Joylin B. Leis is hovmeister at Hotel Union Geiranger. On the days she and her husband can’t manage the rotation, the daughter has to come along to work. Photo: Remi Sagen / news Thousands of tourists come to the tiny Sunnmørs village every year to experience wild waterfalls and majestic mountains. For those employed in the tourism industry, the lack of childcare is a cause for concern. Hovmeister Joylin B. Leis at Hotel Union sets the table for lunch, but at the same time keeps an eye on her daughter Anastasia. The five-year-old does not get a nursery place, and must attend work. – We are sorry for her. She doesn’t get in touch with other children here, says mum Joylin. She and her husband are new immigrants to Geiranger and both work at the hotel. They never imagined that childcare would become a big problem when they arrived. The couple come from the Philippines and Germany and have no family who can help them look after their daughter. Anastasia draws a lot when she is with her parents at work. Photo: Remi Sagen / news Not getting competent applicants Mayor of Stranda, Jan Ove Tryggestad (Sp), is working to find a solution to the kindergarten crisis in Geiranger. Photo: Remi Sagen / news Both the school and the kindergarten in the tourist village have major problems with getting staff. Now there are so few employees in the nursery that it is closed one day a week. This means that even those who have a nursery place must bring their children to work on certain days. Parents were recently notified that the nursery may be completely closed for a period after the autumn holidays. Mayor Jan Ove Tryggestad (Sp) says it is demanding to get competent applicants for the positions. They are working hard to find a solution. – It is a very stressful factor for those who have to run the nursery service, and it is even worse for those who work in Geiranger to experience that the nursery is suddenly closed, says Tryggestad. High sickness absence in the whole country Ann Mari Milo Lorentzen is a central board member of the Education Association. Photo: Stig Weston It is not just in Geiranger that kindergartens struggle with staffing. Ann Mari Milo Lorentzen, who is a member of the central board of the Education Association, says that there is a high level of sickness absence among employees and a lack of substitutes throughout the country. – We know that there are cases where nurseries have to close on individual days or parents are asked to pick up the children earlier, says Lorentzen. Although the problem is large throughout the country, she believes that it is more demanding to get temporary workers in small places. Fears that employees will quit Hotel director Monja Mjelva says the situation is desperate. In Geiranger, it is not just about sending the children to the neighboring village. In winter there is a risk of snow and vegans are often closed. – There are several employees who are considering leaving here because there will not be a solution to the kindergarten situation. We already have people suggesting that this will not work, says Mjelva. The hotel itself has built 24 apartments to make it easier for people to move to Geiranger. – We have made a great effort to try to recruit employees with family members, so that we can create the society Geiranger needs. We are on Unesco’s world heritage list. One of the criteria is that we must be a living village, says Mjelva. She expects the municipality to come up with a quick solution to the kindergarten crisis. Hotel director Monja Mjelva fears that employees will quit because childcare is so difficult. Photo: Remi Sagen / news Not learning Norwegian For Anastasia, the days will be long and boring. The five-year-old in a tulle skirt sits patiently in daddy Sebastian’s office and draws. She learns little Norwegian, as she does not get to know other children in the village. – She should have been allowed to play with other children. It is difficult for children to grow up here without going to nursery school, says mum Joyline. Here is Anastasia in papa Sebastian Leis’ office. Photo: Remi Sagen / news
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The kindergarten in Geiranger cannot get staff – must remain closed one day a week – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
