Swedish Sobriety Movement Rebrands as Movendi Sverige to Unite and Renew Mission
Sweden's main sobriety group merges and rebrands as Movendi Sverige, uniting three organizations under a progressive new name.
- • Nykterhetsrörelsen renamed Movendi Sverige after merging with Junis and Ungdomens Nykterhetsförbund.
- • The name Movendi means 'to move' in Latin, reflecting international roots and a forward direction.
- • Kristina Sperkova will be the new president and emphasizes a unifying identity and liberating lifestyle.
- • The name was chosen after debating 22 options, with some opposing names like 'Nyktra' for outreach reasons.
- • The new name will be adopted gradually, marking a historic transformation for Sweden's sobriety movement.
Key details
Sweden's largest sobriety movement, formerly known as Nykterhetsrörelsen and rooted in IOGT-NTO since 1970, has officially adopted the new name Movendi Sverige following a merger with Junis and Ungdomens Nykterhetsförbund. This historic rebranding decision was finalized during the first parliamentary meeting of the unified organization, where 22 name proposals were considered before selecting Movendi Sverige, which means "to move" in Latin, symbolizing progress and international heritage.
Kristina Sperkova, the incoming president of Movendi Sverige and current president of Movendi International, highlighted the significance of the new name as an umbrella identity reflecting the strengths of the merged entities while promoting sobriety as a liberating lifestyle choice rather than a limitation. Sperkova expressed satisfaction with the name providing a clear direction forward.
The name debate saw contrasting views: some, like Kajsa Ragnarsson, supported "Nyktra" to emphasize activity over lobbying, while others, including Korin Walderström, opposed it for possibly limiting outreach to children. Ultimately, the consensus favored Movendi Sverige to unify the movement and honor its global connections.
This rebranding marks a major transformation for Sweden's sobriety advocacy, aiming to renew focus and collaboration under one recognized banner. The adoption of the new name will be gradual, signaling a future-oriented chapter for the movement.