Migration, memory, and communication from Argentina, Spain, and Greece during crises: Stories from Sweden

Call for stories

We need your stories!

Do you live in Sweden with a family background in Argentina, Greece, and Spain? You are welcome to take part/apply to participate in an exciting storytelling project at Linnaeus University in Växjö.

I am Panagiotis Zestanakis, and I am conducting a research project titled “Memory in times of crisis: Argentina, Spain and Greece, 1998 to now” (MeTC) at Linnaeus University, in collaboration with the House of Immigrants (Utvandarnas Hus) in Växjö. I grew up in Athens and lived in Barcelona, Madrid, and Buenos Aires for several years.

In the past decades, crises in Argentina, Spain, and Greece have provoked insecurity and anxiety. Many people are left looking for opportunities in Sweden, a country often seen as friendly to immigrants. Meanwhile, social media and smartphones have become popularised, and communication has become easier; immigrants can stay in touch with their countries of origin and continue to discuss politics, culture, and other topics. Social media also offers opportunities to build relations in Sweden, typically through groups composed of other immigrants.

We are interested in collecting stories from people who migrated from Argentina, Spain, and Greece to Sweden because of crises. We are particularly interested in stories revolving around the following questions:

• How has social media (e.g., Facebook and Instagram) influenced your communication with your friends and family in Argentina, Greece, and Spain?
• How do you use(d) social media to discuss memories from your lives before the crises? How have these memories/discussions affected your new life in Sweden?
• How does material from personal collections (e.g., old photos) that we can easily find in social media influence(d) communication and the ways you see the recent past in your home countries?
• How has social media impacted your political opinions during the crises?
• How have you used social media to create new bonds in Sweden?

We aim to bring together people from three different countries and cultures, whose lives have changed because of the economic crises and who now live in Sweden. In the event, you will meet people with similar experiences, discuss, share stories, and potentially make new friends.

How will the idea work?

In 2–3 roundtable discussions, you will share your stories about how social media affected your new life in Sweden. There is no ideal duration, but we expect that the stories will not exceed 10 minutes. You will be informed in your native language or in Swedish about how your stories will be used. We offer guidance about how to narrate your stories, and you will be assisted by moderators in the event. I will be available to discuss any problems with you during the preparation. The roundtable discussions will take place at the House of Immigrants in Växjö (Vilhem Mobergs Gata 4, Växjö) on 1 June 2025 and will be accompanied by a small photographic exhibition with viral material from nostalgic posts taken from social media. Fika (maybe the first word you learned in Sweden) will be available.

How will stories be shared at the event?

You can either attend in person or online. The roundtable discussions will be conducted in a hybrid format (on Zoom), so you can narrate stories in person or online. Stories can be narrated in Spanish, Greek, English, or Swedish, and interpretation services will be available. Storytellers living in southern Sweden are encouraged to travel to Växjö because the travel expenses will be covered. Storytellers for northern Sweden can narrate their stories via Zoom, but those interested in sharing their stories in person can also be financially supported up to a limit. Please contact me to discuss any concerns in detail.

And after the event?

A Facebook group is being organised now, which will facilitate communication among people interested in the project (and your stories!). We also plan to create a video with highlights. Moreover, participants will be invited to give short interviews focused on their experiences with social media during their first steps in Sweden. Extracts will be displayed at the House of Immigrants in Växjö. We aim to expand collaboration with our storytellers through podcasts and other activities in the long run.

What to do if you have a story to share?

If you have a story to share, please write 4–5 sentences (or record a short voice clip) and send an e-mail with your contact details to Panagiotis.Zestanakis@lnu.se by 1 May 2025. You can do that in Spanish, Greek, English, or Swedish. No further information is needed. We will contact you for the rest.