– I am so happy to hang out with this group! There is a wonderful community and joy in everything we do together. Our project ”Meeting Place Åminne” is truly meaningful.
It says Joakim Lyander who is the project manager for ”Meeting Place Åminne.” He works at Sportfiskarna, which runs the project in close collaboration with the local associations in Gotland for RBU (National Association for Disabled Children and Youth), FUB (Association for Children, Young People, and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities) and RSMH (National Association for Social and Mental Health).
The project is funded by Leader Gute and is aimed at children, young people, and adults with disabilities as well as individuals in involuntary loneliness. The purpose is to give target groups that are otherwise far from outdoor life the opportunity to meaningfully create and utilize a meeting place based on their own conditions.
Local landowners, fishing rights holders, and actors have also rallied and supported the project.
Fishing the common thread
It is a slightly cloudy morning on August 17, when the project carries out its fourth activity in Åminne since its start last Easter. But soon about 30 enthusiastic participants are on site.
– We have had between about 30 and 60 participants during these initial activities. It’s really fun that so many come, says Joakim.
The common thread in the project is fishing. But it’s about so much more.
In addition to learning about fish and fishing – and of course fishing together – everyone gets to learn about life in the water, for example by scooping up insects and small critter bingo.
– We also work together to take responsibility for the area at the mouth of Gothemsån and make it a place for fun, accessible, and welcoming outdoor activities, explains Joakim.
On this day, in addition to fishing, there will be litter picking along the river and the beach and reed cutting to make it easier to fish along the river's outlet. And of course, sausage grilling and snacks – an important part of the community at all activity occasions.
– ”Meeting Place Åminne” for me is about respect. Respect for each other, for nature, and not least for myself – my self-esteem, says Magnus Pettersson, who picked up litter along the river and shoreline during the activity in August.
Robin Funk made sure to remove a lot of trash from the beach area in Åminne before it was time for sausage grilling.
Respect and joy
– It feels so nice for me to get out into nature. The social aspect is also very important. And learning new things – and eating well together. For me, it’s about respect. Respect for each other, for nature, and not least for myself – my self-esteem, says one of the participants, Magnus Pettersson, while we walk along the river and the shoreline and pick up trash.
– I love to fish! I have been present at all the occasions and plan to come to all that are ahead, says Kim Buskas who has chosen to fish near the river mouth.
A bit upstream, by the bridge, there are suddenly happy laughs. It is the sisters Cilla and Katarina Karlsson who cheer together. Cilla has just caught a nice perch.
– I’m going to eat this, shouts Cilla with a big smile and receives congratulatory hugs from her sister and the others nearby.
In addition to the target group, their families, companions, and representatives from the participating associations take part in the activities.
– We really need such wonderful activities for our target groups. There is such joy and warmth here. Everyone gets lovely, shared experiences and feels responsible for both the area and the activities, says Nils-Eric Folebo Lundberg, chairman of FUB Gotland, and is supported by Lars Fransson, chairman of RSMH Gotland and Anna Adegren, chairman of RBU Gotland.
Joakim Lyander, Sportfiskarna, shows the nice perch that Cilla Karlsson (left) caught while fishing with her sister Katarina.
The project is growing and developing
– Many participants have been present at all four occasions we have organized so far. We notice that they appreciate the project – they reach out to us about when it’s time for the next meeting and are looking forward to it. New participants are also constantly joining. And now we have also included another association: Attention, an association that highlights neuropsychiatric disabilities and people living with these diagnoses, Joakim explains.
It is now also confirmed that the project will collaborate with an adapted upper secondary school in Gotland, which caters to young people with intellectual disabilities or acquired brain injuries.
– During the autumn, we will have two activities during school hours with students from the adapted upper secondary school here in Åminne. We will then focus on life beneath the water surface as well as water and fish care, says Joakim.
Moving forward, the project and the participants will work on fixing new benches and further improving the area by Gothemsån in Åminne in several ways – while fishing, learning, and all the fun elements continue and are renewed.
– We will evaluate the activities after the first year together with the associations we collaborate with. We will listen carefully to them and their members on how we can improve and develop the activities in the best way for the participants. The project is three years long and will therefore continue into the year 2028, explains Joakim.
That the project lasts for a longer time means a continuous, concrete collaboration between several associations and actors – something that may grow into several new initiatives and activities in the future.
– I wish everyone could see how much this type of project means for those who participate. How well they feel and how they develop from doing things together in nature. This is important – really, says Joakim.
Fishing is the common thread in the project. But it is also about learning about the marine environment, making the area by the mouth of Gothemsån even nicer and – not least – having coffee and grilling sausages together!
Kim Buskas loves to fish and never wants to miss an activity with friends in the project ”Meeting Place Åminne”.
Dates for upcoming activities within the project ”Meeting Place Åminne:
Sunday 28/9
Sunday 12/10
Sunday 2/11