Footboll, community and growth.

Star for Life was born in 2005 when Christin and Dan Olofsson started a new venture in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. They saw how many employees were affected by the spread of HIV and AIDS. This led them to initiate a school programme where children and young people are equipped to avoid infection and to take responsibility for their studies, their dreams and their lives. Over 20 years, Star for Life has helped 540,000 students to improve their health and school results whilst, at the same time, growing globally. Today, we have fundraising activities in Sweden, Norway and Germany and help students in South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Ukraine, Jerusalem and Sweden.

Special Olympics Sweden, part of the Swedish Parasport Federation, provides grassroots and recreational sports for people with intellectual disabilities. Our mission is to give everyone, regardless of ability, the chance to lead an active life. We achieve this by organising regional, national, and international sporting events – and by advocating for inclusion while supporting local sports clubs with the knowledge and tools they need to develop their activities for these athletes. Today, there are more than 10,000 Special Olympics athletes across Sweden.

Cooking over open fires still causes more deaths than malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS combined – and has a climate impact comparable to the entire aviation industry. Emerging Cooking Solutions, based in Malmö with subsidiaries in Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, has been producing and distributing efficient, healthy cookstoves and sustainable wood pellet fuel since 2013. The stoves are loaned to users in exchange for purchasing our fuel and are connected to a digital platform that tracks usage, allowing us to target households with the greatest need. Users benefit from cleaner cooking, halve their fuel costs, and save valuable time.

Bitprop partners with township homeowners to develop rental flats on their property. This unique model combines entrepreneurship with financial and social innovation to develop affordable, high-quality, sustainable housing in South Africa's townships. The homeowner leases their land to Bitprop, which provides expertise, support and funding to enable construction. During the 10-year partnership, the homeowner receives 15 percent of the monthly rent collected, while Bitprop uses its share to recoup invested capital and provide a return to investors, creating a sustainable investment model. After 10 years, Bitprop steps out of the picture and 100 percent of the rental income goes to the homeowner.

The Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum is an independent research foundation that initiates, conducts, and communicates policy-relevant research to improve the conditions for entrepreneurship, innovation, small businesses, renewable energy and growth. The foundation also coordinates a unique network spanning the fields of academia, politics, and business. Our goal is to be a leading forum for policymakers, researchers, and opinion formers involved in economic policy issues related to entrepreneurship and innovation. In this way, we can help to disseminate knowledge on which to base decisions that improve the business climate for Swedish entrepreneurs.

FIFH Malmö is one of Europe’s largest parasport clubs. We are committed to promoting an active sports life, normalisation, equal value for all, and inclusion. The club primarily targets three groups: people with intellectual, physical, and/or visual impairments, with senior citizens also being a key focus. Today, FIFH has nearly 1,000 members spanning all age groups. At the heart of the organisation is our own parasport centre, the FIFH Parasport Center – a unique meeting place in many respects. Supporting this work are 15 employees, 13 of whom have a disability themselves, along with around 50 dedicated sports leaders.

Children and young people with disabilities are a group that is often physically inactive and may struggle to find activities adapted to them. To address this issue, Hugos Stiftelse (Hugo’s Foundation) raises funds to support associations and organisations that work to promote a more active and healthier life for children and youth with disabilities. Funds are raised through events such as Glädjeruset, a running event that allows everyone to participate in their own way.

The Jewish Community of Malmö welcomes Jews of all backgrounds. Its purpose includes organising worship and other religious services, promoting Jewish upbringing and education, and offering cultural and social activities for all ages. The congregation also works to safeguard Jewish interests in society and to counter antisemitism. Due to increased antisemitism and the vulnerable situation for Jews in Malmö, the congregation has significantly diminished, while security costs have increased. In this situation, it is crucial to support the Jewish minority that has long contributed to Malmö's development and cultural life.

Offerdals SK is the local ski club for local people, with over 400 members and an organisation built on voluntary commitment and community. Here, children from the age of four can discover the joy of movement, build friendships, and grow personally through skiing. With a focus on long-term development, fun and an active lifestyle, we nurture the skiers of tomorrow. Offerdals SK puts Offerdal on the skiing map, both nationally and internationally.

The folk music group Offerdals Spelmanslag was formed for a local heritage festival in Ede, Offerdal, in western Jämtland during the summer of 1985. Olle Simonsson, a prominent and enthusiastic fiddler, put up notices in local shops asking for musicians in the area who wanted to perform at the festival. The playing continued, and the group grew. So far, we have recorded eight albums and played in the USA, Russia, and South Africa. We are happy to play at events such as dances, at care homes, and at folk music gatherings.

Project Kaxås was launched in 2019 by Danir to reverse depopulation in the small village of Kaxås in Offerdal. Over six years, the population has grown from fewer than 100 to 270 through new housing, property allocation, and community development. As a result, more than 80 children have moved into the village. The local school has been saved from closure, and a newly built preschool opened in 2024. The project has given young families from across Sweden and parts of Europe the opportunity to establish new homes here, transforming Kaxås into a thriving community for future generations.

Founded in 1968, RFK Human Rights continues US Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s legacy. The organisation brings together attorneys, experts, human rights advocates, entrepreneurs, and writers, all committed to his vision of a more just and peaceful world. It advocates for human rights, pursues strategic litigation to hold governments accountable globally, promotes socially responsible business, and celebrates agents of change. To ensure lasting impact, it also educates millions of students on human rights, preparing the next generation of leaders. Dan Olofsson has been a member of the organisation’s Leadership Council since 2018.

The Swedish Committee Against Antisemitism (SCAA) is a religiously and politically independent organisation with a mission to counter and raise awareness about antisemitism, racism, Nazism, and the Holocaust. The focus is on education, information, and advocacy. The SCAA organises training sessions and courses featuring leading researchers, experts, and educators in the field. The organisation also provides schools, media, political organisations, and other stakeholders with information and educational materials, and arranges guest speakers. At the same time, they monitor public debates and media, addressing and responding to antisemitic, racist, or xenophobic expression.

The Thanda Foundation Trust, founded in 2005 by Christin and Dan Olofsson and chaired by Pierre Delvaux since its inception, is dedicated to supporting rural communities around Thanda Safari in KwaZulu-Natal. The Trust focuses on both socio-economic development and wildlife conservation. Over the past two decades, our work has steadily expanded, creating lasting impact through social initiatives, employment and education programmes, while also leading efforts to protect endangered species. Among other initiatives, we are a founding member of the anti-poaching initiative Project Rhino.

United World College (UWC) was founded in 1962 on the idea that one of the most important things we can learn is how to understand each other. UWC Dilijan College in Armenia is part of this global organisation’s ongoing work to make education a force that unites people, nations, and cultures for a peaceful and sustainable future. Today, the UWC network includes 18 schools across four continents, offering more than 9,000 young people from around the world a challenging and transformative education each year.

The idea is simple – more people in employment leads to a better Malmö. With the conviction that entrepreneurship can reduce segregation and exclusion, Dan Olofsson and Luciano Astudillo founded Uppstart Malmö in 2011. Uppstart Malmö operates as a non-profit foundation and has strong support and commitment from private investors, partners, the City of Malmö, and the business community. To date, the foundation’s activities and collaborations have helped over 4,000 people find new jobs.

Utfallsfonden is an impact fund supporting municipalities and regions in their transition to smarter welfare. We provide long-term financing, analysis, and expertise to enable the implementation of preventive and innovative measures, new technology, and more efficient working methods. Managing SEK 400 million, we invest broadly to promote better services for children and young people, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. Investors include Danir, the European Investment Fund, state-owned Saminvest, Leksell Social Venture, and Norway’s Ferd.