Neighborhood centers in Sweden 1912-2012
IFS-conference in Stockholm 22 May 2012 Ulla Bergqvist fotoarkiv Ronny Bengtsson
Toynbee Hall, London
Samuel Barnett: Why settlements?
The basis/starting point is the conditions of the local life as a part of a global vision
Strong societies/ communities and positive social reforms depend on personal communication over social and economical barriers
Natanael Beskow
1899, London Robert Browning settlement
Social, economical changes
Industrial, bad conditions, children working… People moving from countryside to town Labour movement Social justice Class barriers No female voting rights
Birkagården 1912
Läsestugan Birkagården Elsa Beskow Female network around Natanael B Ebba Pauli also visited settlements in
London
Important women in the ”Network” around Natanael Beskow Ebba Pauli (middle), Herta Svensson and Dagny Thorvall (left), Emilia Fogelklou, Gerda Meyersson, Kerstin Hesselgren (right)
They wanted to make life easier/brighter for those living in the shadow. They wanted to be the spokesman of these people
They understood that the problems in the society which affected these people couldn´t be solved without politics
But they also understood that behind all questions of political and social nature, there are people/human beeings
And you don´t understand the people, if you don´t know them
And its impossible to know people, if you don´t live very close to them
Vision Civil service/community service of neighbourhood centers Artikel i Studiekamraten 1943 by Natanael Beskow
Dagny Thorvall, first director,Birkagården
Vision-adult education
Practical outcome, lots of children and youth
Läsestugan Birkagården
Elsa Beskow, author and artist
”Folkhighschools”-adult education
Countryside,residential schools for adults
Birkagården 1916 first city-based school
Birkagårdens Folkhighschool 1919-1920
Followed by………………..
Södergården, Stockholm 1916 Nordgården, Göteborg 1919 Hemgården, Norrköping 1926 Vintergården, Örebro 1928
Initiatives by Women
Other examples of background
”Shooting workers” in Ådalen1931 Kramfors
Financial crash of Kreuger 1930- Jönköping
”Bad boys” in Dragarbrunn 1941 Uppsala
Nordic development
Norway Fossgården 1920 7 settlements 1939 Denmark Christian students settl. 1912 Askhovsgarden 1943 Finland National org. 1918, Kalliola 1919 Informal meetings from 1924, First formal conf. 1931 Sweden
Riksförbundet Sveriges hemgårdar
1937 11 neighbourhood centers (14 in Sweden) Natanael Beskow, president, (then 4 men until 1988 a
women was elected) Reinforce cooperation (local independent centers)
Subsidies from government
Change of name (adapation)
1937 Nat.org. of neighbourhood centers 1958 Nat.org. of youth- and neighbour-
hood centers 1969 Nat. org. of leisuretime- and
neighbourhood centers
1990- Fritidsforum
Political involvment????
Should youthleaders engage themselves in politics?
Examples of important issues
1940- Open door for refugees (jews, finnish, norwegian..)
1940- Open activities for youth (Hans Jensen)
1950- Centers for all (not only youth) 1960- No drugs in youthcenters-campaign
1970- Community work, develop methods 1980- Peace and environmental work 1990- Girls work, equality, policies for quality 2000-