A great collaboration between organizations to set up summer camps to promote integration

Save the Children has together with Sensus studieförbund, Första steget with the support of the Municipality of Lessebo, through the project Friluftslivets år carried out three summer camps during the past week in Lessebo.

The first camp took place at Djupgöl in Kosta 31 July-1 August. On 3-4 August, a camp was held at Vildmarkscampingen in Skruv and the last and final camp was held at Ekebacken in Lessebo. At the camps, children of all ages have participated together with their parents. The participants have been a mixture of Swedish families, new arrivals and asylum seekers. During the camps, participants have been able to paddle a canoe, row with a rowing boat, ride, fish with both a fishing rod and a throwing rod. There has been a review and a tip walk about the right of public access, 5-a-side matches and a lot of fun games. They have cooked the food on site over an open fire. The goals of the Summer Camps according to Maja Söderberg, among other things, have been: to create meetings between new arrivals, asylum seekers and Swedes in fun ways. In addition, to strengthen parents in their parenting role and create networks between parents. To offer a free summer holiday activity that thus becomes available even for those with low incomes, and to create well-being for the participants, children as well as adults.

- As a leader, it feels absolutely fantastic to see a child catch their first fish, or to experience someone's first paddle trip in horror-mixed delight. The camps have been so successful is thanks to our fantastic team of leaders, both young people and adults, Swedes and more or less established new Swedes from various countries and also asylum seekers, says Maja Söderberg from Save the Children and continues "The interest has been enormous and the evaluations are very positive. Many have wished for more similar activities, have appreciated being able to meet Swedes, and tranquility have been appreciated by very many."

- When an employee is passionate about work and works with a fantastic team through fruitful collaboration with organizations such as Save the Children, Första steget and studieförbund and there is a love of work and the people we work with, the results will surely be impressive. The summer camps were more than wonderful, whether it was through activities held or through diversity of participants. When the project was announced, there was great interest because we received 250 registrations. This indicates that people are thirsty for such activities. Says Maha Ibrahim, project manager at Sensus.

Maha Ayoub, founder of the Första steget Association, points out that this project is part of the goals of her association, which aims to promote integration and empower immigrant women.

The collaboration between the organizations will continue during the autumn with weekly child and parent activities in Lessebo, something that has already been going on for some time.