“It takes a village to raise a child” is an old African proverb that expresses the importance of the large, complex network of adults surrounding children and young people who contribute to their security and development. In Swedish society, this can include their immediate family, schools, clubs and associations, service providers – both municipal and private – housing cooperatives, etc. That’s why we run our schools according to the motto “The school in the middle of the village”.
The idea is that the school – both its premises and activities – should be a common good for the residents of the local community and contribute to the development of the community in a way that benefits children, young people, adults and society as a whole. To make this possible, we establish close and mutually respectful cooperation with various municipal actors, such as local clubs and associations, housing cooperatives, various service providers and other relevant actors. Our ambition is also that outside of school hours, the school premises and grounds should be a meeting place for children, young people and adult citizens in the area through local associations, sports activities, study circles, art exhibitions, cooking classes and other joint initiatives by local residents.