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DANIR 2022 | Our involvement 64
SWEDES FOR UKRAINE
The platform be extended if the parties agree. The site is available
that has helped in Ukrainian, Swedish and English. So far, more than
500 refugees 500 refugees have found accommodation through
find accom- Swedes for Ukraine. This is more than most munici-
modation in palities in Sweden have managed to house.
Swedish homes.
“ It’s so much more valuable for
Millions of Ukrainians are still fleeing the horrors these vulnerable people to live
of war following Russia’s brutal attack on their with a committed Swedish family
homeland. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians arrived in instead of in refugee facilities. In
Sweden early this spring. The need for shelter quickly most cases, the refugee family
became acute. In March 2022, the non-profit site gets free housing that does not
swedesforukraine.org was launched. It is a platform entail a single penny of financial
that connects Ukrainian refugee families with burden for Swedish taxpayers.”
Swedes who have room to spare and who are willing
and able to provide housing. – Dan Olofsson
The initiative for Swedes for Ukraine was taken by In addition to providing accommodation, Swedes for
Ebba Lindsö and Dan Olofsson. They began the work Ukraine helps to give Ukrainian refugees accurate
of getting the service up and running immediately after guidance when they need to get in touch with various
the outbreak of the war. The site was developed in a authorities and aid organisations. And anyone who
very short time by Ukrainian engineers and web devel- wants to help in other ways can sign up as a volunteer
opers at Sigma Software. These engineers remained in on the website. These volunteers serve as support for
western Ukraine but wanted to help their compatriots one or more refugees.
who had been forced to flee, and therefore worked
around the clock to get the service up and running. EFFORTS CONTINUE AS
THE NEED FOR HELP PERSISTS
The swedesforukraine.org platform was the first At the time of writing, there is a significant risk that the
of its kind. And it makes it easy for Swedes with war in Ukraine will be protracted. And for the already
available rooms or other accommodations to have severely tested Ukrainian people, a tough winter lies
direct contact with refugee families. The idea is that ahead. We are therefore continuing the work to get
after contact via phone or e-mail, the parties meet. more Swedes to open their hearts, and their homes.
If they come to an agreement, the accommodation is We’ve been hearing how many people testify to the
made available for three months, or another period positive sides of opening up their homes and helping
of time set by the parties. This timeframe can later out. They tell us about how this has created new
relationships and friendships between the families.
Right now, we have over 200 refugee families looking
for accommodation on our platform. So the need is
there, and we need more housing. Above all, we need
accommodation options in the metropolitan regions,
because that is where the greatest opportunity to
find work is.
