Nordic Studies with Mottak Young Refugees

Community Service - Bergum Mottak, Events No Responses »
Mar 172010

On March 17 there was a Nordic Studies session where our guests of honor were Mottak refugees, mostly from Afghanistan around 17 years of age. They arrived in Norway in the most unlikely manner, from paying smugglers to drive them in the underbelly of trucks to crossing from Turkey to Greece a stowaways in ships. They are now living in Forde and attending Norwegian classes and looking to be accepted in Norway.

Among them there is a young artist from Afghanistan who has applied to the UWC through the Norwegian committee and may become the first Mottak resident to attend the school. He has received a note of thanks from King herald upon sending the King a portrait he made. Nordic also now has a beautiful landscape on our staff room from him as a gift to the school, presented to Angie as originator of the Mottak service.

The group was led by Sulah, who gave a presentation of life in the Mottak and the procedures done by the Norwegian government to deal with refugees and help them to get accepted and integrated in the communities.

Prior to Sulah’s presentation Ellen, Hans Peter and Irina from Mottak Tuesday made a presentation on the refugee question in the Nordic region with emphasis on Denmark and Sweden.

The guests enjoyed tea and cakes before departure and since the visit was so successful and well attended by an eager public who asked many questions, plans are being made to extend the session to a full, all school one next year.

Mottak Thur has invited the young refugees to attend the Global Concerns on Education where they will be able to contribute with their experiences.

Posted by EAP at 16:10

Bergum Mottak Oct 2009 Update

Community Service - Bergum Mottak No Responses »
Oct 302009

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A group of very determined students go to the Refugee Center in Førde every Tuesday. Experienced second years were instrumental in leading the new first years into this service,  that is characterized by an ebullient mood and a capacity to adjust to new challenges.

This year, the new task was interacting with a group of around 15 unaccompanied minors recently arrived from Afghanistan, Iran and other Central Asia countries living in new facilities and attending language classes in Forde, in order to be able to get into the Norwegian high school system.

The initial contacts were very successful and we were treated to an art exhibition by a young painter that hopes to attend art school in Oslo.  As the pictures show, a variety of activities are under way like hearty volleyball games, board table games like Scrabble and chess and language classes in Norwegian and English.

Our beloved kindergarten presented a second challenge, as there are not many children this year so the task force was reduced to only two students. So far we have only three girls of different age groups that are being helped with homework.

So far we have had very good weather that has allowed for outdoor activities.

The bus is full right now, but should a spot be empty by chance you are all welcome to visit the Bergum Mottak , a key component of both the Red Cross certificate and the Nordic Studies program to be held  next term.

Posted by EAP at 17:14

Bergum Mottak: November Report

Community Service - Bergum Mottak, EAC No Responses »
Nov 252007

The central idea behind the Bergum Mottak EAC is to make life easier for refugees at the Mottak Centre in Førde. We hope to achieve these through activities that we plan together with them. For example there is an English class frequented mainly by old and young women; some of us also visit the kindergarten and play games, paint, read to and generally entertain children from all these countries in conflict. The children have a really good time and they enjoy the experience as much as ourselves.

This EAC takes place every Monday afternoon right after classes. We get on a bus and it takes us one hour to get to the Mottak and one hour to come back. We are usually here by dinner time.

The refugees tell us really interesting stories about their life here, in their countries of origin and through their journeys to this place. For example, recently, an old woman from Russia arrived. She cannot write nor read and much less speak English, so we are trying to teach her all of this. It is a little difficult because she can only speak Russian and has vision problems, so it is only our Russian speakers who can work with her for now.

The teacher responsible for this is Maria Teresa from Argentina who helps us a lot and is working in the English class for the refugees.

Posted by EAP at 22:11

Bergum Mottak Service Description

Community Service - Bergum Mottak No Responses »
Sep 282007

The Bergum Mottak Center is located in Førde, one hour drive from campus. It hosts refugee claimants that wish to be accepted by Norway. They are mostly families or people on their own of all ages, including teens and children. They come from all walks of life. We offer English lessons to women only and a kindergarten service to all children. There are also possibilities for our students to do games with the teens and English lessons for men.

Posted by EAP at 23:52
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