In 2017, the group was the European finalist for the Nansen Refugee Awards.

was informally co-founded in Östersund in November 2013, by Anne Lundberg and Emma Arnesson.

[1] Initial activities included teaching cross-country skiing to 300 of the refugees being housed in a former army base in Grytan municipality.

[1] After initial success, the Hej främling activities expanded beyond Östersund to Farsta, Dals-Ed, Höga Kusten, and Uppsala and activities expanded to the provision of sporting equipment and clothing,[1] and bicycle lessons.

[2] A 2020 academic study undertaken at Stockholm University indicated that the groups' activities generally improved refugees perceptions of being included in the surrounding community.