"We Dig Where We Stand" – Environmental Sheds Get New Life Through Stockholmshem and Bruske Måleri

The housing company Stockholmshem annually brings in young people during the summer to carry out projects aimed at increasing comfort and safety in their tenants' communities. This year, Nadine Hanna, area developer for Hässelby Gård, Hässelby Strand and Rinkeby at Stockholmshem, chose to focus on repainting the environmental sheds on the properties to improve waste management for tenants. To ensure the project was as effective as possible, painting expertise was needed to guide the young workers. Bruske Måleri, with its extensive experience and commitment, immediately agreed to contribute and become a key partner in this meaningful initiative. Together, they have created an improved and more functional environment while also providing the young people with valuable work experience.

Color coding is used to simplify waste sorting. 

“Nadine from Stockholmshem reached out to us to see if we were interested in holding a painting workshop for their summer youth workers, and we jumped at the chance,” says Ted Edin, Deputy CEO of Bruske Måleri.

The project was initiated in two phases, with the first starting in week 27 and the second in week 31. Ted came to the site to train the young people in the basics of painting and work methods. They began by cleaning the surfaces and preparing the environmental sheds for the work ahead. The young workers were then responsible for carrying out the painting work themselves.

“This project is also an initiative to try to attract young people to our industry. We see that the recruitment of new talent is declining, and fewer young people want to become tradespeople overall. So, we have to do what we can; we dig where we stand,” explains Ted Edin.

Young Stockholmers get their first entries on their CVs

For Bruske Måleri, it’s not just about securing the future of the trades; they also want to take responsibility for social sustainability.

“We want to be sustainable socially as well. When many talk about sustainability, they often only talk about the environment. But we believe we should be sustainable in the aspects we can influence and make a difference.”

Giving back to the community is a goal shared by both Bruske Måleri and Stockholmshem. For Stockholmshem, it is central to engage in the community on several levels, with a particular focus on promoting social sustainability. By employing young people during the summer, Stockholmshem not only gives them their first entry on a CV but also an opportunity to contribute to positive changes for the tenants. The projects undertaken by the young workers contribute to strengthening the community and improving collaboration in the areas that Stockholmshem owns and manages.

“My hope is that more people will be inspired by this initiative and follow suit. We believe this project can spark new ideas and inspire similar initiatives in the future. By using color coding, waste signs, and matching the colors to the bins, we make sorting easy and clear,” explains Nadine Hanna, area developer at Stockholmshem.

The project is a clear example of how commitment and goodwill can lead to positive outcomes. By involving young people and showing them respect for the work and the profession, the project has not only contributed to improving waste management but also inspired a desire to give back to the community. Together, Stockholmshem and Bruske Måleri have created an initiative that promotes social sustainability in the long term.