– I was very doubtful about how I was going to be received by teachers, fellow students and patients. I regretted applying at first, says Basmeena Sidikyar. The 21-year-old is studying to become a paramedic. She has already tried her hand in practice in the ambulance. In her class at Oslo Met, she is the only one with a multicultural background. And she is the only one who wears a hijab. news has been in contact with a number of trade unions and universities, none of which know of former students or employees who wear religious headgear. Sidikyar will be the first in the Norwegian ambulance service to wear a hijab. – The unknown is always scary, but you can be pleasantly surprised, as I was, smiles the girl with roots from Afghanistan. Red uniform, black hijab The 21-year-old recently completed his practical service in the ambulance in Kongsvinger – dressed in a red uniform and black hijab. She feared reactions to the clothing, but has not experienced any discomfort. – I am waiting for something negative to happen, but so far I have been very lucky. For eight years I have worn the hijab and experienced no pain, she says. Sidikyar has received exclusively positive feedback on his service in the ambulance. Photo: Rahand Bazaz / news Ten years ago, a fierce debate arose about whether public employees could wear the hijab at work. Religious headgear such as turbans, hijabs and skullcaps were allowed in the Norwegian armed forces as early as 2012. But in the police there is still a ban on combining uniforms and hijabs. For Sidikyar, there is only one solution if she were to be required to remove her head covering in the ambulance. – Then I’ll stop. This is a part of me. Head of studies: – Courageous – Being a woman in such an industry requires courage and a good filter. I would like to say that Basmeena is brave, says Trine Jørgensen. Jørgensen is head of studies in the pre-hospital department at Oslo Met and is one of Sidikyar’s teachers. She believes that it is important to have visible diversity in the service. – We have patients who represent a great diversity, and then we must have that too, she says. Student Basmeena Sidikyar and head of study Trine Jørgensen practice with a dummy patient. Photo: Rahand Bazaz / news Jørgensen is happy to have a student like Sidikyar in the classroom. – It helps to enrich the school environment. We can learn about each other’s cultures and religions, so I only see positive aspects of standing out from the crowd, says Jørgensen. Want more diversity The study of paramedicine is available at six different colleges and universities in the country. Several acknowledge that the recruitment could have been better. In Østfold, the head of the ambulance service hopes that in future the profession will be chosen by more people with diverse backgrounds. Merete Storli Tveit would like multicultural people to apply for jobs in the ambulance – so that they can be selected. Photo: Rahand Bazaz/news – It is important that we have employees with different types of backgrounds in our service in order to reflect the whole society, says head of pre-hospital services at Sykehuset Østfold, Merete Storli Tveit. You do not need higher education to work in the ambulance service. You can also take a certificate as an ambulance worker at upper secondary school. – There are not many applicants with a multicultural background. In order for us to be able to choose them, they must choose this profession themselves, says Tveit encouragingly. Hi! Do you have any tips on what my next case might be about? Send me an e-mail! I have written about this in the past, among other things:
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Basmeena Sidikyar wears hijab at work in the ambulance – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
