WELCOME TO HEART SWEDEN
History
Heart Sweden is a nonprofit aid organization founded by Sebastian Stakset in August 2018. In the beginning, the work involved traveling, with Sebastian and his team visiting prisons and correctional facilities to spread hope. In the summer of 2019, the “There Is Hope” campaign was launched, in which local congregations in Sävsjö, Tjörn, and Piteå partnered with Heart Sweden to set up a 4,000-person tent for a few days in each city.
Since then, Heart Sweden has grown and expanded its work in the hope of addressing the significant needs arising from increased gang crime, drug abuse, mental health issues, and social exclusion. Today, the organization operates supported housing, thrift stores, worship services, a podcast, and a program in Ukraine—all to help those who cannot help themselves, until they are ready to help others.
Vision
Our vision consists of five pillars:
- There is Hope campaigns
- Social work in Stockholm & Second hand shops
- Supportive housing
- Media
- Cooperation with the Marita Foundation
I see these five pillars as five fingers that belong to a single hand—a hand that we, Heart Sweden, want to clench to strike a blow against injustice, darkness, and hopelessness.
Sebastian Stakset
Founder of Heart Sweden
Cooperation with the Marita Foundation in Norway
In our mission, we have also linked up with the Marita Foundation in Norway, whose extensive rehabilitation work now extends to a number of countries.
In 1999, founder Leiv Holstad received the 'Crime Prevention Award', presented by Minister of Justice Einar Dørum. In 2011, the Marita Foundation's music workshop was awarded a prize from the St. Thomas Memorial Fund, presented by Minister of Culture Anniken Huitfeldt. The work of the Marita Foundation has become known through several TV programs in Norway and the TV series "A new start in life" on TV2. In 2014, the founder of the Marita Foundation, Leiv Holstad, received the Norwegian King's Medal of Merit.
