As an accompanied event to the 4theNEET Rural Transnational project meeting, the Study visit was conducted in Oslo (Norway) on 6thof March 2020. Organized by the Inclusion As (project expertise partner), some stakeholders from Norway, one stakeholder from Bulgaria and project partner organisations had the opportunity to exchange experience on the topics such as youth employment, supporting youths to find a job, helping immigrants/minority groups to get prepared for the job market, etc.
During the study visits 4 stakeholders (Hagecrew, Caritas Resource Center, Jobbsøkehjelpen and Agricultural Department of Bærum Municipality) from Norway introduced their structures focusing on their mission, goals, products/services, experience on youth employment in rural areas and possible engagement to eNEET project. As a stakeholder from Bulgaria, Mrs. Krasimira Dyankova, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Aksakovo was invited by UBBSLA to attend the event. Mrs. Dyankova is in charge of the investment policy of the municipality, as well she is leading the social affairs and youth employment department.
Stakeholder 1: Study visit at Hagecrew
http://www.hagecrew.no
Mr. Camilio Heredia and Mr. Mathias S. Michelsen presented their organization and shown how Hagecrew help hundreds of young people in the City of Oslo to get a job.
Hagecrew is created in 2016 as an ideal children’s and youth association, with the aim of bringing urban cultivation to the growing generation. The start of the association started as early as 2013, and over the last 6 years they have employed 260 young people, and activated over 1450 children and young people in various forms of cultivation. When young people are asked what they want for their own development, the answer is opportunities for work and more activities to join. Hagecrew is the supplier of both.
Through cultivation and various cultivation projects, they create arenas that activate both children and young people and offer them jobs. Youth who show extra interest and effort can be hired as mentors to educate new children and young people. The mentors work closely with the other leaders and professionals at Hagecrew. Skilled mentors can also step up to become interns and furthermore become leaders in the organization.
Hagecrew has also designed its own cultivation boxes for urban areas. These come in different sizes and are built with recycled materials. Last year, they built over 300 mini-boxes through workshops. This year, with the help of Spleis and sustainable enthusiasm across the country, they have plans to build about 6,000 boxes in 12 months. At the workshop, children and young people build mini-boxes from a 20 cm3building set. The boxes are made with recycled materials and filled with soil and seeds. Everyone who participates is allowed to bring their box home, so they can grow their own salads and herbs.
Over the past few years Hagecrew has built hundreds of greenhouses and implemented small and large projects for young people in Oslo and the surrounding area. They have started activities throughout the year and now have seasonal jobs for youth from January to December.
All participants attended the study visit to Hagecrew place on 6thof March were able to experiment and make their own boxes with the help of the Hagecrew team:
Stakeholder 2: Caritas Resource Center
www.caritas.no/caritas-infosenter-oslo
Mr. Finn Børre Ekås spoke about how Caritas help immigrants /refugees coming to Norway to get prepared for the job market through courses, one-to-one counselling and facilitation through meeting arenas. At Caritas Resource Center in Oslo, they offer information and guidance. Every day they have the opportunity to guide in the following languages: Norwegian, English, Spanish, Romanian, Polish and Russian. In addition, they have some tutors who speak Arabic, French, Dutch, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Swahili, Urdu and German.
Caritas provide advice on work-related problems, a meeting place (JOB FOCUS) for job seekers, organize a job search course where immigrants/refugees can learn how to apply for a job in Norway, how to write a good CV and application, etc. Caritas also provide a working life sponsor scheme for immigrants and refugees as an extra support in the way to work. A working life sponsor is a person with good knowledge and connection to the Norwegian labor market, and who knows how the job search process works.
Stakeholder 3. Jobbsøkehjelpen
http://www.jobbsokerhjelpen.no
Jobbsøkehjelpen an organisation helping young people to get a job through counselling and courses provided by professional job experts. Jobbsøkehjelpen is a nonprofit foundation established in 2017. Organisation´s vision is “Every youth who want to work shall get a job”. The organization sees itself as a complement to other services, Jobbsøkehjelpen offer free courses and guidance for young people, they have projects and offer sales of courses.
But due to health reason, Mr. Vegard Trosøyen Foseide was not able to attend and personally to present the organization.
Stakeholder 4. Agricultural Department of Bærum Municipality
www.baerum.kommune.no
Bærum Municipality has the highest income per capita in Norway and the highest proportion of university-educated individuals. Bærum, particularly its eastern neighborhoods bordering West End Oslo, is one of Norway’s priciest and most fashionable residential areas, leading Bærum residents to be frequently stereotyped as snobs in Norwegian popular culture. The municipality has been voted the best Norwegian place to live in considering governance and public services to citizens.[
Mr. Gudbrand Teigen, Head of theAgricultural Department of Bærum Municipality spoke about “Inn på tunet” as a socially responsible business concept and new innovative technologies and job creation in agricultural sector. “Inn på tunet” (Green Care) refers to individually adapted and quality-assured welfare services on farms. The services shall stimulate coping skills, development and well-beeing. Farms are properties that are used for farming, forestry or gardens. The activities offered in the Green Care service relate to the farm and its daily life and operations. The unique aspect of Green care is that it uses the farm as an arena for welfare services. The farms have physical facilities that lend themselves to a diversity of activities, and also have surroundings that can provide the users with positive stimuli and experiences.
Inn på tunet Norge SA represents Green care farms all over Norway. The goal is to ensure the members economics interest, and ensure the members’ common interest such as development of materials, strategy, billing systems and contracts with the local authorities. The services that the members provide target a wide spectrum of sectors, including education, after-school care, occupational training, day care services for persons with dementia and adapted services for mental health.
Stakeholder 5. Norges Vel
www.norgesvel.com
The Royal Norwegian Society for Development (Norges Vel) is an independent non-profit member organisation established in 1809, and is Norway’s oldest nationwide organisation. Norges Vel create local, sustainable jobs and products within food, agriculture and marine industries. The goal is to promote thriving local communities both in Norway and internationally. The methods are the same as they were at the organisations conception: collaboration, knowledge sharing, and business development.
Ms. Kari Clausen, Develop Manager Norway of Norges Vel spoke about their occupational training programme aimed at immigrant women working in the food sector. Through sustainable projects, Norges Vel contribute to value creation in local communities. They believe that a well-functioning society at large dependent on thriving local communities.
Their primary focuses nationally and internationally:
- Agriculture and environment
- Aquaculture and fishing
- Food, culture and experiences
- Renewable energy and climate
- Entrepreneurship and collaboration
Norges Vel also awards the Medal for Long and Faithful Service, Norges Vel’s Entrepreneurship Award and manages and allocates resources from three business development grants.
