Anette Ljungberg somehow has always felt that, as a deacon, her mission would be by the side of people on the move in Sweden. Thinking of it, in addition to the curiosity she had for different cultures and distant countries since childhood, it may have to do with her own experiences of being a foreigner, as a volunteer pre-school teacher in Tunisia and Tanzania, or as a traveller in India. There, for the first time, she felt ‘totally different’, unfamiliar with the language and ways of living. Years later, in Blidsberg, ‘a very small village of about 500 residents’, she started accompanying newcomers in their learning of a new country and culture – and supporting them through the hardships of exile and exclusion.
Stepping in
‘The association we created in Blidsberg was about both doing advocacy work and helping a few families to make sure they were treated according to their human rights. The migration boards were closing their facilities in our village. Asylum-seeking families had been living there for years and, suddenly, from one month to another, they had to move to an institution far from home. The children had to leave their friends, school, football team etc. Neighbours, teachers and friends’ parents reacted and wanted us to do something to prevent this from happening. As they knew I was already involved with these families, they asked us to do something. We invited people to a meeting and it was decided to start an association to make our organizing easier, and be a stronger voice. We were fundraising, inviting the media, writing in the local paper etc. We were assisting the families while they were moving away and visiting institutions. The association has now ended its activities, for it is no more needed. There are no asylum-seekers left in the area and the families have found their own living, finally. But still, they cannot be sure to stay in Sweden. They get a one year at a time permission.’
In this endeavour, Anette says she found both happiness and grief, as she progressively ‘lost hope in the good Swedish society’. Its initial openness and generosity, in 2015, indeed progressively turned into resentment and hostility towards immigrants – a discourse fueled by most politicians in an increasingly far-right-leaning context. What she remembers as a moment of great social engagement and solidarity is nowadays being reframed as a ‘crisis’. ‘The voice that tells otherwise is not heard’ Anette regrets, ‘but it should, because we have something to say.’ So she does, speak up and take action. Inspired by AWoN’ spirit, which she wishes to spread, and encouraged by her fellow practitioners, whose support she feels beyond borders.
‘What we do, wherever we are, counts.‘
It was at that time indeed that she was noticed by A World of Neighbours’ pilot programme team, scouting for migration practitioners working to make a change everyday towards a more humane and welcoming Europe. ‘When I remember the first call I got from Anna Hjälm (then Programme Director for Interreligious Praxis for Peace – A World of Neighbours), I think I was surprised. Suddenly, it made me understand I was not alone. We are not alone. What we do, wherever we are, counts. Not just for the ones directly involved but what we are and what we do matters, and it makes an impact on people.
In the cohort I joined (in AWoN in 2021) there was a woman, from somewhere in the countryside in France. She was in a similar situation as I was, with a small association, doing advocacy work, accompanying people on the move. It gave me hope and “Råg I ryggen” to listen and talk to her. The world grew and became much more kind and welcoming knowing someone in France, in Greece and in the UK doing the same kind of work. At that time my own world was very narrow, living alone (with my cat) in a small house in the woods, in the pandemic time. So, AWoN really opened up the world!’
Speaking up
A few years ago, Anette moved to a wealthy, predominantly white neighborhood – and suddenly found herself in a parish where people on the move did not seem to exist. They were nowhere to be seen nor ever talked about. They belonged to another world – which she remembered, and kept thinking about. As she realized how urban segregation allows entire parts of the Swedish population to go on unbothered with their life while others’ is being threatened by rising anti-immigration sentiment and politics, she started seeking for ways to bring the topic to the center of the conversation in her parish.
Her first initiative was to organize the hosting of a traveling exhibition launched by the then Church of Sweden program Interreligious Practice for Peace – A World of Neighbors: Rye in the back – Embroidery for religious peace. As the organizers explain, ‘the exhibition’, displaying pictures of embroideries inspired by quotes giving courage to those working with people on the move, ‘aims to create engagement and conversations about what meetings across religious boundaries mean and how we can live together in mutual respect and friendship. The combination of embroidery and quotes that speak clearly and prophetically to our time, gives us the strength to stand up for the value and dignity of all people.’ Anette and a colleague of hers went to pick the exhibition up from a small village in the south of Sweden and brought it all the way back to their church, where it has been standing ever since, ‘very visible’ to anyone coming in. Yet, she has noticed that few of her fellow parishioners have been talking about it – a metaphor about their general distance from and hesitation towards the situation of immigrants in Sweden? ‘You have to guide people’, Anette acknowledges, ‘there still is so much more to do.’ But she won’t be alone.
‘Underneath, there still is life!’
She recently came across a group of local volunteers wishing to raise awareness and do advocacy work on migration policy. She enthusiastically joined them in the writing of a letter to Swedish bishops, demanding that they address and speak against anti-immigrant and xenophobic rhetoric – and their call may have been heard. Their text should be published in an upcoming edition of the national paper of the Lutheran Church of Sweden.
While Anette admits being more and more concerned about the current anti-immigration movement in Sweden, those commitments to see, denounce and stand in solidarity with people on the move, to be and remain their neighbours, are what gives her hope. ‘It is a bit like seeing the sky come down, with all those bad news’, Anette sighs – before adding with a determined smile. ‘But underneath, where we are – there still is life!’
Aude Sathoud
Support those who support by donating to AWoN today!
Cover picture: Travelling exhibition Rye in the back – Embroidery for religious peace