Sollentuna, Sweden--Children's laughter and nursery rhymes resonate through the library as young mums play with their babies: in a suburb outside Stockholm, a group of immigrants is trying to learn Swedish and integrate into society.
Sitting in a circle on the floor, nine mothers and their children launch into another song. Some are unsure of the words and the pronunciation, but that's why they've come, after all -- to learn.
The "Swedish with Baby" programme is aimed at both immigrants and Swedes on parental leave, offering them a chance to get together once a week to learn from each other and break the isolation that Sweden's generous parental leave -- of up to 16 months -- can sometimes bring.
"I've come almost every week since September. I'm at home alone with my daughter Maggie, who is 14 months," said Bobbie, a 28-year-old mother who came to Sweden from China a year ago with her engineer husband.
"It's perfect for the babies, and for me too. We sing a lot, and there's nothing better than nursery rhymes to learn the language."
Immigration to Sweden has skyrocketed in recent years, due mainly to the country's open-door refugee policy welcoming those fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Somalia, to name just a few.
Once a homogeneous country, Sweden only began welcoming immigrants some 50 years ago. Now, around 20 percent of the population of 10 million have roots outside the country.
The Scandinavian nation has numerous state-run programmes in place to help immigrants settle in, such as free language classes, employment agency assistance, and housing and living subsidies.
Yet many doors in society remain closed to immigrants, including those of their neighbours -- many say they never get to know any Swedes even after living here for years.
After the birth of a child, foreign parents can often find themselves even more isolated, with no one to talk to.
AFP
