This movement started in early 2025 when the Swedish government, working alongside civil society organizations and private partners, launched the Swedish United project. The goal: to address key societal challenges—such as loneliness, adult education, climate change mitigation, and digital inclusion—by mobilizing citizens across all ages and backgrounds.
People participate in many ways. Some are mentors helping newcomers learn Swedish or find work. Others support elder citizens with companionship programs. Some are contributing to local environmental projects: planting trees, helping with recycling campaigns, improving green spaces. A significant number are involved in digital inclusion, teaching older adults or those with less access to technology how to use tools for communication, public services, or business.
How It Works
Local Action, National Impact: Municipalities across Sweden have set up platforms to connect volunteers with needs in their area. Whether you live in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Umeå or a smaller town like Östersund, there’s likely a project nearby where people can help.
Support + Structure: The government provides logistical, financial, and organizational backing. Non-profit partner organizations supply training for volunteers—everything from language skills to older-adult care or environmental stewardship.
Digital Tools: A dedicated app helps match volunteers to opportunities, track hours, and enable peer recognition. Its success shows how tech can strengthen social bonds rather than isolate.
1. Social Cohesion: Sweden has been grappling with issues like isolation, especially among the elderly or in remote areas. This initiative gives people a way to connect, engage, and feel like they belong.
2. Empowerment & Skills: Volunteers are gaining skills—communication, teaching, environmental work, even leadership. Those can feed into jobs, education, or simply a more confident life.
3. Inclusive Growth: It’s not just the usual “volunteer crowd.” The project reaches immigrants, young people, retirees, marginalized groups. Everyone is invited and everyone has something to offer.
4. Environmental and Public Health Benefits: Projects that expand green spaces, clean up neighborhoods, or promote sustainable practices are helping the environment and boosting well-being.
Sara, a 67-year-old widow in Västerbotten, volunteers two days a week helping older residents use video calling so they can stay in touch with family abroad. She says she feels more alive than she has in years.
Ali, a 25-year-old immigrant from Somalia, teaches basic Swedish as part of evening classes. He describes it as “giving back and getting back”—he’s improving his own language skills and helping others integrate more easily.
Lisa, a high school student in Malmö, leads a “green club” that organizes clean-ups and plants trees in her neighborhood. What started with 10 students is now over 100 and inspiring nearby schools to join.
The momentum is only growing. The government plans to expand funding and support beyond 2025, with new targets:
Increasing the number of trained volunteer coordinators in each municipality
Rolling out the digital matching app in all regions, aiming for at least ___% usability among those without prior tech experience.
More cross-project collaboration—for example, combining climate action with social inclusion (tree-planting with immigrant communities, or tech training for older adults in recycling centers).
With 644,789 people already involved, Sweden shows what is possible when citizens, government, and organizations commit together. It’s not perfect, and resources are still stretched in some rural areas. But the foundation is strong, the stories are real, and the change is measurable.
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