101,304 SEK in less than a week. Five Lund students unified the city during five days of amusement and charity.
It all started as a will to help refugees on their way to the safety of Europe. A will which many people share, but one that became a whole week of different events and fund-raisers for the Lund students Kajsa Fernström Nåtby, Martina Berglund, Clara Leandersson, Klara Nilsson Berge, and Fredrik Välme.
Many people participated
Other than companies and associations in Lund, spexes, cafés, flee-markets, and exhibitions were on offer. In all, over 100,000 SEK was collected, and the final sum is not even compiled. In retrospect, the organisers are more than pleased with the outcome.
“We are completely overwhelmed by how well it went, really” Kajsa Fernström Nåtby says.
Although the project took a lot of time, putting both studies and spare time on the backburner, it was worth it, according to Kajsa Fernström Nåtby. Her best tip for those who would like to get involved is to come up with a project that is fun to organise.
“Everything you do while still having fun will turn out much better. Of course, you also get inspiration when you see that what you do corresponds with your own values. Doing something to make the world a better place.”
Lund is great for charity campaigns
Kajsa Fernström Nåtby believes Lund to be a good city to initiate these kinds of campaigns.
“Many students here are used to taking part in non-profit activities and spending a lot of time doing so. There is also a big willingness to help, and then, it is not that difficult to redirect your engagement and create a better life for those who are worse off than yourself.”
The spex-evening in particular attracted a big audience. Kajsa Fernström Nåtby estimated that around 250 people attended the evening, and that it was both students, their families, and passers-by who came inside. That evening only, when sex of the spex-societies performed completely for the benefit of the charity, around 20,000 SEK was collected.
Boelspexarna were one of the societies who performed, and according to Chairperson Hannes O. Tedin, there was never any question about whether to help in any way they could.
Money for Lesbos
The money collected during the week will be donated to the initiative Vi gör vad vi kan (We do what we can) that is organising local efforts in Greece to welcome newly arrived refugees. Kajsa Fernström Nåtby is positive towards the project since it was started the same way as Vi kan-veckan (We can-week) was.
“It is a movement made up of people acting as individuals who wanted to make a change. They wanted to do whatever they could to help, and I think the money we collected will be used in the best way possible.”
Article: Jakob Ehde
Translation: Richard Helander
