FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Sweden
Address
Södra förstadsgatan 121 BCountry
City
MalmöMobile Phone
+46735393651Telephone
+46735393651E-Mail (2)
yaraalsheikhali@gmail.comE-Mail (3)
handihandforening@gmail.comYear of Establishment
2015Contact Person1
Mohamad IsmailJob Title 1
StyrelseledamotContact Person 2
Yara Sheikh AliJob Title 2
OrdförandeOrganisation Type
Non-Governmental OrganizationFields of Activity
Democracy and community development, Gender, Heritage, International/Cultural relationsGeneral Information
Hand i Hand is an independent Malmö-based cultural and social association founded in 2014. For over a decade, the organization has been active in local civil society, working primarily with social, cultural, and democratic issues connected to Arab and migrant communities in Malmö. The association is non-partisan and creates platforms for dialogue, cultural expression, education, and community engagement through collaborations with local institutions, study associations, and public actors.
Mission and Objectives
Hand i Hand’s mission is to strengthen inclusion, representation, and social participation by creating spaces where underrepresented voices, particularly from Arab communities, can engage in culture, dialogue, and civic life. The association aims to:
Promote democracy, human rights, and social inclusion
Challenge stereotypes and broaden cultural representation
Strengthen community participation through education and public dialogue
Highlight Arab cultural heritage and contemporary artistic expression
Build bridges between communities, institutions, and wider society in Malmö
Main Projects / Activities
Hand i Hand has led and organized a range of cultural, educational, and community-based initiatives, including:
* Art Against Islamophobia (2025) – A Malmö stad-funded cultural project using art, dialogue, and public programming to challenge Islamophobia, reduce prejudice, and create broader conversations around representation, identity, and anti-racism. The project focused on culture as a democratic tool to confront exclusion and harmful stereotypes.
* Muradefat (2026) – A Malmö stad-funded major cultural event exploring reimagined and intangible Arab and Islamic heritage through art, music, dance, storytelling, food, and public dialogue. In collaboration with Folkets Park and ABF, Muradefat highlights overlooked
* cultural practices beyond stereotypes and reclaims heritage through contemporary, public, and community-based expression.
* Study Circles & Educational Programs – In collaboration with organizations such as ABF and NBV, including initiatives focused on culture and society, family support, representation, and civic awareness.
* Public Dialogues & Civic Engagement Events – Cultural and democratic conversations featuring politicians, researchers, and civil society actors, often centered on identity, representation, and social inclusion.
*Children & Family Workshops – Creative workshops focused on storytelling, cultural memory, and intergenerational learning.
*Cultural Collaborations & Public Programming – Ongoing partnerships with libraries, Malmö-based institutions, cultural venues, and grassroots organizations to strengthen access to culture and public participation.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
Hand i Hand can contribute to the Anna Lindh Foundation Network in Sweden through over a decade of grassroots experience in cultural dialogue, civic participation, and inclusive public engagement within Malmö’s diverse social landscape. As an independent cultural and social association, we work directly with communities that are often underrepresented in broader institutional spaces, particularly Arab and migrant communities, and create platforms where culture becomes a tool for dialogue, democratic participation, and social cohesion.
Our contribution lies in our ability to connect local communities, cultural actors, civil society, and public institutions through innovative programming that addresses representation, identity, anti-racism, and intercultural understanding. Through projects such as Art Against Islamophobia (funded by Malmö stad, 2025) and Muradefat (funded by Malmö stad, 2026), we have developed experience in using art, storytelling, music, and public dialogue to challenge stereotypes, combat Islamophobia, and foster more nuanced understandings of Arab and Islamic cultures.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
We want to join the Anna Lindh Foundation Network because its mission strongly aligns with Hand i Hand’s long-term work: promoting dialogue, pluralism, shared humanity, and intercultural understanding across the Euro-Mediterranean region.
For us, culture is not only artistic expression — it is also a democratic practice and a space where stereotypes can be challenged, identities reclaimed, and new forms of solidarity created. Joining the ALF Network would allow us to expand our local work into broader international collaborations, exchange knowledge with organizations across different contexts, and strengthen our ability to create meaningful impact both locally and transnationally.
We see the Network as an opportunity to:
Exchange methods, ideas, and strategies with like-minded organizations
Strengthen our projects through international partnerships
Learn from other experiences in anti-racism, youth engagement, and intercultural dialogue
Bring Malmö’s grassroots experiences into larger Mediterranean conversations
Contribute actively to building more inclusive, democratic, and culturally connected societies
Ultimately, we believe joining the Anna Lindh Foundation Network would not only strengthen Hand i Hand’s work, but also allow us to meaningfully contribute to a shared regional effort toward dialogue, dignity, and mutual understanding