“Opportunities for all - Promoting social inclusion of migrants” was the theme of a Grundtvig workshop in Stockholm in November. Participants from 17 countries discussed refugee issues on the initiative of the Study Promotion Association (Studiefrämjandet) and the Swedish Red Cross.

“I would expect to see an increase in Europe-wide cooperation in the future,” says Hugo Rickberg, programme coordinator at the Red Cross in Stockholm.

The participants at the week-long workshop were all interested in integration and equality. But they came from very different backgrounds and brought with them a wide range of experiences. Some worked on a daily basis in refugee centres or with immigration information, others were engaged students.

Israel Díaz Aragón and his colleague, José Manuel Pérez Malvido, had travelled from the south coast of Spain where they work for the Red Cross rescue service as captains of boats patrolling the coastline between Spain and Morocco. They showed pictures and spoke of the physically and psychologically demanding task of rescuing refugees who didn’t make it to the shore in small boats of poor quality.

During the week in Stockholm they had the opportunity to visit the Red Cross refugee reception centre and to meet refugees living in Sweden.

“Several of our own volunteers took part in this. It was an interesting and rewarding exchange of experiences,” says Hugo Rickberg.

Cooperation project

The workshop was part of a year-long collaboration between the Study Promotion Association in Stockholm and the Red Cross. A kind of collaboration between the adult education service and non-profit organisations that is becoming increasingly common.

“The EU workshop can be seen as a pilot programme where we applied for funding together. I think this kind of collaboration suits the Red Cross quite well,” says Hugo Rickberg.

“The Red Cross is engaged in humanitarian work, both our organisations have a basic principle of impartiality and we can make use of each other’s skills. The Study Promotion Association has a broad base of member organisations and it is important for us to have access to them – from the outdoor life organisations to people involved in musical and cultural activities.”

“This spring we started a “buddy scheme” for newly arrived refugees where we pair up refugees with volunteers from NGO:S like the Study Promotion Association. We were able, for example, to conduct highly appreciated tours into our natural environment with the help of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, one of the Study Promotion Association’s member organisations.”

Adult education

“I think we shall be able to establish many points of contact between adult education concepts and our own specific areas, which are humanitarian law and human rights,” says Hugo Rickberg. “We can start study circles together and there is a whole world of associations in Sweden – organisations which can open doors in a positive way. There is a need of meeting places where refugees can forge contacts so they can develop a social network.”

During the five-day Grundtvig workshop which covered various themes, participants were able to find out how Swedish adult education works with active participation, discussion topics and cultural tools. The week was divided into five themed days – Europe Day, Migration Day, Suburbia Day, Culture Day and Humanity Day.

Five days which ended with all participants writing and recording hip-hop songs together on immigration and integration.