Yalla Boden has become an appreciated meeting place and a gateway into society for a broad range of foreign-born women. Regardless of background, nationality, or reasons for coming to Boden, they find community and pathways to new opportunities.
Yalla Boden’s space in central Boden exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere from the moment you step inside. The choice of colors and materials feels as rich as the stews sometimes served here, with flavors and aromas from all corners of the world. The place, which has been a café in various forms for decades, still invites meetings and conversations around the tables. But now, the goal is not the food as much as how the space contributes to social sustainability.

”I love all the conversations we have! It’s so rewarding to empower women here in Boden and help those who might not have had the chance to show all they can do, to flourish”, says Maria Turdieva, the operations manager.
The common thread among all the flowers in the vibrant Yalla bouquet is that they are foreign-born women. Asylum seekers living under the threat of deportation meet and share knowledge and life stories with those accompanying employees at the large steelworks project in Boden, women who have fled the war in Ukraine, or new Swedes who have received residence permits. Everyone carries a story, and at Yalla Boden, they meet on equal terms.
MEETING PLACE
Yalla Boden is Boden’s first work-integrating social enterprise (WISE). The fundamental goal is to create job opportunities for foreign-born women. Maria Turdieva, the operations manager, came to Boden from Kazakhstan in 1997. She has a deep passion for both people’s well-being and multicultural food. Therefore, it was a natural step for the business, which started in the spring of 2024, to gain visibility through themed lunches, among other things. India, South Africa, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Russia were some of the countries whose food cultures were presented.
Yalla Boden will gradually bring in female employees, work training, staff, and volunteers.
A GREATER PURPOSE
It quickly became clear that Yalla Boden not only attracts people seeking employment. Some of the women who have been involved so far have done so as volunteers, to meet others, integrate into society, and contribute to the initiative. Others have moved on to start their own businesses or found jobs. Some have made new friends. There has been laughter and tears, and a shared context has been created, alongside concrete tasks. Preparing meals, coffee, and catering are just a few examples of tools for building social sustainability, language training, and meaningful opportunities for future employment.
Yalla Boden initially participated in a well-attended Boden Food Festival in connection with the city’s festival Boden Alive. They have carried out several catering assignments and are now looking for ongoing tasks and opportunities beyond just food service.
The premises also feature sewing machines and other tools that can be used to develop long-term business.
”We are in an exploratory phase, but what we do know is that Yalla Boden is needed. Now we will develop the structures further and hope for more recurring assignments of various types”, says Maria Turdieva.
TEXT: ANNA BERGSTRÖM