My name is Nour Habib, I am 29 years old (soon 30), and I want to share a journey with you – a journey that is as personal as it is universal. A journey from darkness to hope. A journey that is not just about changing one's own life, but also about changing lives around you.
I often stand in front of packed auditoriums and tell my story. I start by saying:
“We live in a society where crime is like a virus. A virus that grows and becomes stronger the more resistance it meets. But if we treat it with inclusion, guidance, and opportunities, we can create change.”
These words are not just empty phrases for me. I know how true they are, because I have lived it. I have seen how people living a criminal lifestyle need warmth, mentorship, and someone who believes in them. And I also know how difficult it can be to leave that world behind. It is a struggle, not just against one's own choices, but also against societal structures and prejudices.
I grew up in Helsingborg, in an area where crime was almost a natural part of everyday life. Already at the age of twelve, I began to take small steps into that world. By the age of 21, I served my first and last prison sentence, sentenced to 2 years and 4 months for aggravated robbery. It was there, in solitude, that I realized I had lost something invaluable – contact with my family.
For me, family is everything. When I lost them, I lost my direction. But I decided to turn it around. If I could just do the opposite of everything I had done before, maybe I could win them back. And thus the idea for Trygg Rätt was born.
Trygg Rätt – Preventing crime through Personal Development
When I started Trygg Rätt in 2018, I knew nothing but crime. But I had a goal: to create something that could truly prevent crime. I built the methods based on what I had needed myself – mentorship, guidance, and opportunities to see another path.
In 2020, Trygg Rätt received funding from the European Social Fund via Leader North West Skåne. We worked with 15 young boys who were at risk of going astray in life or had already gone astray. By including them, guiding them, and giving them tools to succeed, we saw all 15 turn their lives around and enter the job market.
Today, Trygg Rätt has also established itself in Gothenburg. We have managed to help 97 out of 125 participants leave crime and instead become a community resource, received several major social awards such as from SEB, Reach for Change, and Botildenborg, and we continue to develop.
Why is it so difficult to leave crime?
When I talk about crime, I often describe it as a virus. For every obstacle that society puts up – harsher penalties, stricter laws – crime finds a way around. Our youth are drawn to that world, not because they are evil or want to destroy, but because it often seems to be the only context that appears available, inclusive, safe, and that offers opportunities.
This is what I believe in:
• We must embrace our youth and show that we believe in them.
• We must motivate, coach, and reward them for taking the right steps.
• And above all, we must involve them in society, give them a sense of participation and meaning.
No one is born a criminal. Children and youth who have gone astray are our responsibility. If we do not work with and for them, the situation will only worsen, generation after generation.
I want to end with a question: How do you want to make a difference?
We all have a role to play. You probably know a young person who needs guidance. Perhaps you can be the one who motivates the person to choose a different path. Change always starts with a first step, and the first step is to show that you care.
Together we can create a society where crime is not an attractive option, but where everyone has a chance to live a life filled with meaning.