Murhaf Hamid of Southern Sweden has captured the public’s attention and everyone’s affection. Hamid worked for a local campaign that fights poverty by selling “majblomman,” which are “little pins sold by children aged 9–12 to collect money for charity.” By simply selling flower pins, the young boy has raised more than $230,000 for charity and went viral on social media for his gracious acts. 

Who is Murhaf Hamid? 

Although born in Sweden, Murhaf Hamid, 11 years old, was born to Ethiopian parents. In Sweden, many young children between the ages of 9–12 participate in a campaign that sells flower pins for charity. These children also get to keep 10% of the profits that they raise. 

Originally, Murhaf was just hoping to raise enough money to buy food to split with his friends. He went in with no intention of raising a significant amount of money. When Murhaf began to sell his flower pins, many told him to leave the streets and received minimal support from the public. A family friend realized his hard work was not getting the attention it deserved, so then took to social media to help spread the word. 

Praised by Many

Once Murhaf’s efforts were posted on Facebook, the 11-year-old quickly went viral. He made multiple headlines across the globe, including receiving almost an additional $11,000 in tips to continue his campaigning from donors all over.

Not only did his recognition spread across social media, but the prime minister also recognized Murhaf and he even received an invite to The Swedish Parliament and the Town Hall in Malmo. Murhaf was even able to sell one of his pins to the prime minister once he met with him. On top of Murhaf raising this money, it also allowed the charity to gain more publicity, leading to more participants and donors toward poverty in Sweden. 

Poverty in Sweden: How Has It Changed?

Sweden, a socialist state, has received recognition across the world for having a low poverty rate. In fact, Sweden has one of the lowest poverty rates in Europe. It prides itself on having a stable government and an effective welfare system and can provide jobs. Despite this, Sweden has recently struggled with a recession and has a low-performing economy, leaving poverty to skyrocket. Currently, poverty in Sweden is growing “in a way that we have not seen before.” 

Many citizens who were not struggling prior to the recession now find themselves with nowhere to turn and have to rely on Red Cross Shops for their food. Many experts say this recession will last into 2024, and it will take time and effort for Sweden to bounce back from this setback. That is why efforts from individuals like Murhaf Hamid and his dedication hold such significance. 

– Ryan Balberman
Photo: Flickr