Youth Employment Program in Sundsvall Offers Alternatives to Gang Involvement

A Sundsvall initiative pays high schoolers to work and stay in school, providing an alternative to gang involvement amid local gang conflicts.

    Key details

  • • High school students in Sundsvall earn 104 kronor per hour by working while maintaining their studies.
  • • The initiative aims to help youth enter the job market and reduce gang involvement.
  • • Participant Warsame Ahmed earns nearly 1,000 kronor a month and wishes to become an engineer.
  • • The program seeks to provide positive alternatives amid Sundsvall's gang violence challenges.

In Sundsvall, a region challenged by gang violence, a new initiative is providing high school students with paid employment opportunities as a way to deter them from gang involvement. Participants earn 104 kronor per hour, provided they maintain their schoolwork, giving them a legal and constructive source of income. One of the participants, 15-year-old Warsame Ahmed, shared that he earns nearly 1,000 kronor monthly and aspires to become an engineer, highlighting the program's positive influence. This initiative aims to help young individuals gain practical work experience and secure a foothold in the labor market, offering a credible alternative to the lure of gang money. By connecting youth to legitimate job options while supporting their education, the program hopes to reduce gang-related activity and foster safer communities in Sundsvall.

This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.

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