On February 6, 2025, we organized a Zoom meeting titled “Being an Immigrant in Sweden” with Neşe Çelebioğlu, who lives in Halmstads, Sweden, under the moderation of our Association Board Member Suhendan Vaizoglu.
Being an Immigrant in Sweden
Reasons for Immigration: The reasons for immigration were discussed. Our moderator Suhendan Vaizoglu explained that people migrate to another country for compelling reasons such as education, job opportunities or family reunification.
Our guest living in Sweden: Neşe Çelebioğlu briefly told us the following
Difficulties of Immigration: With immigration, people face many problems that vary from country to country and from person to person. “I came to Sweden because of marriage and I had a residence and work permit when I arrived, so conditions were easier for me compared to others.”
Language Learning: Sweden is one of the few countries that offers the option of learning a language directly. Every immigrant can attend free language training at the local municipal school. For social benefits, Sweden requires language learning to promote integration. However, learning the language and starting a self-sufficient career can take many people 8-10 years.
Access to Healthcare: Even if you don’t know the language, you can access healthcare through an interpreter; institutions provide this help free of charge, based on the principle of fair use of human rights.
Education System: The issue here is not whether the curriculum is clear or not; learning the language while going to school is an opportunity that everyone has access to. There are many options for adults in Sweden to learn both a profession and a language.
Support for Immigrant Children: Schools offer language support to immigrant children, and this varies from municipality to municipality. In my municipality, I participated in a project at the University of Gothenburg about the situation of immigrant children in school and their future plans. After the training, we provided primary school students with 4 hours of Turkish language support per week and secondary school students with 8 hours per week, helping them access information. We have seen these children quickly catch up with their peers. Many municipalities now offer 1 hour of mother tongue support to immigrant children. This is very important for identity awareness as it helps mute children to express themselves, which can potentially lead to serious problems.
Employment Challenges: Learning the language is very important. Employers often prefer those who speak their own language, which is not surprising. Furthermore, detailed explanations need to be given to citizens who misinterpret government or municipal measures to facilitate immigrant integration, as this can lead to serious problems, including hate crimes.
Integration Efforts: Sweden has made significant efforts to integrate immigrants, making it one of the best countries in the world. However, immigration is a relatively new issue for Turkey, and with the Syrian situation, there are significant challenges ahead.
Personal Experience: I was very upset by the comments about Syrian immigrants. Raising awareness should be one of the main goals of our association. I came here 23 years ago in 2002 and at the time we did not receive direct support; we found our way through the system for about ten years. Now, there is a mandatory 100-hour training program for newcomers in their own language, explaining the conditions of the country and how it works, which is very helpful.
The Association’s Role: The association can create support programs for immigrants, explaining what kind of country Turkey is and explaining health, education and business life in detail.
Personal Challenge: I am someone who has faced difficulties here; I started working right away, but I had to learn the language, go to school and struggle to continue. Nothing comes easy, but now I stand on my own two feet. My children are aware of their identity and culture and I believe they will build a good future.
I believe that your association will do an excellent job in raising awareness. Thank you for inviting me and I wish you success.