King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Singapore’s President visit Fryshuset

On the afternoon of 20 October 2026, Fryshuset in Hammarby Sjöstad welcomed King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia together with the President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Mrs Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam.

The visit, part of the Singapore state visit to Sweden, brought the guests into the heart of Fryshuset’s daily work with young people. Education and Integration Minister Simona Mohamsson joined the programme. Fryshuset CEO Johan Oljeqvist, together with Negin Tagavi, Susanne Svensson, Raisa Lång Velazco and many of the organisation’s staff and young people, received the guests.

   

During the afternoon the visitors met young people and employees, watched a dance performance by students from the Dance Center Fryshuset, spent time in the basketball hall during training, and took part in young people’s artistic creation. Conversations focused on dialogue and democracy, the power of artistic expression, the work of supporting young people who want to leave criminal and destructive environments, and how Fryshuset helps young people develop as entrepreneurs.

                   

A recurring theme was trust – how Fryshuset builds long-term relationships that make it possible to reach young people that others often find difficult to engage. The guests also heard about the organisation’s practical methods for giving young people real influence and responsibility in their own lives and in society.

Fryshuset is a politically and religiously independent non-profit organisation that works to give young people the opportunity to develop their passions and counteract exclusion. For more than forty years the organisation has combined culture, sport, education and social support under one roof, creating meeting places where young people are seen, heard and given space to grow.

The visit was a strong affirmation of the value of this long-term, relationship-based work. Fryshuset extends warm thanks to the King, the Queen, the President of Singapore and Mrs Shanmugaratnam for their genuine interest, and to every young person and staff member who made the afternoon possible.