Big insights can come from small voices. Last winter, our Chief Technical Officer, Matthias Klaveness Saers, was inspired by a conversation with his 9-year-old son. His son had noticed that many of his classmates couldn’t swim — some were even kept from attending swim classes by their parents, due to cultural or safety concerns. Despite Oslo’s goal of ensuring all children can swim by 4th grade, this essential life skill was out of reach for many.
Matthias had an idea: why not use Sommerro as a platform to help? With full support from leadership, we partnered with Norwegian People’s Aid Oslo, Oasen — an organization that supports immigrants and vulnerable groups through inclusive, low-threshold services.
Together, we launched free swimming lessons at Vestkantbadet, aimed at youth aged 13 to 18 who hadn’t had the opportunity to learn. To ensure a safe and culturally respectful environment, Tuesdays are reserved for girls (with only female instructors and participants), and Thursdays for boys (with only male instructors and participants). During the sessions, the entire pool and changing areas are closed off for privacy and calm.
The response was overwhelmingly positive, with fully booked classes. In addition, four seminars are planned this autumn, focusing on topics such as women’s health and rights.
This initiative shows that Sommerro has room for everyone. Through genuine engagement and cultural understanding, we aim to help build a more inclusive Oslo — one stroke at a time.
