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Will Alternativ Stad's Ralph Fidler Prize Help Save Aspudden's Pool?

Wed, 11/25/2009 - 17:16  Tags:

I love awards, partly because I love the fact that they give recognition to both individuals and groups, and partly because they spice life up for those involved. And they usually turn our attention to interesting and worthy things.

Such is the case with Alternativ Stad's (Alternative City's) award. This membership organisation is a Stockholm based group lobbying for a environmentally sustainable city. They are also part of the global organisation Friends of the Earth and believe in a city that is more than just for cars and offices, that is safe and environmentally friendly, has more parks and places of recreation, and that grows in a controlled manner with a foundation based on human needs and proportion. They regularly organise demonstrations, seminars, papers and the lobbying of politicians as well as the Ralph Fidler Prize.

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Ralph Fidler was the founder of this group of activists back in February 1969 and was himself an active member until his death at the age of 90. The organisation present the award in his honour, to a person for their notable contribution to the development of Stockholm. 2009 sees the award being given for local political activity to Aspuddsbadets vänner (Friends of Aspudden's Pool) for their tireless efforts to save one of Stockholm's culturally historic and socially valuable, non-commercial meeting points in the inner-city suburb Aspudden.

Aspudden's Bath House was built in 1919 and is in need of extensive renovations. However the owner of the property, Stockholm municipality, does not wish to make the necessary investment in renovations and intends to demolish the building to make way for a new daycare.

According to local activists the building is one of Stockholm's most unique pools and according to the Stockholm City Museum it is particularly valuable from a historical, cultural, environmental, as well as artistic perspective. Yet the plans to demolish this 90 year old have not been revoked. The city did in fact plan to demolish the building back in the mid 1980s, after which a membership organisation took over responsibility for the daily running of the pool while the city maintained ownership.


The group Aspuddsbadets vänner have actively been trying to have a dialogue with Madeline Sjöstedt, Deputy Mayor and responsible for the Municipality's Department of Sports Management but she is apparently not interested in a discussing the pool. She states in her blog that while the municipality is willing to sell the pool no-one has expressed interest in buying it, it is one of many pools in the south of Stockholm in need of renovations and the area has a much greater need of a new daycare.

Unfortunately for the pool it seems like its days are seriously numbered, despite much interest in the pool and a very successful Gala that was held last weekend. Police have been removing squatters who have been onsite 24-7 and at 6am this morning they barricaded the area and builders entered and started sabotaging the building, removing windows and other fixtures. The Facebook group are urging all available bodies to come to the pool immediately and an emergency meeting has been called at 7pm tonight.

Ironic that today, just one day after the Award was announced, the demolition of the pool should start. Let's hope that tonight's meeting can rally enough support to force the politicians to take notice, and start a dialogue about the future of Aspudden's Bath House.

 

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Royal recognition deserves no media coverage. Årets Nybyggare 2009

Thu, 10/15/2009 - 11:56  Tags:

Some people don’t mess around. They don’t sit on a couch and say I can’t, I don’t know how, I shouldn’t, I won’t. They get an idea and they get up and they run with it. They run, and they run and they run until they show themselves and everyone else around them that they should, they can and they did!

Such a person is Layla Naseh. In 2004, at the tender age of 21 she came to Sweden from Iraq and after just two months decided to start the cleaning company Hygienteamet AB. Not only did she manage to support herself but a mere two years later she has 8 employees and an annual turnover of 2 million kronor. On Tuesday October 14 she received royal recognition for her efforts in the form of the Årets Nybyggare – Nystart 2009 prize (ground breaker of the year – new start) from the King of Sweden and a cheque for 100,000 kr.

The jury’s motivation, if not already obvious,
"She came to Sweden just 21 years old. Her language abilities, drive and her honesty have resulted in her now leading a successful company.”

Clearly she has drive and determination that deserves recognition! Not too much sitting around thinking about what she can't do for Layla!

In order to start she sold the family’s car as well as borrowed money from friends. Her partner was unemployed and they had a young child to consider. “Her winning concept has been her focus on a particular niche and her early understanding of the importance of caring for her staff. This resulted in doubling her turnover and profit as well as going from two to ten employees.”

The prize Årets Nybyggare goes to a person of foreign background, living in Sweden who, in a short time and with limited resources, has started a company. The prize has been awarded annually by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustav since 1999, not only to a clever Swedish business person of foreign background but also to pay tribute to all newcomers to Sweden who have chosen self-employment as a way to support themselves. The award also aims to highlight particular difficulties these businessmen and women have faced and overcome. The award winners should inspire others and show that it is possible to be a newcomer to Sweden and be a successful businessperson.
 
Approximately 6000 newcomers choose every year to start their own business, despite difficulties and a lack of contacts. Even though we have over 70 000 people of non-Swedish descent contributing to the Swedish economy in the form of their own business, IFS (International Entrepreneur Association) want more to take the step to self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Layla Naseh was not alone in receiving a prize. Årets Nybyggare includes category A – New Start and category B – Pioneer. Shadi Bitar and Ninos Malki of Earbooks AB were chosen as this year’s Pioneers.

Shadi Bitar was born in Syria in 1978 and came to Sweden in 1989, Ninos Malki also born in Syria in 1978 came in 1990. While studying at KTH Shadi was keen to make his study time more effective and free up time for other activities. He got an idea that would make it easier for students to learn – there was currently no market for audio books for course literature.
 

 
Despite challenges during the early stages he managed to bring in external capital in 2006, justify his business idea and make the company profitable. He now also has a subsidiary to Earbooks AB, selling audio books in another format, Book2Go.

Jury’s motivation:
“Shadi Bitar and Ninos Malki with their company Earbooks AB represent a new Swedish entrepreneur’s generation. They are you, well educated and choose to start a company rather than accept secure employment. They have in the last three years gone from a turnover of 1.5 million kronor to 15 million.”
 
Congratulations to Layla, Shadi and Ninos! They have not only dramatically changed their lives but are truly fantastic role models who simply decided to say I should, I can, I will. And they did!

Ever wonder why there is so much talk about the challenges non-Swedes face as entrepreneurs?? Perhaps the answer can be seen in the fact that only one of the newspapers covered this event - thanks Aftonbladet!
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Astrid Lindgren Prize to the Tamer Institute

Tue, 03/24/2009 - 00:00  Tags:

 


Children deserve the best (from the website).

This award in Astrid Lindgren's name aims to give children’s and youth literature the place it deserves in the world. The prize can attract new, gifted story-tellers, authors and illustrators and encourage them to create good literature.

The prize is also a signal to institutions and organisations around the world that good children’s and youth literature is worth millions. And our children are worth more than millions.

Good children’s literature gives the child a place in the world, and the world a place in the child.

The Winner for 2009

Tamer Institute for Community Education

"With perseverance, audacity and resourcefulness, the Tamer Institute has, for two decades, stimulated Palestinian children’s and young adult’s love of reading and their creativity. Under difficult circumstances, the Institute carries out reading promotion of an unusual breadth and versatility. In the spirit of Astrid Lindgren, the Tamer Institute acknowledges the power of words and the strength of books, stories and imagination as important keys to self-esteem, tolerance and the courage to face life."

SvD, DN, DN2, The Local

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Astrid Lindgren Prize to the Tamer Institute

Tue, 03/24/2009 - 00:00  Tags:

 


Children deserve the best (from the website).

This award in Astrid Lindgren's name aims to give children’s and youth literature the place it deserves in the world. The prize can attract new, gifted story-tellers, authors and illustrators and encourage them to create good literature.

The prize is also a signal to institutions and organisations around the world that good children’s and youth literature is worth millions. And our children are worth more than millions.

Good children’s literature gives the child a place in the world, and the world a place in the child.

The Winner for 2009

Tamer Institute for Community Education

"With perseverance, audacity and resourcefulness, the Tamer Institute has, for two decades, stimulated Palestinian children’s and young adult’s love of reading and their creativity. Under difficult circumstances, the Institute carries out reading promotion of an unusual breadth and versatility. In the spirit of Astrid Lindgren, the Tamer Institute acknowledges the power of words and the strength of books, stories and imagination as important keys to self-esteem, tolerance and the courage to face life."

SvD, DN, DN2, The Local

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Swede Runner-Up: Europe's Best Young Entrepreneur

Sun, 01/25/2009 - 00:00  Tags:

Therese Albrechtson is having no trouble building her brand and is getting plenty of publicity to help her along the way.


Not only nominated but also runner-up for Business Week's Best Young European Entrepreneur 2008 this dynamic Swedish woman founded three companies by the tender young age of 23. While that might be amazing in itself, it is highlighted by the fact that an accident two years ago and a subsequent cerebral hemorrhage put her out of action for 12 months!

Still she managed to make her way back and now spends her days inspiring others.

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