Fatima Ali (15) from Elverum was born and raised in Norway, but both her parents are from Somalia. Throughout her upbringing, she has experienced a feeling of not belonging. – When you are born in Norway, you see yourself as Norwegian. But others don’t, because you don’t look ethnically Norwegian, she says. But she has been helped with that feeling by the foundation Flexid’s course pilot with the aim of making multicultural young people more confident in their own identity. So far, 500 young people in 48 municipalities around the country have taken part in the course. Teaching about own identity Growing up, Fatima Ali found it difficult to get used to the differences between Norway and Somalia. One of the differences is that Norwegians are more introverted and keep to themselves more than people in their home country, she says. Coursemate Yorkabed Kidane (15) has experienced the same. He was born in Norway, and has parents from Eritrea. – In your home country you greet people in the street and are not shy. It’s not like that here, says Yorkabed Kidane. – Here it’s an “I” society, while in Eritrea it’s more of a “we” society. But after taking part in the course, the young people believe that it is easier to deal with, because they have learned more about their own identity and being multicultural. And they agree on what is the most important thing they have learned; it is possible to have two cultures at the same time. – I don’t have to just be Eritrean. I can take good values from both Norway and Eritrea, says Yorkabed. To support the schools The course pilot has been launched by the Flexid foundation on behalf of the Norwegian Directorate of Education (Udir). Atle Teksum is department director for the department for daycare and school environment in Udir. He says that the course pilot was announced to support the schools in their work with inclusion and the cooperation between school and home. VALUABLE: – The goal is for the course to be a valuable contribution for the young people themselves and the people around them, says Teksum. Photo: Directorate of Education – Young people with a multicultural upbringing may find that they struggle more with their own identity and belonging than others, says Teksum. Therefore, the aim is for the course to provide support for young people’s thoughts about their own identity, and help them feel that they are well included and have a sense of belonging. Teksum also believes that the course can have an impact on society. – The work the participants do must help promote community cohesion and prevent exclusionary contradictions in a multicultural society. The project will also gather perspectives that the directorate can use in the work to develop relevant competence development initiatives in schools. Increasing interest in the course Wenche Brusevolddalen is the project manager for the course pilot in Elverum. She says that one of the most important things the young people do on the course is share experiences. – Multicultural young people face different choices and dilemmas than many other Norwegian young people do, she says. TRYGGE: Brusevolddalen says that many of the young people lack the words for the thoughts and challenges they face. That is why the course must keep them safe. Photo: Stein S. Eide / news So far, the course has received exclusively positive feedback from the young people. Brusevolddalen says that through the course they meet others with similar experiences, and that they feel part of a community. Now they see increasing interest in the course, and it is not only young people with parents from other countries who can participate. Brusevolddalen says that the Sami, adopted children, defense children and Romani people are also among those who can benefit from the multicultural course. POSITIVE: So far, the course pilot has received exclusively positive feedback. Photo: Stein S. Eide / news
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New Flexid course to help multicultural youth in identity crisis – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
