– Living in Norway without having a car is a problem, says Oksana Khmelnitskiy. Her family has felt this on their bodies several times since they arrived in the tiny village of Stongfjorden in Askvoll municipality last autumn. The school and the Norwegian course are a 14 kilometer long and winding bus ride away from home. Without a car, it is also difficult when the children Artem (7) and Lisa (14) go to football practice and dance in the afternoons. Or when the family wants to take a trip. So far, the Ukrainian family has been dependent on help from the municipality or volunteers to get around. Norwegian courses have become part of everyday life for the Ukrainian refugees. Now they are looking forward to getting the car in place too, so that they can live more freely. Photo: astrid solheim korsvoll / news But now Askvoll municipality has decided to give NOK 50,000 in support to the Ukrainian refugees who want to buy a car. Half of the 50,000 kroner is given in pure support, while the rest is an interest-free loan. It was Firda who first wrote about the case. – We are very happy about this. It means a lot, say Khmelnitskiy and her husband Oleksandr Zaporozets. Hope the refugees stay – Having a car in Askvoll is almost a necessity, says mayor Ole André Klausen (H). So far, about a handful of Ukrainians with driving licenses are eligible for car support. The others get bus tickets. – Have they supported other refugee groups in the same way before? – As far as I know, the previous group of refugees who came from Syria did not have the same opportunity to get behind the wheel as the Ukrainians have, says Klausen. He says that the car support means that they can use larger parts of the municipality for housing. So far, they have struggled to find enough housing in the city center area for the nearly 60 Ukrainian refugees. This year they will accept 30 new ones. The mayor hopes that the arrangement will make the refugees stay in the municipality, which is at risk of emigration, even when the war is over. Labor and Inclusion Minister Marte Mjøs Persen is enthusiastic about the scheme Askvoll has created. – That the municipalities find good and creative solutions for housing and integration, I applaud, says the minister, who has heard of similar arrangements elsewhere. So far, Norway has taken in around 40,000 Ukrainian refugees. They live scattered throughout the country. This is historically many. The family has been allowed to borrow a car for a few days. Instead of taking a bus, they can drive the 15 kilometers home. Today they also have some neighbors with them. Photo: astrid solheim korsvoll / news – Askvoll wants to use the car subsidy to settle in larger parts of the municipality. Is it wise, or should the refugees preferably live centrally? – Settling less centrally is a great way to solve the challenge of settling refugees in such large numbers as we do now, says Mjøs Persen. She adds that the municipalities must also find solutions so that the refugees do not become too isolated, but can participate in the local community. Until 1 February, Ukrainian refugees in Vestland got a free bus. This arrangement has come to an end, and the municipalities must now pay for bus tickets. It was also part of the reason why Askvoll went in for car support. Photo: astrid solheim korsvoll / news Several have felt isolated – This is very good. Now we can integrate the refugees better, says refugee consultant Christoffer Stølen. It is particularly important for the children. – They need to return to normal life as soon as possible, and then leisure activities are an important part of this. Some refugees have felt a bit isolated because it has been difficult to take part in activities, he says. As a refugee consultant, Christoffer Stølen has often driven refugees when the bus does not run. And he usually doesn’t. Stølen believes it is important that the refugees have the opportunity to get around the municipality freely on their own. Photo: astrid solheim korsvoll / news That it is expensive to have a car in Norway has been a theme among the refugees, says Stølen. – But they want to drive together and help each other with money for fuel, he says. Few others do what Askvoll does. The Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDI) does not have a national overview of how many municipalities do what Askvoll does. In Vestland, only Ullensvang takes the same measures as Sunnfjord municipality. Here, refugees who live far from the center or need a car for nursery school deliveries receive between NOK 15,000-27,000 in support. – This has been important to be able to settle people in different places in the municipality where there is poor public communication, says mayor Roald Aga Haug (Ap). He adds that it is also important for people’s sense of self and functioning that they can manage themselves as best as possible. This week the family has been allowed to borrow a car. It makes grocery shopping a little easier. Trips in the local area will also be easier when they get a car, the family say. Photo: astrid solheim korsvoll / news In Austevoll, the municipality sponsors driving licenses and transport for refugees. In Sveio, there are volunteers who have an offer of practice driving for those who wish to drive up. Several of the other municipalities news has been in contact with say they will consider doing as Askvoll did.
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– Means a lot – news Vestland
