miércoles, 23 de junio de 2010

"How integrated am I?"

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”.

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

https://mailweb.ac-dijon.fr/horde2/util/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbourgogne-franche-comte.france3.fr%2Finfo%2Fbourgogne%2Fvarennes-le-grand-71--un-diplome-en-prison-61856526.html&Horde2=cc341983de65ceaf2cd746bef972fd45


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!

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.

lunes, 31 de mayo de 2010

Camino de Santiago: Última etapa - Last stage

La pasada semana, el grupo Grundtvig de Monterroso realizó la etapa final del Camino de Santiago. La etapa se dividió en dos días: el miércoles 26 y el jueves 27 de mayo.
En esta ocasión especial fueron 8 los alumnos que tuvieron la oportunidad de caminar hasta Santiago de Compostela, acompañados de los habituales del grupo y con una caminante muy especial: nuestra socia de Noruega, Bente, para quien no tenemos palabras de agradecimiento por su esfuerzo en viajar hasta España para realizar esta última etapa con nosotros.

Last week, the Grundtvig group from Monterroso realised the final stage of the “Camino de Santiago”. The journey was divided in two days: on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th May.
On this special occasion eight students had the opportunity to walk to Santiago de Compostela, accompanied by the group that usually takes part in this activity. This time, a very special walker joined us: a member of the Norwegian group, Bente. We are very grateful to her for his effort to travel to Spain and take part in the last stage with us.




El primer día amaneció lluvioso, pero finalmente la suerte o la ayuda del Apóstol nos ofreció una jornada sin lluvia y con una temperatura muy agradable.

On the first day dawn broke out raining, but eventually the fortune or the Apostle’s aid gave us a warm day without rain.





Partimos de O Xen para finalizar en el Monte do Gozo, tramo en el que pudimos disfrutar de la compañía de numerosos peregrinos que, ilusionados como nosotros, se acercaban al final de su peregrinación.

We started the journey in O Xen and finish in the Monte do Gozo. During this stage we could enjoy the company of many pilgrims, as excited as we were, because the end of their pilgrimage was not far.






Tan sólo alguna ampolla en los pies alteró nuestra marcha, pero así pudimos valorar aún más la solidaridad del camino.

Only some blisters on our feet altered our way, but this only made us to appreciate even more the solidarity that you can find along the Way.




Tras almorzar en Lavacolla, realizamos los últimos kilómetros del día.

After having lunch at Lavacolla, we made the last miles of the day.




Pero a diferencia de otras etapas, en esta ocasión dormimos también en el Camino, en concreto en el albergue del Monte do Gozo, pudiendo compartir alimentos y vivencias con muchos peregrinos y peregrinas que allí también pasaban la noche.

But unlike other stages, this time we also spend the night on the Way. We slept in a hostel in Monte do Gozo, where we could share food and experiences with many pilgrims who were staying there too.




















A la mañana siguiente, realizamos los últimos kilómetros para, finalmente, adentrarnos en la plaza del Obradoiro y poder visitar la Catedral de Santiago, momento de especial emoción para todos. Comentar que nos acompañaron, en este último tramo, los responsables de Educación de Adultos de la Xunta de Galicia: Alejo Aldrey y Antonio León. Allí fuimos entrevistados por periodistas que asistieron para reflejar nuestra llegada a la capital de Galicia.

Next morning, we walked the last few miles to finally arrive at Santiago and get into Obradoiro Square, where we could visit the Cathedral of Santiago, a moment of special emotion for everyone.
We want to highlight that the people responsible for Adult Education of the Xunta de Galicia, Alejo Aldrey and Antonio Leon joined us on this stage. There, we were interviewed by journalists who attended to reflect our arrival in the capital of Galicia.






En el marco especial del Claustro de Fonseca tuvieron lugar las recepciones oficiales, a cargo del rector de la Universidad, Senén Barro, del presidente de la asociación de periodistas del Camino de Santiago, Cristóbal Ramírez y de Ignacio Santos, Gerente del Xacobeo, entidad que coordina el Año Santo Compostelano, todas ellas seguidas de cerca por medios de comunicación tanto escritos como de radio y televisión. Al final del artículo encontraréis los enlaces a algunos de los diferentes artículos de prensa que recogieron nuestro final del Camino.

Official receptions were held in the ideal setting of Fonseca Cloister. The reception was led by the University Chancellor, Mr. Senen Barro, the president of the Journalists Association in the Camino de Santiago, Mr. Cristóbal Ramirez and Mr.Ignacio Santos, Xacobeo Manager, entity which coordinates ”Compostela Holy Year”. All this was closely followed by both print and mass media. At the end of this article you will find links to some of the various press articles which collect the end of our journey.




Tras asistir a la misa del Peregrino, realizamos la comida de despedida, que resultó especialmente emotiva y, tras una última visita a Santiago y la recogida de la Compostela para los peregrinos que habían completado más de 100 kilómetros de Camino, retornamos al Monte do Gozo para desplazarnos de nuevo al Centro.

After attending the Pilgrim's Mass, we had a farewell dinner, which was particularly emotional. Finally we went for a walk along Santiago streets and we collect the Compostela, a card which is given to the pilgrims who have made more than a hundred kilometers of the Way on foot. We returned to Monte do Gozo to move back to our centre.




Sólo me queda agradecer a todos por su colaboración, especialmente a todos los alumnos que nos han mostrado que, tras las rejas de la prisión, hay una verdadera humanidad.

I would like to thank everyone for their cooperation, especially to all students who have shown that, behind the bars of the prison, there is a true humanity.




Ahora esperamos que, nuestro libro reflejando todas sus vivencias, pueda finalmente ver la luz.

Now, we hope that our book, in which all their experiences are reflected, can finally come out.





Pedro Cantero
Coordinador del Proyecto Grundtvig “Sin Barreras”











Enlaces a los artículos de prensa

Links to Media


http://elprogreso.galiciae.com/nova/54804.html

http://www.noticiascamino.com/?p=6104

http://www.noticiascamino.com/?p=6095

http://www.elcorreogallego.es/santiago/ecg/el-rector-recibe-a-peregrinos-de-monterroso/idEdicion-2010-05-27/idNoticia-551459/

http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/5/20100527/tlc-reclusos-do-penal-de-monterroso-lugo-9e19548.html

http://www.europapress.es/galego/noticia-reclusos-do-penal-monterroso-lugo-culminan-etapas-camino-co-fin-plasmar-nun-libro-as-suas-experiencias-20100527173550.html

http://crtvg.es/reproductor/inicio.asp?canal=radio&hora=28/05/2010%2012:05:00&fecha=27/05/2010&arquivo=1&programa=AQU%CD%20GALICIA (min. 47’40)

http://crtvg.es/reproductor/inicio.asp?canal=radio&hora=28/05/2010%2012:05:00&fecha=26/05/2010&arquivo=1&programa=AQU%CD%20GALICIA (min. 17’30)

http://www.elcorreogallego.es/santiago/ecg/peregrinos-grandes-grupos-llenan-catedral/idEdicion-2010-05-28/idNoticia-552040/

http://www.farodevigo.es/sociedad-cultura/2010/05/28/sacerdotes-obispos-cinco-diocesis-gallegas-celebran-jubileo-santiago/442724.html

http://noticiaspenitenciarias.blogspot.com/2010/05/reclusos-de-monterroso-culminan-una.html

sábado, 29 de mayo de 2010

ADAM'S NATIONALITY....

I have lots of immigrant students at school. Different cultures are at a school. My students are from Bosnia Herzegovina, Laz, Macedonia, Bulgaria or Greece. They can speak Turkish because their family immigrated from these countries but most of them were born in Turkiye. Their accent is different than mine. Sometimes we have a little communication problems.
At first it was difficult forme to do something or an activity at a class. Each student was humiliating another culture. They told me about themselves. "Teacher do not listen to him, he is gypsy or teacher do not listen to him, he is laz" I warned them several times but it was no use.
Yes we had a "WITHOUT BARRIERS" Project and as I am their teacher I have to "ERASE THESE BARRIERS FROM THEIR MINDS" They are our future and I have to do something else for them. At last I offer them a class party. I told them let's arrange a party after school. One of them offers that "teacher tomorrow is my birthday and can we do this part tomorrow?" I accepted.


We started aour party. During eating our birthday cakes; I asked them
Do you accept Adam is your grand grand grand father?
They all say yes of course.
I asked who accepts him who does not?
They all said all of us of course.
I asked " but you are from different cultures you are humiliating each other, is it possible you came from the same man?
Now tell me What was Adam's nationality?
Everone was staring at me. I asked was he Turkish?
they said no He had no nationality.
I asked why do you argued about?
He has no nationality, you did not choose your mother or father so your descendance cannot set barriers on your mind.
I think the impact was positive because since then I have not heard any humiliating. Now they have no barriers....

viernes, 28 de mayo de 2010

Preparation for Norway - some thoughts from Bente

We will soon meet in Norway, and we (the Norwegian team) hope that you can come well prepared for our final work. As I've just told you in my blog from the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, our Spanish partners have already done their part of the work. They will most probably be able to publish a book from The Camino. I therefore suggest that the rest of us must work on ideas about OUR final product - whatever that will be.

From my own point of view I suggest that Team Norway can make a list of all activities we have been doing these past 2 years to make life a little better for our immigrants. We have bloged much of it, but still there are many things we should add in our final product. Therefore we will need a meeting as soon as possible to make this list complete.

Our German, French and Turkish partners should do the same; Make something in writing revealing different activities undertaken for the project. This should be put into the blog before arriving Norway so that we can use it directly to make an international summary. If you have any questions, please comment on this article.

The program - along with what to bring and not - will be revealed to you in one week.