Several municipalities in northern Norway are struggling with ever-decreasing population numbers. Sør-Varanger one of these municipalities. This worries those who want to develop the municipality right at the Russian border. This winter, therefore, Bernt Nilsen began to look at how he could contribute. The result was the project “Ask a sower for coffee.” – The goal is to make the immigrants thrive so well that they stay here, Nilsen says. Bernt Nilsen started the project by asking for a sorrel for coffee. Now it has gotten more people involved. Photo: Kristin Humstad / news – We have asked people who are immigrants and locals how we can achieve this. The feedback shows that several people think they have been a bit lazy in accepting the newcomers. – It is perhaps a Finnmark thing that the question we often encounter immigrants with is how long they will be here. We guess they should not be here that long. Instead of saying “welcome”. Last year, Sør-Varanger lost 178 inhabitants, ie one person moved out of the municipality every other day. Nilsen now concludes that there are very simple measures that are needed to make more people thrive in the municipality. – There are no advanced things. We must not ask for permission from the state or municipality. People who are immigrants say they just want to be seen. He says that the newcomers want very simple things, such as being asked for coffee, going to a café, having dinner together or being shown around the area. – A tip for those who move here is to invite them for coffee. Don’t just wait for your neighbor to do it. The fence goes both ways, says Nilsen. Migrants need networks The cities and the areas around them continue to grow in this country, but for the district municipalities the population will continue to decline. In 40 per cent of the municipalities, mainly inland, Trøndelag and in northern Norway, there will be a lower or unchanged population by 2050, the figures from Statistics Norway show. Over thirty years ago, Liv Kyrkjebø chose to move to a district municipality in the north. She was drawn north to Sør-Varanger by the desire for adventure, and had to integrate herself into the border town. A project like “Ask a sower for coffee” she would have liked to have had at the time. – It is a very good project. I think maybe many people forget that when immigrants go home for the weekend, they are often completely alone. – Inviting people, including people and talking to people is important for all of us. Liv Kyrkjebø thinks it is important to remember that the newcomers also need a social life outside the workplace. Photo: Kristin Humstad / news – I think that if you have an awareness in society that you should take care of newcomers, I think it can help that people stay, says Vilde Kvammen. Together with her husband and two children, she moved to the municipality about a year ago. They participated in Nilsen’s very first coffee lab race this winter. – Contributing to people getting a network is often what is missing when you get to a new place, says Kvammen. Nilsen started the project of asking for a sip of coffee already last year. Photo: Karen Gjetrang / news – Can always get better Marthe Johanna Kjølås in the Norwegian Test has looked at the results of the survey where people were asked what it took to thrive in the municipality. – It was very interesting. We had some theories that it turned out we were pretty spot-on with. Prior to the survey, she was curious about whether the Finnmark people were as welcoming and pleasant as they thought. – Those who come here and move here may have a slightly different picture than what we are sitting with. If we do not know what the immigrants think of us then we can not change anything. Marthe Johanna Kjølås in Norsk Test says that the survey that was done by newcomers gave interesting conclusions. Photo: Kristin Humstad / news She thinks it is very simple things that are necessary for people to thrive. – It was a comment from the survey that I noticed and it was that they will be invited into everyday life. It’s nice, it’s very simple, anyone can do it. – This is a joint charity event, both for the population, local companies and the municipality. We must all go in the same direction and this can be part of it. – This is something everyone can do The mayor of Sør-Varanger municipality, Lena Norum Bergeng, is very happy that the project has recovered. – It is a very simple thing Nilsen has done, and it helps. She says that this is a good concept that can easily be adopted to other cities and municipalities. – The results from the survey show that there are small things that are needed for people to thrive and stay longer. Mayor of Sør-Varanger municipality, Lena Norum Bergeng, believes this is a great initiative where everyone can contribute. Photo: Karen Gjetrang / news – What are Sør-Varanger’s tactics for getting more newcomers? – We must have exciting jobs, we must have housing. There are two things the municipality must contribute, which we have not been good enough at so far. We just have to get even better at it.
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Invites newcomers to coffee to combat population decline in Sør-Varanger – news Troms and Finnmark
