Parental Power – A Community for Strengthening Families

The air is filled with the aroma of coffee and freshly made cheese sandwiches. Parents arrive, greet one another, and take their seats at the tables. They talk about everyday worries and dreams for the future—about children, school, setting boundaries, and the teenage years. The children play nearby. The atmosphere is relaxed, open, and unpretentious.

Café Framtid

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Café Framtid event takes place. The main focus here is on getting together, talking, and supporting one another. When Föräldrakraft was launched, it took into account that many families are in a financially vulnerable situation. That is why the program focuses on being accessible and keeping costs as low as possible.

“We want to offer a wide range of support to parents,” says program coordinator Sarah Campbell. “This could be a study group, a place to get information, or simply a place where you can take a breather. We recommend activities that cost little or nothing at all, or we organize our own.”

Finding balance in a new country

Pinar has three children and has been a participant in Föräldrakraft since its inception. She and her family are from Turkey and have lived in Sweden for ten years. Pinar’s husband works as an electrician, and she herself completed her training as a childcare worker last year. She says that parenting sometimes feels like a balancing act between cultures. The children want to do what their friends do—for example, eat candy more often than just on Saturdays and start wearing makeup earlier than Pinar feels is appropriate.

“Being a parent here in Sweden is very different,” she says. “Religion, language, rules—everything is different.”

For Pinar, it’s important to meet other parents. Not least to get tips and advice from people who are going through similar experiences in their daily lives. That advice means more to her than advice from experts who don’t understand her reality.

“I feel like we understand each other better as a family now,” she says. “My kids listen to me more, and we’ve grown closer as a family.”

The Future Workshop as a Second Family

Amina is from Sudan and has no relatives in Sweden. She describes Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad a second family—a place where she feels a sense of belonging and receives support. At Café Framtid, she meets other parents, shares experiences, and makes new friends.

“Here, we can socialize and get information at the same time. I’ve become happier and feel more secure,” says Amina.

Future Plus – Language, Identity, and the Future

After lunch, the day shifts focus. From 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., it’s time for Framtid Plus. Today, librarian Joanna Meier is visiting. She reads aloud to the children and talks with the parents about language—about speaking multiple languages. About the meaning of words and how language carries both identity and the future. The children participate with curiosity, fascinated by Joanna’s energy and the fact that she speaks multiple languages and uses sign language.

When representatives from libraries, social services, or the police, for example, meet with families in the area, it lowers the barriers to engagement. Parents get to meet the people behind the professional roles and learn where to turn if they need help. This fosters a sense of security and inclusion—an important part of Föräldrakraft’s mission.

Intermission

Through Föräldrakraft, children and parents have the opportunity to come together through various activities. One example is Mellansnack—an activity aimed at children at an age when they sometimes distance themselves from their parents and test their independence. This is a time when many parents worry about losing touch with their children.

Sarah describes how wonderful it is to see fathers who are a bit reserved at first, but who, after a while, start roughhousing and playing with their children. Because when parents dare to step in, be present, and show that they want to be part of their children’s world, trust is built, and moments like these can be crucial in preventing the relationship from drifting apart.

This is how we reach parents in the area

One of the biggest challenges for Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad reaching out to parents. Information about activities is often shared via social media, posters, WhatsApp groups, and through key individuals in the area. But collaboration with other organizations is also a crucial part of the effort. Föräldrakraft partners with organizations such as Löten Church, Gränby Community Center, and Platssamverkan to strengthen the support network around families.

One example of how Föräldrakraft reaches out to parents is the “Activity Cart.” When staff members go out into the community, they bring a cart filled with items that can make everyday life easier. There is also a party box available to borrow for birthday parties, complete with plates, cups, and a popcorn machine. A much-appreciated help for families who can’t afford to buy everything themselves, but also good for the environment.

“The cart was the first thing we bought,” says Sarah, proudly showing off the cart filled with essentials like toothpaste, reflectors, paper towels, and small hygiene items. These items were Corporate donated by Corporate purchased at a good price.

Author: Lena Elf

Photographer: Ronja Fagré