Friday 7 June 2019

Swedish Embassy in Hay

When I went up to the Festival site last week, I noticed a big bright yellow coach parked by the main entrance. "Sweden" was painted on the side, in black, and I assumed that it was some sort of tourism thing, to encourage Festival visitors to think about having a holiday in Sweden. I'm sorry now that I didn't have a closer look.
According to the Brecon and Radnor Express, it was far more interesting than that - it was actually a roving Swedish Embassy! The Swedish ambassador, HE Torbjorn Sohlstrom, is touring the UK, and the bus is being used as exhibition space to showcase Swedish children's culture, with authors, illustrators and performers leading workshops for children and young people on the theme of children changing the world.
They also had Swedish food, like cinnamon rolls and lingonberry juice.
One of the visitors to the bus was Hay's Mayor, Trudy Stedman, who is also keen to involve children and young people in the work of Hay Council.

And, thinking of young people who are making a difference - Eighteen Rabbit Fairtrade shop have copies of Greta Thunberg's book No One is too Small to make a Difference. The book is £2.99, but they are giving away copies free to anyone local who is under eighteen - just ask at the counter. They say it's their contribution to encouraging a new generation of climate activists in Hay.
Greta Thunberg is, of course, the Swedish girl who started the School Strikes for the Climate movement, and has spoken to governments and other important gatherings all over Europe.

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