The case summarized: • Ameliahaugen kindergarten in Tromsø has a focus on recognizing and promoting Kven language and culture, even though the staff does not speak the language fluently • Kindergarten is one of 18 who received funding for Kven language projects from the Directorate of Education in 2024, an increase from four kindergartens in 2022. NOK to NOK 1.5 million in 2024 due to many good applications. The summary is made by a Ki service from Openai. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publishing. In Ameliahaugen kindergarten in Tromsø, the children from an early age are used to hearing more languages. Here, Norwegian, Kven and Sami are talked about about each other despite the fact that the employees do not speak these languages fluently. – It’s not about learning someone a new language. But it’s about recognizing the Kven language. So that the children who leave the kindergarten should be proud carriers of both Kven language and culture, says general manager of Ameliahaugen kindergarten, Gry Nordhus Eriksen. Ameliahaugen kindergarten is one of 18 kindergartens that received funding for Kven language projects from the Directorate of Education in 2024. The employees of Ameliahaugen kindergarten have made key rings with different Kven words. Photo: Simen Wingstad / news Nordhus Eriksen says that they have worked with Kven for several years before they received support from the Directorate of Education, but that the support makes it easier to put the work into the system. – We think that the Kven language and culture are an important part of Northern Norwegian identity, so for us it has been natural to do this work. – Eventually we have also had children with Kven as their mother tongue into kindergarten. And then it was important for us to expand this work, she says. The general manager of Ameliahaugen kindergarten in Tromsø says that the support from the Directorate of Education makes it easier to put the language work in the system. Photo: Simen Wingstad / news Large increase Ameliahaugen kindergarten is not alone in applying for support to carry out Kven language projects. The Directorate of Education (Udir) states that they have seen an increase in the number of applications for support for Kven language projects in recent years. According to figures news has received from Udir, they granted applications from four kindergartens in 2022. In 2023, this figure increased to 14 and in 2024 this figure increased further to 18. This is over four times as many as in 2022. In 2024, the Directorate had a limit of NOK 800,000, but due to many good applications they chose to increase the appropriations. -Project support helps children meet Kven language and culture through play, activities and stories in kindergartens and in the local area, says senior adviser in the Department of Inclusion and Educational Support at the Directorate of Education, Mari-Louise Pabsdorff to news. She points out that such projects can lead to more children choosing to learn Kven or Finnish at school. – The work is important to help preserve and promote Kven language, and can help more children choose education in Kven or Finnish as a second language when they come to school, says Pabsdorff. Senior advisor in the Department of Inclusion and Educational Support at the Directorate of Education, Mari-Louise Pabsdorff. Photo: Directorate of Education The children like language One of the ways Ameliahaugen introduces the children to Kven language is through singing. Educational leader in kindergarten, Kristian Skog has played in bands and tends to sing with the children. Song is one of the ways the children in Ameliahaugen kindergarten get to know other languages. Photo: Simen Wingstad / news – It is very exciting to be able to learn different words in different languages, and also the languages we have here in the Northern Norwegian culture. Then it is also exciting to be able to sing in the three different languages, says Skog. Skog says that he feels that the children like to use different languages. – It is exciting with language, it is exciting to learn something new. And it is harmless to learn new things and new languages, and drying and talking in languages other than what you actually speak fluently, he says. Educational leader in Ameliahaugen kindergarten, Kristian Skog notices that the children like to work with language. Photo: Simen Wingstad / news – It is fantastic head of the Norwegian Kveners Association – Ruijan Kvääniliitto, Kristin Mellem is pleased that more kindergartens are supported to work with language. – It’s absolutely fantastic. It’s a great news to get. It shows that young Kven families are very conscious that the language is important, she says. Mellem says that such projects are important but believe that it is time to do more for the Kven language. – It is a language project, so it is limited what they can do. But still, it is hugely important symbolic and incredibly important for their children and families. – We already have Sami kindergartens. Do you think it is time for us to create Kven kindergartens? – Yes, clearly. People who are part of a minority have exactly the same feelings and the same needs to be recognized for what you are, says Mellem. Head of the Norwegian Kveners Association, Kristin Mellem, thinks it is positive that more kindergartens receive support. Photo: news Published 16.03.2025, at. 07.41
ttn-69
