Abu and Sumaiya Bakaro work at Northvolt. "We have many friends who don't have housing but we know that the municipality is working to solve it," they say.
Afterwork på Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus..
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Afterwork at Sara kulturhus.
Mariam Mirzayi has lived in several cities in Sweden. "The best thing about Skellefteå is that it is safe for the children," she says.
At the Welcome Home Afterwork event, newcomers mingle, enjoy music, and forge new connections. Norran first meets Abu and Sumaiya Bakaro, who recently relocated to Skellefteå from Jönköping to work at Northvolt after three years there.
– People here are incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the natural beauty is stunning, they say.
– While public transport and housing could be improved, we were fortunate to find an apartment.
Anita Pauly and John Sajan Vargese have been residents of Skellefteå for two weeks. "We want to buy a house here in the future," they say.
Halaha Fernando and Nisansala Liyanage moved here from Umeå when Halaha got a job at Northvolt. They were lucky to get an apartment. "The best thing about Skellefteå is that it is good for the family's economy and that it is calm here," says Halaha.
Arjun and Philip work at Northvolt. "The people here are friendly and welcoming. The transportation is good but could be improved," they say.
Lukasz and Marta came here from Poland when Lukasz got a job at Northvolt. They see only advantages with Skellefteå. "Even winter is wonderful, we love the snow," they say.
Bojana and Lena moved here from Serbia when Lena's husband got a job at Northvolt. "I also work at Northvolt but I want to learn Swedish so I can start working at the hospital," says Lena.
It quickly becomes clear that most interviewees consider bus connections and public transportation to be a major issue in Skellefteå. Housing availability also seems to be a challenge, with many expressing a desire to find larger accommodations. However, there's a general understanding of the rapid growth the city is experiencing.
– The lack of housing can be frustrating, but we also recognize the challenges the municipality faces in keeping up with such rapid expansion, say Anita Pauly and John Sajan Vargese.
– They're actively working on solutions, building new and attractive housing options quickly. We even see progress every evening when we go for walks.
Despite the housing situation, Anita and John are already enjoying their new life in Skellefteå.
– We often head down to the river to relax, chat about our day, and connect with family back in India. The downtown area is peaceful and walkable, just the right size for us. We love the fresh air and the long days with bright sunshine. We're especially looking forward to experiencing the midnight sun, they say.