Multicultural people in Drammen tell about their experience with racism and inclusion – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio

You can also read this case in Arabic, Somali, Dari, Ukrainian, Tigrinya and Turkish. – Even if I encounter racism, I don’t respond. Respect for the elderly is something I have learned in my culture, says student teacher Mustafa Sangar from Drammen. He is from one of Norway’s most multicultural cities, where around 30 per cent have an immigrant background. Almost one in four immigrants has experienced racism or discrimination due to ethnic background, according to Norwegian Statistics Norway’s quality of life survey from 2023. news has asked people about their experience with racism and inclusion: Have you experienced racism? Do you or someone you know have solutions for how to counter racism? Write to us in the comment field. Mustafa Sangar (22): “- You are not Norwegian, what are you doing here?” – On paper I am Norwegian, but I am not treated as one, says student teacher Mustafa. He was born and raised in Norway to Kurdish parents. Mustafa has lived in Norway all his life, but feels he has never been treated as if he is actually “from here”. He says he has experienced a lot of racism, especially in his youth and the military. – A man aged around 40-50 who worked in the military, believed that “foreigners” should not be allowed to be there. He expressed that we don’t really fit in, and that the military is for white people, says Mustafa. Mustafa says he just turned and left. – I’m not the type to argue with older people, because we were brought up to respect the elderly, says Mustafa. He says he is put off by such comments, but is not surprised and has become used to it. Mustafa’s parents are Kurdish. Although he was born in Norway, he says that he has never felt Norwegian. Photo: Balsharan Kaur / news – Most foreigners do not feel like part of the majority society, especially when they constantly encounter attitudes that exclude them. As a future teacher, he hopes to be able to counteract alienation, by being a teacher who makes all students feel seen and included. – What do you do when you experience racism? – The best thing for me is not to answer. Just turn around and leave the place. It’s not about a lack of knowledge. They know what they are saying, and they do it to provoke. Chooses to remain silent Almost half of the young people who were asked have been exposed to racism in the last twelve months, shows the report from Proba community analysis. Most young people say they choose to ignore what is said or pretend they don’t care. Many of the young people believe that they do not learn enough about racism and discrimination in Norwegian schools. They do not know where to turn if they want to report racism and discrimination. It is especially children and young people with backgrounds from Africa, Asia and the Middle East who have been exposed to racism. Sofia Akhremenko (19): “- Are you Putin’s daughter?” Sofia’s family moved from Russia to northern Norway when she was little. She says she got a lot of comments on her last name in the first term. The surname aroused a lot of curiosity when she was younger, she says. Photo: Nicole Klatzka / news When she moved to Drammen in the 7th grade, Sofia was asked several times if she was “Putin’s daughter”. She feels people have otherwise been fine, but since the Ukraine war she notices that people’s attitude towards Russians has changed. – Since the war in Ukraine started, I have received a number of comments, even though I have nothing to say about what is happening. I have received questions such as “Why are you killing Ukrainians?”, she says. – What do you do in such situations? – Perhaps you should stand up for yourself, but at the same time it is very difficult to change people’s opinions. The easiest thing is just to let it be and not let it get to you, she says. Sofia says the best thing about Russian culture is the food, the people and the mentality. Photo: Nicole Klatzka / news The refugee decision in Drammen split the city into many parts, and the discussion about whether the city is inclusive, exclusionary or racist, went on for a long time on social media. But despite the comments, Sofia believes that Drammen is still an inclusive city. – I don’t think that a few people who choose to comment on something stupid should be allowed to represent the population as a whole, she says. Yolanda Benjarano (50): – I was shocked when I met Norwegian working life Yolanda Benjarano came to Norway from Colombia eleven years ago, after she got married. For her, moving to Norway went well, but says the Norwegian working life has been the biggest shock. – I had a high education when I came to Norway. But it didn’t matter how educated I was, finding a job was not easy. Yolanda felt a lot of outsiderness when she moved to Norway, but says a lot changed when she moved to Drammen. After she moved to Drammen, the pieces really fell into place, says Yolanda Benjarano. Photo: Nicole Klatzka / news – In Drøbak I had no Norwegian friends, but since I moved to Drammen I have made Norwegian friends. Yolanda believes that Norwegian employers must be open to accepting foreign labour. She believes that many people have a lot to contribute, but don’t get the chance. She herself got an internship at the association Jasmin women’s network in October 2021, and was offered a job there in November 2021. She believes inclusion is the key to less outsiderness and believes this is something Colombians are good at. – I think we are good at smiling and welcoming everyone with open arms. I have worked in this shop for almost three years, and every time we get a customer I welcome them with a big smile – “hey, hey, welcome”. I notice that some Norwegians are put off by it, says Yolanda. Yolanda Benjarano believes that people in the city are very open. Photo: Balsharan Kaur / news Tell us your story We have created this in the case in connection with the project different, but similar. It has resulted in a number of cases about racism and inclusion in Norway. Do you have a story to tell? Feel free to send us an email. Anthony Magallanes Fagermo (26): – I use my Norwegian surname when I apply for a job Student teacher Anthony has a Norwegian father and a Dominican mother. He says he has not experienced gross racism, but is very aware of the discrimination he receives based on which surname he chooses to use. – When I apply for a job, I use my Norwegian surname and not my Spanish. But if I play basketball, I use my Spanish on the suit to appear tougher. He says he has felt alienation, but no gross racism. Photo: Balsharan Kaur / news He believes that many multicultural young people may feel that Norwegian culture and Norwegians are a bit cold compared to what they are used to. Anthony says the best thing he knows about Latin culture is the warmth, the love and the music. – Latins are very inclusive, we show a lot of love and give a lot. I wish there was a little more of that among Norwegians, he says. He believes there will be less alienation in the city if young people have more places to gather. – Start a really good cultural center for young people, where you can play billiards, table games and video games. In the library they had a PlayStation, but they have removed that, he says. Anthony Magallanes Fagermo believes the young people lack a proper “hanging place”. Photo: Balsharan Kaur / news He believes that teachers can also help prevent alienation among children and young people. He himself wants to become a safe and inclusive teacher who sees all the children, not just the good ones, he says with a smile. – I felt we were always compared to the “good” students, so that’s one thing I shouldn’t do as a teacher, he says. Ahamat Ibet (22): – If you are an open person, you will be included. Ahamat has lived in Norway for a year. He originally comes from Chad. Ahamat says he feels very welcome in Drammen and has been well received by the city. – I went on a Norwegian course and got to know a lot of people, it’s really nice. I have made many friends from different countries, who speak Arabic, French and Ukrainian. Ahamat says he has been out fishing with his Ukrainian classmates. He skied for the first time last winter. Ahamat says he has not experienced any racism since he moved to Norway. He says everyone has welcomed him with open arms. Photo: Nicole Klatzka / news He believes that if you are an open person, you will be included. – I have been included since I came to Norway in October last year. The people I have met are very kind. I feel very lucky. Ahamat says he has received a lot of help since he moved to Norway. He says that the boss where he works in particular is incredibly good. – I learn a lot from him, I work with him from 16-22. My boss is very kind. I don’t speak Norwegian very well, but he helps me with everything. He is like my second father, says Ahamat. Deisi Albakova (20): – Isn’t it a shame that we live in such a society where you have to use it? Deisi studies economics and management at the University of Southeast Norway. She says she has received rude comments after she started wearing the hijab. – An episode I remember well was an elderly man who said “Isn’t it a shame we live in a society where you have to wear it?”, and then he pointed to the hijab. She says she was annoyed, but couldn’t do anything about the situation since she was at work. After she started wearing the hijab, she has received more comments than before. She says most of the incidents have happened when she has been at work. Deisi has parents from Chechnya and says she is very fond of Chechen traditional music and dance. Photo: Balsharan Kaur / news – When older people comment like this, I don’t think it’s because they hate me. It is perhaps more because they do not understand why I live like this. So if we give them that knowledge, maybe it would have helped. She believes the solution is for both young and old to learn more about each other’s cultures. Do you have a history of racism or inclusion? Feel free to share in the comment field. Hello! Welcome to dialogue at news. Since you are logged in to other news services, you do not have to log in again here, but we need your consent to our terms of use for online dialogue Published 21.09.2024, at 08.07 Updated 21.09.2024, at 08.34



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