ESC: Thriving together

Kultur & Fritidsavdelningen (Culture & Leisure department) is located at the Municipality of Örnsköldsvik, in the beautiful northern part of Sweden. Our partner welcomes volunteers of various backgrounds to come and take part in their international projects which all have the aim to promote solidarity and a stronger sense of European identity amongst their local youth. Enjoy the long, bright summer nights and stay warm during the cold, dark winter months... if lucky, you will see the Northern lights. It will be an adventure for sure. They operate in the field of culture and leisure with activities in the area of sports, outdoor life and culture and they also support various initiatives coming from civil society networks and NGO’s. They organise youth activities outside school hours and activities that aims to promote young people’s participation in buliding a democratic and sustainable society. Their inclusion mission makes us always put special focus on including citizens with fewer opportunities. The department is also the main coordinator for the civil society’s social activities for new immigrants and refugees and for people with physical and mental disabilities. They are running activities both in H1Sliperiet, a culture house, and in youth centres which are located both in the city centre and in rural areas. Here the volunteer can work in various projects in various themes together with local youth aged between 10 and 25, depending on the location. Our partner will always take in consideration the interests and needs of the volunteers and support them to use their creativity to develop their own ideas within the project framework. They also have opportunities in the field of social and ecological sustainability located in the public library and in Fritidsbanken; a place where volunteers can borrow sports and leisure equipment for free. This activity promotes solidarity and equality in the local community and is helping many of our target groups to a healthier lifestyle. Our partner organisation has several years experience of projects within the Solidarity corps and youth exchange/ Erasmus. They believe in the empowerment of young individuals using the tool of international projects.