About GNRSLY

Welcome to GNRSLY (generously)!

Background

After about thirty years in, among other things, idea-driven development aid, church and education, I am now starting this service called GNRSLY. I bring with me experience from leading and coordinating cross-cultural collaborations in civil society in Africa, Asia, the USA and various parts of Europe.

China

In the years 2017-2020, my wife and I took the opportunity to move to the incomparable Yunnan Province in southwest China. We got to experience how humbling it is to be an immigrant and not be able to talk to people or understand the local culture. A lot of things were new to us, that we felt was unfamiliar, stressful and challenging at first. Not to mention the deep longing for our loved ones back home in Sweden. But generous Chinese people opened up their lives and relationships to us. They became our friends. That is how the megacity of Kunming becoming our Home away from Home.

The pandemic and GNRSLY

When the pandemic forced us to leave our dear China and I was faced with creating a new chapter in my professional life, I stumbled upon the issue that led to GNRSLY; namely that too many people who leave their homes for my home country Sweden have a difficult time to find friends among Swedes, and thereby find their way into my culture and my society, ie to feel at home in Sweden. We often talk about it as integration and segregation. Too many people experience a cold welcome here.

What GNRSLY is about

GNRSLY is about helping people meet, who want to build new cross-cultural relationships. In this way, GNRSLY wants to contribute to the formation of new personal relationship networks. Why?

• Because personal contacts create security and solve everyday problems that employers or society have a hard time helping us with.
• Because personal friendships help someone who is new to the country to function here, feel good and be able to contribute.
• Because Swedish companies and institutions must do their utmost to attract, retain and take advantage of the international talent who arrive here.
• The cold climate and the dark season take time to get used to. There is not much to do about that.  But warm relationships make it easier.

Why GNRSLY

Pay it Forward is an expression that has generosity as its core value. It contrasts with polarization and unnecessarily narrow, generalizing group divisions. No one loses on generosity. Therefore, GNRSLY does not stop at a business idea, but continues with The Breeze, where I want to offer an opportunity for all of us who have experienced what it is like to meet generous locals, to in our turn show generosity towards new talents in Sweden who deserve a little wind in their sails. I am sure we will all be winners that way.

If you want to be part of making our slogan Connecting warm people in a cold country a reality, please do not hesitate to register or get in touch. I will be happy to answer your questions.

Warm greetings

Stefan Rizell