An immense number of people have in 2015 fled over the Mediterranean to search refuge in Europe. Hundreds of them are now waiting around in Stockholm, but not all will get help.

We can do so much to help, even if it’s just by the click of a button on our phones, or the giving away of things we do not need.

1: If you are not ready to get involved socially  

• The UN’s Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) emergency package – It contains a towel, a blanket, water, food, clothes and shoes, and costs 225 kronor. BY texting HAV150 to 72980 you donate 150 kronor or visit www.fnflykting.se where you can donate any amount as well as find more information about their work (website is in Swedish).

• The Red Cross (Röda Korset) provides help, including medical care and psychological support for refugees. With just one text to 72900 with the message “ACUTE 100” you donate 100 kronor. You can also log on to www.redcross.se where you can do everything from volunteer to donate money (website in Swedish but can be easily translated)

• Save The Children (Rädda Barnen) is focusing on helping child-refugees to find safe new homes in Europe. You can text Katastrof100 to 72911 to donate 100 kronor or check out their website, it includes information about all their work and what you can do to get involved (website in Swedish but can be translated).

2: While we are on the topic of donating

• Vi Gör Vad Vi Kan (We Do What We Can) is a newly started Swedish organisation working with collecting clothes, shoes, sleeping bags and any other help, and distributing to the refugees arriving from the mediterranean. By visiting their website you can read more about their work, volunteer or find out where their next collecting will be (this is a very new organization and hence all information is in Swedish). If you are an English speaking volunteer you can email them at; [email protected]  for more information.

• As an alternative to this you can donate things straight to an asylum center. Visit www.migrationsverket.se to find out where the closest center is and if you want more information on the process many refugees go through.

• The Swedish Church also take donations

• The charity Islamic Relief  takes donations at Stockholm’s mosque on Medborgarplatsen at fixed times on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (website in Swedish)

• You can also help by going shopping. The profits from some stores – such as those run by the Red Cross – go directly toward the helping of refugees.

3: Close and Comfortable

Sweden’s big cities are going through a housing crisis and therefore it can be extra important to help those who have little chance of finding a place to stay. If you are in a position to offer a spare room it can help – especially for unaccompanied children. Some local authorities have launched schemes to help facilitate this. Many children have come to Sweden unaccompanied by an adult and are now all alone hence foster parents are widely searched for. Solna, north of Stockholm is in desperate need of people to become foster parents, visit www.solna.se if you are in a situation in which you could help (website in Swedish). For more information about the area around you you can contact your municipality  

4: Up Close and Personal

• Many Swedish charities offer people the chance to get up close and personal with refugees through volunteering programs. The Red Cross sends teams to around 150 asylum accommodation centers across Sweden where one can help with language training and organising activities.

• Studie Främjandet is an organization that provides language courses and study-circles to help refugees engage in activities before they start work or formal studies. They are currently working with an asylum home in Farsta where anyone is welcome to volunteer. The volunteer can engage in everything from education to baking bread. As the main focus of the organization is to teach Swedish it is preferred that volunteer knows Swedish but English speakers are also welcome to join. If one wants to lead a study-circle you first have to attend a short introduction meeting. For more information about this you can email them (email can be found on the website). Studie Främjandet is also working with a buddy-system, where they pair teenagers living in Sweden with teenage refugees that come unaccompanied. Currently they have several english speakers involved in this system. If you think this sounds like something for you please contact me, Sofia W., and I can set up a meeting with the organisation.

• Kompis Sverige also works with the “buddy-system” and pair up a long term Swede with a new one. The two people have regular meet-ups to discuss life in Sweden. Currently one needs to be fluent in Swedish to participate.

You can make a big difference with just a little effort!