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Annika, Hadi & Mahdi’s legal guardian, regularly checks in with the boys at their home. She is responsible for their health and well-being as well as aiding them through the immigration process. Every unaccompanied child who arrives in Sweden is
Hadi & Mahdi arrived in Sweden at the age of 11 in October 2015, the peak of the refugee crisis. Originally from Afghanistan, they journeyed from Iran where they were living with their mother and four older sisters. They are two of over 35,000 u
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At the peak of the refugee crisis, Sweden received an unprecedented number of asylum-seekers. In 2015 alone, roughly 165,000 people arrived in Sweden. Many, like Hadi and Mahdi, came with the hope that their families would follow once they gained re
Annika checks in with Hadi during his futbol practice about attending a tournament the following weekend. She is the adult they turn to regarding their responsibilities and their privileges.
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The immigration process is long and complicated. One of the challenges that many youngsters face is not being called for their first meeting with the Swedish Migration Agency until after their 18th birthday which can be up to three years after they
The Swedish Migration Agency cited the boys needed subsidiary protection when they were given permanent residency in Sweden. But, new laws which tighten family reunification now required Hadi and Mahdi to have refugee status for their mother and sis
With the changing tide in government and the rise of anti-immigrant sentiments, municipalities are facing big budget cuts for immigration services. Youngsters are regularly having to relocate to new houses that are staffed with less personnel,
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"[Life is] better if I go to my futbol and my school, I just miss my family."
Hadi sits in a meeting with Annika, personnel from the group home, and teachers from his school to talk about his progress in the classroom and address any social issues he is facing. Part of the education promise in Sweden is that every student is
Annika includes the boys in all of her family gatherings including vacations with her children and grandchildren. Here the boys sit outside of Annika’s home with their younger ‘cousins.’
One of the big challenges for newcomers in Sweden is to integrate into Swedish society, especially when coming from vastly different cultural backgrounds. When asked what is the most difficult part of socializing with their Swedish peers, the boys r
One challenge that arises with the legal guardian system in Sweden is jealously amongst the children. Because individuals who take on this role receive a stipend from the government, there are many people who take advantage of the system. They agree
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Hadi and Mahdi pose for a picture with Annika’s grandchildren while out for lunch at an Iranian restaurant in Lund. The young girls admire their new older ‘cousins’ and love spending time with them.
Mahdi spends time outside one of the first homes he lived in in Sweden. Because of the unprecedented number of refugees who arrived in 2015, the Swedish government had to rent out private houses to accommodate everyone who needed shelter. These faci
The boys often disagree about the timeline of their journey to Sweden. They were so young when they left and it was all so impulsive that many of the details have been lost. They know they crossed into Turkey where police were firing shots into the
The boys have now been in Sweden for nearly two years. Their Swedish is improving as well as is their comfort with the culture. But, as they get older, issues with authority and making responsible decisions are becoming present, likely an attribute
Mahdi settles into his new room in a new home for unaccompanied children. He only stayed here for a couple moves before having to move again.
“I do not think of the future. I think of the past and the present,” says Hadi when asked if he feels uncertain about what is next for him and brother. “If my family comes, it will be better. If they do not come, what shall I do in Sweden?”
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