During the weeks 40 (2009) and 6 (2010) we had classes in Norwegian social studies. All together we gave 35 people, men and women, a questionnaire to answer regarding their life in Norway. Here we present our results, where we – in my opinion – also have some interesting findings.
Personal information:
Most of our female participants were married and had children, but only half of the men were.
Why did you come to Norway?
It was quite clear that the women came to Norway for two reasons; for love/marriage and work. The men on the other hand came either for work or because they had applied for asylum in Norway, and now had obtained refugee-status.
What was your first impresion
- of the country itself
Words like “peaceful, nice, beautiful, calm, safe for children/family, good” were mentioned on almost all questionnaires, but one (woman) also wrote “boring”. We guess she is quite young, and can to a certain extent understand her
What was your first impresion
- of the Norwegian people
Here the words were “nice, smiling, polite and friendly”, but some even said Norwegians are cold people.
How long do you plan to stay in Norway?
Most women planned to stay in Norway for the rest of their lives (80%), but this was not the fact for the men. Only 40 answered positive here, and most of them said they intended to stay a few years. This corresponds with the reason to come to the country, the refugees put “all my life”, whilst the men coming for work ticked off “a few years”. For the women, who mainly came to Norway because of love, the “all my life” choice scored highly.
Do you have Norwegian friends?
Most of both women and men answered positively, and we are happy about this.
Do you have friends from your home country?
About 70% of all people have friends from their own country in Norway.
Do you have friends from other countries?
Many also have friends from other countries. Many of the students for social studies work in international firms or attend our school, so this was expected.
What was easier in your home country?
There is one simple answer referred to by the majority: “Everything is easier in my country”. Especially everything concerning job market and accreditation for studies were mentioned by the majority. Also the weather was mentioned more than once……..
What is easier in Norway?
Possibilities to get work seems to be the main answer, but that does not mean that our respondents say that it is easy (ref. next question). Also do they find less bureaucracy, equal health care and good organization of our society in general favourable?
What is difficult regarding your new life in Norway?
This is maybe the most important question for us in the survey. Almost everyone said that learning Norwegian is difficult. Work is hard to get, and it worries many of them. Getting the first job is more difficult than they first imagined. And last half of the asked said that the climate in Norway (referring to the winter-period) was difficult to live with.
The woman also said that they miss their families allot, and that they also find it hard to get the food they want in the stores, not because it does not exist, but because they do not know the names and looks of it here.
On a scale from 1 to 10, how integrated do you want to become to the Norwegian way of life?
Surprisingly the majority ticked on the scale between 6 and 9, so they really try hard to integrate. One respondent though pointed out an interesting angle:
“My ability to integrate: 10”
“Ability of Norwegians to integrate foreigners: 2”.
miércoles, 23 de junio de 2010
viernes, 11 de junio de 2010
The "VAE" in the prison of Varennes Le Grand
In France, the National Education allows the persons having exercised a job during more than three years to validate a certificate corresponding to this experience. It’s call VAE (Validation of experience qualifications). A person who wants to have her experience recognized can write a professional project composed of forty pages at least. It is a difficult work especially to someone having a low level in French and especially in a penitentiary center because prisoner who wants to realize a VAE have to do a mental effort to remember his past. Most of the time it’s a painful experiment.
To help them in this initiative, GRETA set up sessions of evaluation of the professional acquired. They can describe their training and explain their professional background. This first stage allows the candidate to improve his French, to enrich his vocabulary and to find self-confidence.
We set up this plan with the training team of the penitentiary center. It allowed to validate five certificates. Today, four persons are writing their project .
In April, the chief education officer came to the prison to meet the candidates and to congratulate them. Following this event, several articles were published in a news paper and in the web site : Dijonscope, and a reporting was realized for the local TV.
https://www.dijonscope.com/004574-quand-prison-rime-avec-reinsertion
lunes, 7 de junio de 2010
Program for our last meeting in Norway
Tuesday the 15.th of June: Volontary work with Bente
For those who already have arrived, you are more than welcome to help me preparing for our meeting the next two days. Please come to our school; Fredheim voksenopplæringssenter (the pronounciation is even harder than the words :-) at 12.00.
Wednesday the 16.th of june: First hard-work acting day
09.00 - 10.00:
Reunion at Kongsberg Rådhus (City hall), in the cafeteria. Coffee/tea and fresh pastery from Ingrid's oven.
10.00 - 10.15:
Smokers quarter
10.15 - 10.45:
Norwegian lesson - the key to success! Fredheim voksenopplæringssenter.
11.00 - 12.00:
Presentation of Without Barriers at Menighetssenteret and thoughts about what we now must focus on.
12.30 - 14.00:
Lunch. Grand hotel. Buffét.
14.00 - 16.00:
Working in groups with the final report and the questions
16.00 - 18.00
Free time / resting at the hostel / hotel
18.00 - ca 22.00:
Surroundings of Kongsberg and dinner at Eidsfoss.
(Swim-suit and towel should be brought :-)
Thursday the 17. of June - last day of our project
09.00 - 12.00
We all meet at Menighetssenteret to finish our work
12.00 - 16.00
Going wild in the mountainous surroundings. Lunch at the top.
Bring your clothes for a nature experience: good walking-shoes and warm jacket.
16.00 - 18.30
Rest at the hotel / hostel
18.30 - ca 22.00
Be ready for a surprise and a barbeque. Place unknown.
Norwegians love beeing outside, so please dress for weather-conditions. Bring your swim-suits again, because now we should decied upon who is the projects real Viking!
We are looking forward to seeing you soon!
For those who already have arrived, you are more than welcome to help me preparing for our meeting the next two days. Please come to our school; Fredheim voksenopplæringssenter (the pronounciation is even harder than the words :-) at 12.00.
Wednesday the 16.th of june: First hard-work acting day
09.00 - 10.00:
Reunion at Kongsberg Rådhus (City hall), in the cafeteria. Coffee/tea and fresh pastery from Ingrid's oven.
10.00 - 10.15:
Smokers quarter
10.15 - 10.45:
Norwegian lesson - the key to success! Fredheim voksenopplæringssenter.
11.00 - 12.00:
Presentation of Without Barriers at Menighetssenteret and thoughts about what we now must focus on.
12.30 - 14.00:
Lunch. Grand hotel. Buffét.
14.00 - 16.00:
Working in groups with the final report and the questions
16.00 - 18.00
Free time / resting at the hostel / hotel
18.00 - ca 22.00:
Surroundings of Kongsberg and dinner at Eidsfoss.
(Swim-suit and towel should be brought :-)
09.00 - 12.00
We all meet at Menighetssenteret to finish our work
12.00 - 16.00
Going wild in the mountainous surroundings. Lunch at the top.
Bring your clothes for a nature experience: good walking-shoes and warm jacket.
16.00 - 18.3018.30 - ca 22.00
Be ready for a surprise and a barbeque. Place unknown.
Norwegians love beeing outside, so please dress for weather-conditions. Bring your swim-suits again, because now we should decied upon who is the projects real Viking!
We are looking forward to seeing you soon!
miércoles, 2 de junio de 2010
Social System in Germany
Dear friends, in preparation for the reports as agreed at Termal, I post here my contribution about structures in Germany, with best wishes to all of you! I promise to add a summary in French and Spanish, but not earlier than end of June Jürgen Stein
GENERAL PRINCIPLES / Background for “Without Barriers” Project
Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Population: 82 Mio Persons, app. 9 % of them with foreign nationalities. Size: 357.000 square kolometres. Administrative organisation: Federal state with 16 “Bundesländer” with own parliaments and governments.
The German constitution declares in its first words that “Human Dignity” (“Würde des Menschen”) is the basic value of society and is to be respected and promoted by any act of public authorities. Certain basic rights and rules in the constitution and in special laws might apply only to German citizen, to persons with legal residence or employment in Germany but the principle of Dignity as an untouchable value has to be used “without barriers”.
In spite of this and all efforts to provide socal security as described below , organizations offering service to persons with low (family) income, migration background, disability or long-term-illness, homeless or over-indebted persons, see that these and other disfavored people face many barriers. Their chances for inclusion, good education and training are much worse compaired to persons with good income and health, stable jobs and good living conditions. Therefore it is necessary that our organisations adapt to the needs of marginalized persons and use public influence in their favor on local, national and European level. Within the Without Barriers partnership we take steps in these directions, compairing information and sharing good practise.
HEALTH : Compulsory “Social Insurances” cover basic medical treatment They are linked with the workplace and the contributtions are paid half by the employer and half by the employee (there are special systems for life-long employed public servants and special rules for people with very high income, where private insurance schemes are used). Family members and legal partners who do not work are insured with the working family member without an additional contribution. There are “additional payments” for most proceedings (visit to surgery / hospital stay, medecine) with ceiling amounts in relation to income.
When a person looses its workplace, she/he stays member of the insurance and the contribution is paid together with the unemployment benefit. These principles are “without barriers” for all persons with a labour-market employment. “Guest workers” coming from abroad from the 1950ties to 70ties were integrated into this system. Citizens unable to work .p.e. due to a disability or homelessness get insurance cover by the welfare authorities. People coming to Germany from non EU-countries without workplace here have to make private arrangements as private insurance or declaration of guarantee by a German citizen as a pre-condition to enter the country. Recognized asylum seekers get only a part of the health system treatment, covering actual illness. As a person asking for treatment in a surgery or hospital has to give name and address, persons living in Germany “without papers” face difficultiies.
UNEMPLOYMENT BASIC SECURITY, WELFARE BENEFITS: People in employment are compulsory members of a Social insurance against unemployment, which covers financial benefits, assistance with finding employment or additional training. The payments follow the amount of money earned in the last job, but get lower over the time. Persons who are unemployed over a longer period have to look for the assistance of their municipality of residence (or a special agency) – the benefit payment in these cases is designed only to cover minimum needs. Persons not able to work at all under labour market condition get welfare benefits. In both cases, the authorities should assist them in looking for employment, provide training and offering at least some sort of basic occupation, but are entitled to cut back benefit payments if a person does not “cooperate”. These payments are lump sums, given according to rules of cost of living of a single person or a family member, child ... and made out every year by statistical reckoning. The general rule is that the welfare payments have to be lower than income earned by employment. Money earned by disabled persons in special workshops is reckoned against welfare benefits.
It is a rule that basic security payments must not be given to persons entering the county only with the intention of getting these payments. Foreigners applying for these benefits must therefore have an acknowlegded residence status, p.e. as refugee.
The German system of old-age pensions follow, as the health insusurance the working carrer: a persons who worked many years with good income get a good pension, others may fall back in old age to welfare basic security payments.
LIVING CONDITIONS (residence, transport,...): In order to give every citizen housing in accordance to the human dignity principle there is a) a system of housing benefit payments relating rent with family income and b) for persons receiving welfare the rule that the welfare authoritiy covers “real cost” for rent and heating in an “adequate” flat. There are rules about the maximun rent and the maximum living space. People with disability get special rates on public transport and might, in special cases, receive a transportation cost benefit. Other benefits and reductions for people without or with low income are decied by the local authorities or private organisations offering services.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE: Some sorts of legal assistence as for over-indebted persons are part of the social services offered – of paid for – by the welfare autorities. Lawsuits about questions of soical insurance are cost-free for an individual. A person not able to be responsible for all or some of its legal affairs (due to disability, old age dementia ...) have to be provideed with legal guardianship.
Ammendment on actual problems: It is not regarded as a problem of “social security, but nowadays many problems for migrants in Germany are related to conditions and regulations for bi-national marriage and child education in such families. In former days, one way to acquire right of residence here (or citizenship) was marriage with a German. Today public authorities often suspect “mis-use” and make examinations whether a partnership is only a bogus marriage. On the othter hand, in case of divorce there aqre often long an painful disputes about who is responsible for the children. There are spectacular cases of “kidnapping” by divorced partners
For details of social system of EU and European Economic Area member countries in 2007, see “MISSOC” documents, http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/missoc_tables_en.htm
Please note: These documents are not going to be updated and will probably be remoned from the EU Server in June 2010. Norway is included, but not Turkey.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES / Background for “Without Barriers” Project
Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Population: 82 Mio Persons, app. 9 % of them with foreign nationalities. Size: 357.000 square kolometres. Administrative organisation: Federal state with 16 “Bundesländer” with own parliaments and governments.
The German constitution declares in its first words that “Human Dignity” (“Würde des Menschen”) is the basic value of society and is to be respected and promoted by any act of public authorities. Certain basic rights and rules in the constitution and in special laws might apply only to German citizen, to persons with legal residence or employment in Germany but the principle of Dignity as an untouchable value has to be used “without barriers”.
In spite of this and all efforts to provide socal security as described below , organizations offering service to persons with low (family) income, migration background, disability or long-term-illness, homeless or over-indebted persons, see that these and other disfavored people face many barriers. Their chances for inclusion, good education and training are much worse compaired to persons with good income and health, stable jobs and good living conditions. Therefore it is necessary that our organisations adapt to the needs of marginalized persons and use public influence in their favor on local, national and European level. Within the Without Barriers partnership we take steps in these directions, compairing information and sharing good practise.
HEALTH : Compulsory “Social Insurances” cover basic medical treatment They are linked with the workplace and the contributtions are paid half by the employer and half by the employee (there are special systems for life-long employed public servants and special rules for people with very high income, where private insurance schemes are used). Family members and legal partners who do not work are insured with the working family member without an additional contribution. There are “additional payments” for most proceedings (visit to surgery / hospital stay, medecine) with ceiling amounts in relation to income.
When a person looses its workplace, she/he stays member of the insurance and the contribution is paid together with the unemployment benefit. These principles are “without barriers” for all persons with a labour-market employment. “Guest workers” coming from abroad from the 1950ties to 70ties were integrated into this system. Citizens unable to work .p.e. due to a disability or homelessness get insurance cover by the welfare authorities. People coming to Germany from non EU-countries without workplace here have to make private arrangements as private insurance or declaration of guarantee by a German citizen as a pre-condition to enter the country. Recognized asylum seekers get only a part of the health system treatment, covering actual illness. As a person asking for treatment in a surgery or hospital has to give name and address, persons living in Germany “without papers” face difficultiies.
UNEMPLOYMENT BASIC SECURITY, WELFARE BENEFITS: People in employment are compulsory members of a Social insurance against unemployment, which covers financial benefits, assistance with finding employment or additional training. The payments follow the amount of money earned in the last job, but get lower over the time. Persons who are unemployed over a longer period have to look for the assistance of their municipality of residence (or a special agency) – the benefit payment in these cases is designed only to cover minimum needs. Persons not able to work at all under labour market condition get welfare benefits. In both cases, the authorities should assist them in looking for employment, provide training and offering at least some sort of basic occupation, but are entitled to cut back benefit payments if a person does not “cooperate”. These payments are lump sums, given according to rules of cost of living of a single person or a family member, child ... and made out every year by statistical reckoning. The general rule is that the welfare payments have to be lower than income earned by employment. Money earned by disabled persons in special workshops is reckoned against welfare benefits.
It is a rule that basic security payments must not be given to persons entering the county only with the intention of getting these payments. Foreigners applying for these benefits must therefore have an acknowlegded residence status, p.e. as refugee.
The German system of old-age pensions follow, as the health insusurance the working carrer: a persons who worked many years with good income get a good pension, others may fall back in old age to welfare basic security payments.
LIVING CONDITIONS (residence, transport,...): In order to give every citizen housing in accordance to the human dignity principle there is a) a system of housing benefit payments relating rent with family income and b) for persons receiving welfare the rule that the welfare authoritiy covers “real cost” for rent and heating in an “adequate” flat. There are rules about the maximun rent and the maximum living space. People with disability get special rates on public transport and might, in special cases, receive a transportation cost benefit. Other benefits and reductions for people without or with low income are decied by the local authorities or private organisations offering services.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE: Some sorts of legal assistence as for over-indebted persons are part of the social services offered – of paid for – by the welfare autorities. Lawsuits about questions of soical insurance are cost-free for an individual. A person not able to be responsible for all or some of its legal affairs (due to disability, old age dementia ...) have to be provideed with legal guardianship.
Ammendment on actual problems: It is not regarded as a problem of “social security, but nowadays many problems for migrants in Germany are related to conditions and regulations for bi-national marriage and child education in such families. In former days, one way to acquire right of residence here (or citizenship) was marriage with a German. Today public authorities often suspect “mis-use” and make examinations whether a partnership is only a bogus marriage. On the othter hand, in case of divorce there aqre often long an painful disputes about who is responsible for the children. There are spectacular cases of “kidnapping” by divorced partners
For details of social system of EU and European Economic Area member countries in 2007, see “MISSOC” documents, http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/missoc_tables_en.htm
Please note: These documents are not going to be updated and will probably be remoned from the EU Server in June 2010. Norway is included, but not Turkey.
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