A youth association in Värmland was granted SEK 2.9 million in public funding for a project focusing on integration and green entrepreneurship. The millions of taxpayers’ money resulted in a rap video with 15 views.

It is the Waste Watchdog Philip Syrén, together with the Swedish Taxpayers’ Association’s Head of Communications and Marketing Lydia Wålsten, who is drawing attention to the use of taxpayers’ funds.

The duo has discovered a particularly remarkable initiative in Karlstad, specifically with the Carlstad Youth Association. The case was discussed in their podcast Skattjakten.

According to the Waste Watchdog, the Carlstad Youth Association received public funding as part of an EU project managed by MUCF, for, among other things, measures against prejudice and to promote integration.

So far, the Waste Watchdog has learned that the association was granted two grants of around one million kronor each for two different projects.

At the same time, the current debt collection case amounts to SEK 2.9 million. According to the Waste Watchdog, this is probably because the association has either received additional funds after the two original grants, or the debt has grown significantly due to interest and other costs.

However, what the activities have concretely resulted in is difficult to gauge. Traces of the association’s activities can be found, for example, on Facebook, where a rap video has been published.

Philip Syrén is critical of what he considers to be the result of the initiative.

“I am afraid that this is the only tax return we’ll get on this investment,” he has stated.

Since the Waste Watchdog highlighted the video, the number of views on the Carlstad Youth Association’s YouTube video has increased from 15 views to a full 172.