ÖppnaDörren’s special focus on new arrivals yielded results above expectations

2020.08.24

ÖppnaDörren’s special initiative together with the European Social Fund (ESF) has led to more than 4,000 new arrivals in Sweden meeting a door opener and broadening their network. The project, which started in 2017 with a planned end date of 2022, has thereby delivered on its goals early. Since ÖppnaDörren started in 2015, over 58,000 new and established Swedes have meet.

Co-financing from ESF has played an important role in developing Axfoundation’s innovative integration initiative ÖppnaDörren and has enabled increased support for partner organizations Yrkesdörren, Nya Kompisbyrån and Svenska med baby.

ÖppnaDörren's collaboration with ESF has accelerated the integration of new arrivals in the labor market.

“We are extremely proud to have achieved our goal for the ESF project before the end date. Thanks to constructive and close collaboration between EFS, the Swedish Public Employment Service, Axfoundation and ÖppnaDörren’s partner organizations, we have been able to draw on each other’s specialist knowledge. Together with all the thousands of participants and door openers, we have accelerated the integration of new arrivals in the labor market and in society.” – Amelie Silfverstolpe, Axfoundation

The special project with ESF focused specifically on new arrivals who have been in Sweden for less than three years. The purpose was to make it easier for new Swedes to enter the labor market quickly. The method is based on established Swedes meeting new ones for an hour and sharing their network. These meetings lead to informal validation and the door opener opens the right doors for the newcomer to enter the labor market.

“Personal contacts and networks are crucial to finding a job in Sweden. With the help of a simple and innovative method and thousands of meetings, we have together made it possible for many people who would otherwise have been far outside the Swedish labor market to find ways in.” – Amelie Silfverstolpe