produced a spread of more than 20 dishes for an article about food during Ramadan.
One woman, also a good cook, turned out to be good at writing. She wrote a chronicle about her thoughts on living at Gamlegården, how young people needed support, about criminality – who give themselves the right to shoot where we live?
”All of these warm, good-hearted people”Inga-Lill Bengtsson
How can people living at Gamlegården defend themselves? Finding somewhere else to live that does not cost too much is difficult. All of these warm, good-hearted people. I'll treasure many of you in my heart.
During the almost six years I've been at Gamlegården I've learnt to love the shopping centre, the people who come and go.
The children who come running in, eager to have a look at some photo in the newspaper office. Or take part in the After School activities in the library.
The language café has had a boost, in the Family Service centre people on child-care leave struggle with Sfi, while they keep an eye on their children at the same time.
The youth centre, which has started having girls-only evenings. People who wave as they go past and say hello, the caretaker who keeps everything clean and tidy and keeps an eye on things.
”A young man gives me a big hug, I'm leaving Kb Mosaik”Inga-Lill Bengtsson
In the open pre-school people, mostly women with young children on child-care leave, get together. Every day there are discussions as to what children may, or ought to, do, about parents' responsibility for keeping their children in check. A laugh over a cup of coffee.
Jamila, the cleaner at the office, comes in with two pies, one for me and one for my best colleague Sofyan. ”You're so nice here”, she says.
A young man gives me a big hug, I'm leaving Kb Mosaik. He probably will not have pass-marks in all his subjects in his school-leaving certificate, but he has a good heart and is so ambitious. Getting a job isn't easy, my name, you know, he says. Easy to be rejected.
”Just as I wish it could be for all my friends at Gamlegården.”Inga-Lill Bengtsson
Don't be afraid to speak to someone who is new in Sweden. I've learnt so much during the past six years, and my faith in people has grown stronger, we are so similar in so many ways.
We all want to be able to believe in the future, believe that our children will be successful, that they will grow up and have the best of opportunities.
In my garden my rhododendron is flowering with its pink-lilac blooms. It was another Bengtsson, her name was Anna, who built my house in 1959 and planted the bush, which is now enormous. When I was a child Anna used to sit behind her curtain and peep out at us children as we ran to the nearby playpark.
Anna was a plump little woman with thick glasses. She didn't see very well, but she had a big heart. In days to come I'll be the one sitting here looking out as the next generation of children runs past. Here in a quiet, peaceful area. Just as I wish it could be for all my friends at Gamlegården.
Thank you for making me a target at Gamlegården.