SWEDEN-INDIA Project – August 2013

Sweden-India Project is a cross cultural training programme in social work. Students from different universities of Sweden choose this training programme and have field visits, seminar and  group conferences  to understand Indian social work, social problems,  intervention strategies and methods at individual, group and community level. While they go through this programme, culture becomes framework in which they study the above. They are here on 15 week field study. They are doing their undergraduate programme in social work. The programme has 7 semesters. They are either in their 5th or 6th semester. They will get 15 credit points on successful completion of this project. This project started in 1994. Currently 4 universities are participating in this project. So far, approximately 700 students have gone through this training. They visit urban, rural, tribal community projects dealing with problems related to economically, socially marginalized communities and groups. They attempt to understand these dimensions at micro and macro level. Seminars and group meetings are designed to make this learning, observation relevant to Swedish and other International social work programme.

Following students are participating this semester

Group-A

1. Shodoul Sabaana:  21 years old.   She is from Stockholm University.  Worked  in elderly care, looking after their needs. Keen to understand how Indian culture works and deals with social problems.
2. Olivia Thunborg: 23 years old from Stockholm University. Traveled to South Africa and Asia . Has worked in various areas , including being personal assistant for a boy with social handicap. . Keen to understand how Indian culture works and deals with social problems.
3. Sang Kim Ngo: 22 years old from Orebro university. Comes originally from Vietnam. Social problems are in multiple levels and the society as a whole. She wants to see how group level and structural levels are in Indian social work context. Another important goal is to get to know self through this field practice.
4. Michelle Soderstorm: 23 years old from Orebro university. Works as a volunteer in Karhuset, a place where students hangout and spend time. She wants to deepen her knowledge in International social work and how practical social work differs in different cultures. She views this visit as an opportunity to develop herself, and understand how cultures deal with social problems.
5. Lwam Tesfagergs: 22 years old from Orebro University. Her parents are from Eritrea which has influenced her in both cultures.  Excited to study different social aspects of the host culture and focus on building relationships and trust and overcoming cultural differences.
6. Amira Jeh: 21 years old from Orebro University. She has her roots from Thailand and Malaysia. She worked as a support assistant for people with addiction and mental disabilities. She views this visit as an opportunity to develop herself, and understand how cultures deal with social problems.
7. Cecilia Ramqvist: 23 years old from Stockholm University. She has big interest in psychology, sociology and human relationships. This interest led her to do social work program. She has come to India for three months . She views this visit as an opportunity to develop herself, and understand how cultures deal with social problems.
8. Nora Hozli: 26 years old , from Mid Sweden University. Her experiences of social work began with the Save the Children project for unaccompanied youth refugees. She was in charge of the entire project. Has special interest in immigration and integration issues, partly because her parents come from another culture.
9. Anna Heinemann: 27 years old from Stockholm University.  She did voluntary work in Kibbutz, Baram Israel.  She also had done voluntary work with Swedish association for victim support. She joined a study tour to Kenya as project of project assignment. Excited to study different social aspects of the host culture and focus on building relationships and trust and overcoming cultural differences..

Group-B 

1. Ellinor Harlen: 20 years old from Mid Sweden University. She is a positive and creative person. Loves to meet  people.  Joined this project to understand how cultures deal with social problems differently.
2. Evelina Lomstad: 23 years old from Mid Sweden University. Worked  in elderly care. This experience gave her the interest in working with people and with difficult situations. She wants to do this field practice abroad to widen her references about culture and gain deeper understanding of the role of social worker.
3. Julia Kallenberg:  20 years old from Mid Sweden University. Been to India once before.  Has worked  in a preschool, taking care of children between three and four. Keen to understand how Indian culture works and deals with social problems.
4. Erika Norlin: 28 years old from Stockholm University. She has big interest in Global social work and International Human Rights.  She has worked as treatment assistant for people with various forms of physical and psychological disabilities. She has  travelled extensively around Asia, Australia, Africa and South America. She wants to deepen her knowledge in International social work and how practical social work differs in different cultures.
5. Maria Lindqvist: 28 years old from Stockholm University. Has studied journalism and media communication.  She has worked with Swedish Migration Board asylum unit,  organizing accommodation for asylum seekers, worked with the homeless  providing support and shelter and as a journalist and columnist. Wants to broaden her understanding of how social problems and interventions differ in different cultures.
6. Emelie Kjellberg:  24 years old from Orebro University. Wants to challenge her and see how the situation is in other countries through personal experiences. . She wants to do this field practice abroad to widen her references about culture and gain deeper understanding of the role of social worker.
7. Lovisa Nordell: 29 years old from Linkoping University.  Has worked in hospital with mentally ill patients, worked as a volunteer with an organization for children rights in Sweden Wants to broaden her understanding of how social problems and interventions differ in different cultures.
8. Sunna Nordgren:  26 years old from Stockholm University. Has India connection through her father. Has extensive travelling and work experience in varied fields. Consulting firm, recruitment companies, banking and administration, corporate branding, election ombudsman etc. worked with people with disabilities as a personal assistant.