They guide new arrivals into society

It began in 2019 as a way of helping quota refugees into the community. The idea is simple: A meeting between a refugee and a fellow human being who understands how the Swedish community works, which should lead to integration, and, at best, friendship.

– We recognised the need in a lot of new arrivals, and had the opportunity to widen our efforts, says Linda Edvardsson, the municipality's volunteer co-ordinator.

The project has two aspects, partly to build up a way of co-operating between the municipality and the civil community, and partly to match new arrivals with volunteers.

– We can see big benefits. Meeting new people and cultures is fun for both sides, we see how new arrivals get support in everything from the language to how the community works.

Nora Al Othman from Syria is all smiles. She is one of the new arrivals who has found a contact person through the municipality's project to match volunteers with new arrivals. But she and Eva Eriksson have mostly spoken on the phone, because of the pandemic. Their first face-to-face meeting is our interview.

– It has meant a great deal to me, says Nora, who has passed her Sfi, works as an assistant cook and is now studying to become a cook.

She is trying to find a trainee position in a kitchen and hopes eventually to find work as a cook. She has been able to contact Eva with her questions about the Swedish community, for although she has lived here for five years and regards Sweden as her new home, it takes time to understand all the outs and ins of the community. How does it really work? Who should I phone to? What does this information mean?

– Eva gives me the courage to dare to phone myself, Nora says.

Eva smiles, that is exactly what she intends. Help to manage on her own. Eva has worked in schools, responsible for home-language teaching. When she retired, she did not want to let go of all she had learnt. Volunteer work attracted her.

– I know that many people don't often get the chance to speak Swedish, and I'm happy to help.

Tilda Palm is just 20, but is one of the people who have accepted the challenge to be a volunteer. After leaving school she intended to go to Africa and do volunteer work, but then the pandemic came along.

– So I felt I could do something here at home. It's easy to forget that there is a need here as well: I got in touch with the municipal volunteer co-ordinator and was matched up with a 17-year-old girl.

They have gone on walks together, and met over a coffee. Talked about school, life and the future. Tilda thinks it is a good way to learn about the world.To realise that what we take for granted in Sweden does not apply to lots of other people.

– She's lost her whole family, that alone makes me think, and it's made me more aware. I think more young people ought to get involved, it puts things in a completely new perspective, you learn about life and you do something important. I'm very glad I volunteered.

Margot Gerdt is another person who only has good things to say.

– It's rewarding in all sorts of ways. I've been active in Urbana since the autumn of 2015 and met a woman there who turned out to be just like a sister to me. From Syria, we just didn't know about one another!

Today the women are the best of friends and they learn from each other. When Margot was asked about a getting a new contact she jumped at the chance. She has time, and she is eager to help. Everyone who lives here knows about Sweden, and can do their bit for integration, she maintains.

It's all about being a fellow human being. For example I took the woman I had contact with along to different places so that she could make a lot of social contacts.

Some unaccompanied boys who came to Sweden in 2015 have also put their name down as volunteers. They speak Swedish now, and understand more than well what a new arrival needs help with. They want to repay something of what they were given, and be there as a link between the old and the new country.

– That's amazing, says Eva Eriksson.