Some come here because of the war and other difficulties in their country, and some come here because their families live here. They are either refugees or immigrants, and they all learn Swedish at SFI- Swedish For Immigrants. There are 20- 30 different nationalitets from 4 continents.

A couple of years ago most people came from Bosnia, but now they come from Iraq. These people have lived in "Rafa-lägret", a place in Saudi- Arabia, because they were opponents against Saddam Hussein. One of them is Haider, 29.

Haider was 20 years old when he lived in Iraq, he didn't like what Saddam Hussein did so he was one of those who started war against him. Saddam had many soldiers so it wasn't easy for Haider and his friends. The soldiers put Haider and many others in a prison. The year was 1991. When Haider came to Rafa-lägret he sat there for six and a half years. During the days they couldn't do anything, they had no TV, no radio, nothing! - There were soldiers with weapons everywhere, says Haider. Last summer about 20 people from Rafa-lägret came to Övik. Haider didn't know anyone, he came here alone, without his family. Since he came here he hasn't had any contact with relatives in Iraq. - I've just talked to my mother once, and then she told me that she was going to send me gold if I wanted to get married. In Iraq the men always gives their wives gold. There are many differences between the countries, the traditions and the cultures for example, but I like it here in Sweden anyway.

What is SFI then?

SFI is a fundamental introduction of every day life, social life, education and labour-life in Sweden. Adult immigrants and refugees learn how the culture, traditions and labour-life work in Sweden. In Övik the SFI is situated in the same building as Komvux (school for adults). A couple of years ago there were more than one SFI, all spread out in Övik. But all the adults could not speak Swedish at the same level. They put all the SFI-groups in the same place in Övik, then they could make two groups, one for those who knew the language quite well and one for the beginners.

Boring to study with the adults

Once there was a little boy who thougth that it was so boring to study with the adults. He was all alone with them with no youths around, and he thougth that it was better and more fun to study with some more youths. So his teachers got an idea of making a class for just youths, and so they did. One in this group is Zora.

"They called me damn nigger"

Zora, 19, came from Yugoslavia to Sweden in 1992. The reason that she came was that it was a war going on in her country. But she didn't come here at once, she lived in the war for two years, but it wasn't that dangerous then. She came here with her mum and two brothers. Before she got here she knew that Sweden existed, but not so much else. She had heard from her grand-father that it was cold here and that it was pretty much snow, but she didn't belive him until she could see and feel it herself. Zora thinks that it is good to live in Sweden, she enjoys it it, but she says it's too little to do for the youths, and we agree... The reception or her has been both positive and negative. People have shouted mean things to her, like "damn nigger", and "what are you doing here, go home to your country", of course that isn't nice to hear, but Zora doesn't care so much. She doesn't want to become a Swedish citizen, she wants to move back to Yugoslavia. Some things are different between Sweden and Yugoslavia, for example the snow, she says and laughs, and you can't just go and visit someone before you've called and checked if it's OK! In her home-country is it warm and beautiful and the school was more strict, they got grades from the first year in school. When we asked Zora what she had to say about the Swedish language she only said: -SHIT! And laughed again. She thinks that it's very difficult, particularly the vowels.

Another youth who came here because of war in her country is Farhia.

"It's war in my country"

Farhia is a 14-year old girl. She came from Somalia to Sweden in 1996. She came here because of a war in her country. It's been war there since 1990.
-What did you think when you came here?
-I didn't think so much, but I didn't get disappointed. I think it's nice here, but really cold. I think that Somalia is a more beautiful country. The people think differently. I think that Swedish people never have time for anything. If you want to go to a friend you have to ask him or her if you can come. It isn't like that in Somalia.
-How do you think the Swedish language is then?
-It's a little bit difficult, but it's OK.
-Did you come here alone or with some family members?
-I came with my uncle and his wife.
-Have you been back to Somalia since you came here?
-No, I haven't, but if I could I'll do it. I can't rigth now because of the war.
-Do you want to be a swedish citizen?
-Yes, I want to be that. My father is that so I'm going do be it later, but I don't feel like a Swede.
-Do you have many Swedish friends?
-Yes, I've got both Swedish and immigrant friends, but mostly immigrant.
-Have you met any racism?
-Yes, I have, they yelled at me, but I didn't really care.

Another person from Somalia is Dhofo, 34

"You have to be married"

Dhofo came to Sweden on the 5th September 1992. She also came from the war in Somalia like Farhia did. It took about a year all the way here. Her husband had to go to another place,and after six months he returned. They had no contact during those six months. Then they got to Addis Abeba, where they got their passports and after two months there they went to Moscow and later to Sweden.
-What did you know about Sweden before you came here?
-That it was a really successful country, that it was a lot of industries here, you have gone so much further than us.
-What do you think of Sweden now?
-Well, it's great here, I like it, it's a lot of nice people, we have some Swedish friends, but we have more contact with immigrants. They are really different from each other, because all of them have different cultures and characters. The Swedish people don't show their feelings like we do in Somalia.
-Do you want to live here or do you want to go back to Somalia?
-Of course I want to go back, but it's will be difficult. For example, the school for my children. It's not so easy just to go back there and start over again.
-Do you and your family want to be Swedish citizens?
-Yes, in the future.
-What do you think are the biggest differences between Sweden and Somalia?
-It's so much. Sweden is more civilized. There are different kinds of traditions, in Somalia the women must be married, they can't be single all their life. In the marriage the men have to pay everything and take all the responsobility of the family. That's to show respect to the parents in law.

"People in the north are kinder"

Immigrants and refugees prefer to come to the north of Sweden or to smaller cities. In the south of Sweden all the immigrants are put together at the same place where they have nearly no contact with Swedish people. Here in the north they live with the swedish people, that's not common in the south. It's difficult for immigrants to get a job in Sweden, because they can't speak Swedish so well. But here in the north it's eaisier to get jobs, because they live with the Swedes and that is why they know the language better.

Came alone

In August 1997, Dawit 17, came from Ethiopia to Sweden. His father lived here, and that is why Dawit also moved here. School is better here so he wants to get a good education and then move back to his country. He thinks that the Swedish language is very difficult, especially the pronunciation, and to talk. It's eaiser to write than to talk,he says. Dawit came to Sweden by himself, he has no brothers or sisters. His first impression of Sweden was that it's OK! He hasn't met any racism. Dawit has many friends, and most of them are immigrants, but he has some Swedish friends too, but it's more difficult to understand them.

Sweden is cold

Rattapong, 19, came to Sweden on the 3rd August 1996. Before he came here he lived in Thailand with his sister. His mother had lived here in Sweden for five years. She had met a Swedish man, and now she wanted to see her son again. Rattapong travelled alone. Now he has lived here for one and a half year and is trying to learn the Swedish language. -It's hard, he says, it's really difficult to write and the pronunciation is the hardest. It's not just the language that is difficult, it's also difficult to get used with the cold temperature. He thinks school is better here in Sweden. In Thailand they don't have any breaks, only lunch. School is more strict and the teachers hit the pupils. -One day I will go back to Thailand, Rattapong says. In Thailand I've got more friends and it's warmer. People here stare at me. He doesn't feel like a Swedish boy and doesn't think he ever will do that.

Don't hate them!!!

Most people who have come here from other countries haven't chosen to come, they had to come here because of war or other things, politics or religion. Don't tell them to go back, because they can't even if they want to, it's not their fault, so why hate them?


Click here for more infomation about SFI

Here comes two articles that three youths from SFI have written:

Our homeland Somalia

We are two girls who come from Somalia and we would like to tell you about our country. It's religion is islam. Somalia is a big country. It's bigger than Sweden, if you look at the map. The capital of Somalia is Mogadisho. There's no snow there, and it's summer the hole year. There are much animals in Somalia, for example lions, elephants, tigers, apes and others. There are many high mountains in Somalia. The biggest is Jamame. There are lots of rivers there too. One of the biggest is the Nile, and it's situated in the south of Somalia. The people in Somalia grow different kinds of plants, and they export and import to the USA and to Arabian countries. There are 6.220000 people in Somalia. The language is Somali, Italian and English.

By Farhia and Abshira 4/5 1998

About the Swedish people

Most of them are blond and kind. Sweden is a nice country with many forest and a lot of snow. We have blueberry, rastberry, cloudberries and lingonberries in the forest. We have short summers, just three months. I who am writing is come from Yugoslavia, and have lived here in Sweden for five years. I like Sweden because the people have been taking care of me and helped me. They have let me stay in Sweden and I have been learning Swedish. The language is a little difficult. The vowels are hard to learn. Especially å, ä and ö. The Swedish people are busy all the time and when they're not they're watching television and say that they are busy. That's a typical "Svensson". And one more thing is when I'm going to visit a friend I have to call him or her before I come. At first I thougth it was really hard., but now I think it's so comfortable to not be bothered by all the people around me. One difference between immigrantes and Swedish people is that Swedish people go to the wood and barbeque hotdogs. But the immigrants rather hang out with their friends because they like to be with each other and talk to each other.

By Zora 4/5 1998


© 1998 Freeway
Writers: Maria Hagström (sp00-06@park.se), Sara Häggqvist (sp00-09@park.se) and Sara Nilsson (sp00-15@park.se).
HTML by: Jimmy Eriksson (nv00-90@park.se). and Daniel Rönström (nv00-100@park.se).