”One woman told me: ”Now I own my own life.’ Those words are what I carry with me, because that is what I work for. For people to feel a sense of ownership. Today, many people fall through the cracks. They are left behind in the fast-paced society we live in. Now we need to make sure that everyone is included,” says Hanna Zaid, who started as a process manager at Lumena and Conecto. Together with Ted Srigley and Ottilia Liljeberg, she will support the seven subprojects in achieving their goals.
Hanna is a mother of three, lives in Nacka, and is passionate about collaboration and integration. For the past twenty years, she has been involved in civil society, where she has gained a deeper understanding of what can and should be achieved in family matters and the labor market.
”I am passionate about seeing the human being as a whole and know how important collaboration is to make that possible. If we do not see the importance of all parts being in balance, we will not achieve results.”.
Hanna highlights the opportunities that our unique projects provide by working on two levels. Her role includes supporting the sub-project leaders as well as working on competency development initiatives.
”If we do not invest in the development of the skills of the employees who interact with the people, the change will be slow. Training is a form of staff development. Now we are creating a common platform where everyone receives an equal and consistent level of skills, which is also adapted to local needs.”
Hanna most recently came from the Stockholm City Establishment Centre, preceded by the ESF project Hållbar etablering. She applied there from the Arbetsförmedlingen, but before that, in 2016 when many people came here from Syria, she worked at the Red Cross center for tortured refugees, where she gained important experience.
”I met people from the former Yugoslavia, but also newcomers with different nationalities. They were undergoing trauma treatment and had often been in contact with the healthcare system, social psychiatry, social services, the Employment Agency and several others. They had had different plans and interventions, which often clashed. They were lost and didn’t know which plan they should follow. Often they didn’t understand what many of the people were doing in their lives.” ”What are they doing here?”
Hanna worked on coordinating the efforts and helped ensure that they had a common plan so that they could move forward towards work training, work, or studies.
”I looked at what each institution could contribute, rather than what each institution requires from the participant. I realized that the most important thing is for people to feel involved, to be able to drive their own agenda, to feel self-respect and to be in control of their lives. What attracted me to Lumena and Conecto was the holistic approach, the idea that we put the person at the center. Instead of people getting lost among different actors, we can guide and support them towards work or studies.”
She notes that there are gaps to fill in the field, but also that there are many who can lend a hand, support, and create solutions. Hanna sees that there is room for creativity and holistic thinking, and she thinks that it is the ultimate way to collaborate.
”My strengths are being curious and responsive. I keep the holistic perspective alive and constantly think about how important it is for every person to be motivated. I rejoice to see people grow and am good at celebrating the small steps. I know they can be big steps for someone.”
Hanna hopes that the projects will contribute to new ways of thinking, to more open government agencies where the space for collaboration and cooperation has increased, and that an individual-oriented approach with smart methods is part of everyday life.
”At our final conference, I want to hear participants talk about their journey and, through that, contribute to inspiring others. That their journey teaches us lessons and broadens our perspectives.
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