There are few programs in Sweden for integration of asylum seeking children. And even less programs for asylum seeking children that feel bad within. Help can be provided for the children through use of already existing infrastructure that has an overcapacity which can be used for healing and integration into society. This is a preventative approach before the children at-risk fail in learning and life and become a huge cost for society.

1. New Vitality By Horses
(Ny Livskraft Genom Hästar)
Newly arrived refugee children heal the soul through horse knowledge.
Contents
• Scope
• What we have accomplished
• The problem
• Facts & Cost for society
• The solution
• Goal & Scaling
• Operational model
• Finance model

2. Scope
• There are few programs in Sweden for integration of asylum seeking children.
• And even less programs for asylum seeking children that feel bad within.
• Help can be provided for the children through use of already exis7ng infrastructure that
has an overcapacity which can be used for healing and integra7on into society.
• This is a preventative approach before the children at-risk fail in learning and life
and become a huge cost for society.

3. What we have accomplished
Aftonbladet 5 february, 2016
(Swedens largest tabloid)
http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article22211852.ab
In Swedish media
Vi med djur 14 march, 2016
(Web magazine)
http://vimeddjur.se/djur-ska-hjalpa-flyktingbarn-att-ma-battre

4. What we have accomplished
• In january/february 2016 a pilot project was implemented in cooperation
between Stockholms largest asylum accommodation for refugee families
and the 4H-farm in Hågelby.
• Information in arabic was communicated and children signed up on a list.
• Most positive was the huge interest from both children and parents. And
the helpfulness from the people working at the asylum accommodation.
• Many more children signed up than the course had capacity for.
• Important learnings was that getting the information out in arabic and
build trust with the parents is critical for success. Also finding people
that can help with translation on each occasion.
• The project was funded by a company – Reach for change.
The pilot project

5. What we have accomplished
• 138 children are waiting for us to come back to do more ”Hästis” courses.
• The children went from clarity to clarity. First fear, then uncertainty that
transformed into curiosity. Curiosity that turned into joy.
• The joy revealed that several of the children had learned a lot of Swedish
in only a few months. Without having started school.
• The parents told us that many of the children never had seen animals,
only bombs.
• The earnest gaze every child had disappeared and it was very clear how
they grew within themselves as the course went on.
The pilot project

6. The Problem
Newly arrived refugee children often feel bad within.
Studies* of child asylum seekers show the
occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder
in some 50% of the children. The reason is
that the children often have been directly
exposed to traumatic events and losses as
separation, arrest or ill-treatment and torture
of the parents, or witnessed abuse and killing.
These children are at-risk to fail in learning
and life and become a huge cost for society.
*=Study from The Na7onal Board of Health and Welfare
On top of that they have to struggle with waiting for years on the residence
permit decision. Living in ignorance of what the future have at hand.

7. Facts & Cost for society
*=Swedish Migration Agency, report Applications for asylum received, 2015, Applications for asylum received, 2015, forecast for 2016
• Waiting time on asylum descision is plus two year and increasing.
2015 2016 (1 march) 2016 (Forecast)
Applica7ons for asylum
children received
70 384* 2 917* 22 000 – 50 000*
Facts
Cost for society if problem not treated
• The cost for society is some 1-1,6 EUR million* for one person ending up in exclusion.
• At the same time one invested euro gives five back on a 15 year timeframe**.
*= Betydelsen av förebyggande insatser kring psykisk ohälsa
**= Sociala investeringar lönar sig – en satsad krona ger fem tillbaka 15 års sikt!
• The human and economic benefits of investment in prevention efforts before a child fail are huge.

8. The Solution
Create new vitality by horses
• Spending time with horses also provides opportunities for training of social and
psychological skills. This is due to that presence and attention is required to cooperate with
horses safely. Care and handling of horses also places special demands on planning,
leadership, responsibility and responsiveness.
• And this contributes to a meaningful waiting time on asylum decision. Not only do the
children get new belief in the future, but they also get to know native-born children and the
country through practical knowledge about the country's culture and history.
*=Study from the Universi7es of TuNs and Washburn in USA
• Increased knowledge about horses strengthens the children’s self-esteem and confidence.
When the children’s awareness of their capacity increases, the perceived difficulties
decreases*.

9. Goal & Scaling
• There is some 480 4H-Farms and riding schools in Sweden. 45 of them are located close to
Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
Year No of 4H-Farms / Riding schools in cooperation No of children that has attended a course Cost calculation
2016 2-4 500 764 400SEK
2017 8-10 2 000 3 021 200SEK
2018 20-25 5 000 7 589 400SEK
2019 25+ Part of the establishment process Municipality funded
Goal
• 4H-farms in Sweden are a part of European Federation of City Farms. The federation
consist of some 880 farms in following countries: United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium,
Netherlands, Norway and Sweden (37 farms).
• And more the 15 000 riding schools in Europe. In Sweden there are 450 riding schools.
Scaling
The infrastructure exists and has an overcapacity which can be used for healing and integration
into society. The interest to help is huge. In Sweden several 4H-farms are waiting to get started.

10. Operational model
New Vitality By Horses is a program and is run as a non-profit organization
The organization buys ”Hästis” courses from
4H-farms / riding schools for newly arrived
refugee children’s behalf. A course covers
preparatory knowledge of horse care and is
implemented in four separate activity
occasions.
An activity occasion is performed weekly for
four consecutive weeks for a group of children.
A group consists of a maximum of 6 children,
two parents and interpreter.
The 4H-farms / riding schools provides
personnel, horses, peripherals, juice and buns.
The organization initiates and manages
cooperation between asylum accommodations
for families and 4H-farms / riding schools.
The organization manages the coordination and planning between asylum
accommodation, interpreter, 4H-farms / riding schools and transportation
to and from the activity.

11. Finance model
funding by
• Government grants
• Foundations / Funds
Companies
• Crowdfunding