SWEDEN "This place is special; I never experienced anything like it before. You actually get to do something here." The words come from 19-year old Simon, one of the 70 adolescents receiving support from Future Teens in the Swedish suburb Haninge. Mission: creating a normal everyday life.

 

Simon first came to join the Future Teens day centre this past February. For an entire year he had stayed at home doing nothing after dropping out of school. His high absence eventually made it impossible for him to continue his schooling. Through the social services he heard about Future Teens and gave it a try.

 

– Things have changed, I have things to do now. It wasn’t good staying at home with nothing to do, Simon says.

 

He is sitting at the dining table in the small premises of Future Teens, situated in Haninge outside of Stockholm. He is dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket and looks down at the table while he is talking, a bit shy. But when Simon is asked about his views on Future Teens, he suddenly lightens up. It’s unique, he says.

 

– It’s hard to explain exactly what is so good; the staff, the atmosphere – everything! It gives you a feeling of freedom.

 

When Future Teens was opened in 2004, the staff started working with girls who were living in risky situations and needed help finding their way into society again. Since a few months ago, boys are also welcome, along with the risk group young parents.

 

– The need is great. We are hoping to be able to move into larger premises soon, making it possible for us to open up for twice as many clients, says Kia Wettergren, who has been working at Future Teens since the opening.

 

The young people coming to the day centre have fallen through the cracks for different reasons, she explains. They think adults don’t listen, and many of them have been absent from school for a long time. Teachers have tried to help, but haven’t been able to solve their many problems. Several of the young clients at Future Teens have had many contacts with the social services, but have lost their trust in the authorities. In the end, if the situation at home is difficult as well, nobody is there to catch the youngsters when they fall.

 

– If you are quiet and don’t demand help, you don’t get noticed. You have to be able to speak up for your rights, which isn’t easy for a 16-year old, Kia Wettergren says.

 

The young people coming to Future Teens are between 12 and 24 years of age, all of them with totally different needs. In cooperation with the staff, an individual action plan is created for each client, with including goals set by the young persons themselves. Going back to school, get a job or an apartment are usual goals.

 

Simon recently started vocational training as janitor at a school, working a few days a week. So far he is very pleased.

 

– It’s a nice school and the atmosphere is calm. I don’t get stressed out and I like to work with my hands.

 

Simon hasn’t yet decided what he wants to do in the future.

 

– The vocational training is the first step. I’ve been there a while now and have started to get in to it pretty well. At the same time, I would like to do something more, he says.

 

Three people are working full time at Future Teens together with several volunteers. The clients come to the centre on different days according to a schedule. Every day starts with a joint breakfast, followed by computer games, cooking or anything else the young person feels like doing. Theme nights and excursions are arranged on evenings. The staff has been working hard to create a big network, and the centre now has many contacts with local companies, who among other things assist with helping young people in their vocational training.

 

Kia Wettergren used to work as a sales manager, and points out how difficult it can be to explain what Future Teens are doing.

 

– We have a very broad range of activities, since every client has their own action plan. Some have high expectations, such as becoming a police officer, while others are waiting to turn 18 to be able to start living on social benefits. We always make sure to take the starting point looking at the needs of each individual.

 

Text: Maja Svenonius

The Photo above: Kia Wettergren, Camilla Wernqvist and Maria Höglund at Future Teens outside their premises in Handen, Stockholm.