Safe classrooms and safe lives

The case was written by Reidar Engesbak and first published in Sheet metal. Read the story at Blikk.no here!

Skeiv Verden and Siri Språkskole are launching Norwegian language courses for queer people with an immigrant background. "We hear weekly about people attending adult education programmes who don't fit in, either because they are trans or because they are openly queer," says Hanne Lyseth, Secretary General of Skeiv Verden.

- "Earlier this autumn, reports came out showing that queer people don't do so well in Norwegian language training, so I thought I could do something about this," says Siri Skarby, who started the Siri Language School.

The report she refers to is "How is integration going in Norway?" (2023) from the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi), which states that Muslims and other religious minorities and queer people with an immigrant background feel particularly vulnerable to prejudice and differential treatment, and that queer immigrants and refugees feel an unsafe classroom in the introduction programme and Norwegian language training.

Skarby has now entered into a collaborative project with Skeiv Verden, with support from IMDi's Norwegian Language Training Programme. The project is called "Safe classrooms - safe lives" and is a programme where 60 people will be offered free Norwegian courses during the year.

- It is important to emphasise that this offer is aimed at those who have used up their municipal rights with regard to the Introduction Act. "We know that many people don't speak Norwegian well enough, even after the introduction programme. There are big gaps in the programmes," says Hanne Lyseth, Secretary General of Skeiv Verden.

She says there are many people who don't feel at home in the Norwegian language training programmes that are available.

- "Unfortunately, we hear almost weekly about people attending adult education programmes, especially here in Oslo, who don't fit in, either because they are trans or because they are openly queer. Many of them therefore drop out because of bullying or social control," Lyseth tells Blikk.

- Many people don't feel safe in these settings and therefore fall outside the existing programmes. That's why it's great to start up this project.

The aim is to strengthen the participants' Norwegian language skills in a safe environment, and through these courses to meet the needs of the group.

- The courses will also provide participants with increased knowledge of queer rights and topics related to gender identity and sexual orientation in a way that is adapted to the target group," says Skarby.

In IMDi's indicator report from 2023, it emerges that queer immigrants experience loneliness, a lack of social networks and being subjected to prejudice and discrimination.

- The courses will therefore enable participants to take part in an inclusive community with the other course participants and in activities or as a volunteer in Queer World. The aim is to strengthen the individual's self-esteem and network on the way to reaching level B1 or higher in Norwegian," say Skarby and Lyseth.

Participants must be at level A2 to enter the free course, and the goal is to reach level B1 during the period. A2 means that the participant can take part in simple conversations about common and practical activities with which they are familiar. They can read and understand short, simple texts related to work. They can write short, simple messages and talk about experiences and events using simple phrases and sentences. B1 means that the participant can understand the main points of clear text and talk about familiar topics that they often encounter in work, school and leisure. They can cope with most situations likely to arise and can write simple texts on familiar topics, briefly explaining and justifying opinions and plans.

- We hope that the experience we gain from this course can help improve courses elsewhere, for example in the introduction programme," says Skarby.

- Not learning the language means not being able to find work. It means difficulties in dealing with the healthcare system. Lack of language means more exclusion, loneliness, poverty. All the layers of mental illness. This can be avoided by learning the language," says Lyseth.

Safe classrooms and safe lives, 29 April to 28 June. Info: siriskolen.no

Application form: English language. Application form: Norwegian.