# Refugee Run Clubs The 'Hej Främling!' Run Club Helps Refugees in Sweden Connect By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2016-03-16 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hej-frmling References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2016/03/hej-framling-running-club-refugees-integration-sweden.html) & [hejframling.se](http://www.hejframling.se/) 'Hej Främling!,' which translates into 'Hello Stranger!,' is a Swedish run club for refugees. With many European countries facing the task of integrating refugees into existing communities, this initiative demonstrates that physical activity can be a great way to bring people together. Hej Främling! was founded by Emma Arnesson and Anne Lundberg, who originally began volunteering to help refugees learn to cross-country ski. After noticing how sport and [social activity](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/social-running-app) helped asylum-seekers adjust to their new life in Sweden, Arnesson and Lundberg decided to team up with Christine Hagglund to start a [running club](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paramount-running-club). The club currently has about 40 regular runners and its success has spurred similar clubs in other parts of the country. The project has not only helps refugees [stay fit and active](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soft-wins), but more importantly, it has fostered a bond between Swedish citizens and asylum-seekers from countries all over the world. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.5/10 - Popularity: 15% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Sports](https://www.trendhunter.com/sports) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Integration Through Physical Activity:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop fitness programs and clubs specifically designed to help refugees integrate into their new communities. - **Community Building Through Sports:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create sports initiatives that bring together different groups of people, fostering connections and understanding. - **Sport as an Integration Tool:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the potential of sports as a means to facilitate the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers into society. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fitness and Wellness:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop tailored fitness solutions and programs specifically targeted towards refugees and asylum-seekers. - **Community Engagement:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create platforms and initiatives that encourage community engagement through sports and physical activities. - **Social Integration:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design strategies and programs to facilitate social integration of refugees and asylum-seekers through sports and fitness activities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Refuge Athlete Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olympic-refuge-foundation.md) - [Urban Runner Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/runners-bases.md) - [Community-Focused Hybrid Running Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/runningman.md) - [Refugee-Focused Youth Sport Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moving-for-change.md) - [Social Running Activities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olympian-meeting.md) - [Running-Inspired Global Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/run-as-one.md) - [Burrito-Inspired Running Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burrito-league.md) - [Safety-Focused Female Runner Collectives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/running-mate-collective.md) - [Mindfulness-Promoting Walking Clubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/walk-club.md)