A long-standing tradition during Nobel Week is for Literature laureates to meet and engage with local students during a visit to a school in Rinkeby, a multicultural suburb of Stockholm. The event helps students connect to both international literature and international recognition, while seeking to motivate young people and give them a chance to express themselves and their dreams.
Since 1988, this initiative has aimed to inspire students by having them study both Alfred Nobel’s legacy and the Literature laureate’s work through reading, writing, and art, in collaboration with educators and creative professionals. The events also involve partnerships with the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Prize Museum, and Nobel laureates continually express interest in the tradition of interacting with local youth from diverse backgrounds.
Last year, the 2024 Nobel Prize Winner in Literature, South Korean Han Kang, visited the school library in Rinkeby. And as many of the students are first or second generation immigrants, the laureate’s visit is a celebration of multiculturalism.
Han Kang met with approximately 100 teenagers who had studied her books, and they engaged with her through discussions and creative responses to her work through songs, poetry, and paintings. At the end of these events, the students also have a chance to talk with the Nobel laureate in a more informal setting, without supervision. Han Kang expressed how touched she was by the students’ interpretations and warm welcome: “I am so moved that they read my books, had conversations with me, and shared their experiences. I will cherish these special memories for the rest of my life.”
In the guestbook, she wrote:
“Thank you, I sincerely appreciate the students who have read my books and shared their stories, as well as the teachers who guided them for this occasion.”
Rinkeby’s multicultural fabric, with over 100 languages spoken, makes it an ideal setting for a boundless meeting of international literature and shared experiences. And while the main purpose of the event may be to inspire the students, it also allows the laureates the chance to be inspired by their young readers’ perspectives. As a result, the laureates often express feeling moved and welcomed, while the ongoing connection between the Nobel Prize and Rinkeby remains vital, deepening ties between global literature and Rinkeby’s multicultural community.
