Welcome to ABF!  

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ABF Botkyrka-Salem is a meeting place for education, culture, democracy and

community since 1912. We want to make knowledge  available- for everyone.

 

Arbetarnas Bildningsförbund is Sweden's leading study association. We offer study circles, courses, lectures and cultural events in all the country's municipalities.  The study circle is the basis of ABF's operations. In a study circle you get to study, discuss or  practice something with others. In addition to study circles, we also offer courses, lectures and cultural events. Folkbildning is education and training outside the traditional school world.  In Sweden, folkbildning takes place mainly in study associations and at folk high schools. The close connection to popular movements and associations gives the student unions different profiles. ABF is non-partisan, but our values coincide with those of the labor movement.

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ABF was formed over 100 years ago, on November 16, 1912. The Social Democrats, LO and Kooperativa Förbundet were behind the founding. The initiative for the union was taken by the Social Democrat and educator Rickard Sandler . The idea was to coordinate and develop the educational activities that were already going on within the labor movement.

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Sweden has changed since ABF was founded - democracy has left its mark on society, welfare has been built up and the education system has become accessible to all. But the work for democracy and equality can never stop.

ABF is still struggling to even out class differences, and to give everyone the same opportunities, regardless of cultural background, place of residence or economic situation. The conviction that democracy must be constantly recaptured is still one of the basic ideas of the organization.