About Ylva

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within”
– Maya Angelou

The name Noura carries personal meaning for Ylva: it combines the names of her daughter and son, and in Arabic, it means “light,” “inner light,” and “enlightenment.” Ylva’s connection to the Arab world runs deep. It is there that her humanitarian work with children, youth, and families in conflict zones and on the move began. It is also the land where her family was born, and where she herself faced grief and loss as a result of a profound personal event linked to conflict.

Ylva’s early curiosity about diverse cultures motivated her to spend extended periods away from home from a young age, studying foreign languages and cultures. In addition to living in the Middle East for over a decade, she has also lived and worked in South Africa, the Horn of Africa, Central America, and Greece

In her humanitarian work, Ylva specialized in mental health and psychosocial support as well as the protection of children. She has worked for several children’s rights organizations, including War Child, Save the Children, and UNICEF.

Beyond her work with children from migration and refugee backgrounds, Ylva also has specific experience working with children in conflict with the law and children in special education.