Pandemic slows integration
As an immigrant, the pandemic created serious problems for my efforts to integrate into Norwegian society. These problems are still there.
It is good that Covid19 seems to be behind us. Many people have suffered. If integration has always been a hard goal to achieve, then think of someone who is trying to be part of this community during the Covid and the post-Covid era.
It has been about a year since I moved to Norway. It took me six months to receive a smile from someone in this country, maybe it was because of the face masks. Everyone seemed angry and unapproachable. Now I am taking baby steps towards integrating in the community. I am also trying all I can to be more useful to the people around me . It is a fact that integration is a process but Covid did not only slow down the process of integration but also created indelible scars.
These have become barriers that need innovative approaches to foster integration. The Covid parameters have become part of a people’s lifestyle. The logic of keeping one meter distance remains persistent. For example, as you use a train from Sandvika to Oslo, people are still scared of seating next to each other or someone would pull out a mask the moment you come close to them. People are afraid of one another. Online and social media interactions have remained the way to go. Social events are still kept as small as possible, limited to core family or closest friends thus the feel of social exclusion. This may not sound heavy, yet it is a very big challenge slowing immigrants’ integration. The moment we realize that integration is even harder due to the lifestyles that have emerged, the easier it shall be to crack the nut.
Consequently, innovative approaches to strengthen social cohesion is now a necessity. We resort to talking on the phone for over three hours, to friends from the countries we came from. We do this to keep social and to avoid stress. We forget that, heading out to a social event such as sports, church, clubs for even one hour has a far greater contribution towards integration. As immigrants, we must therefore take a personal effort to learn Norwegian, join communities and organizations that bring together people from a similar origin. Creating and utilizing opportunities to be significant in this community.
Integration therefore is based on one’s ability to widen their social networks every single day. As a believer, I asked God for friends, He sent me brothers, sisters, and family with shared Jesus’s values, I am a volunteer at Røde kors Sandvika as well as part of being part of the Zebr School of Entrepreneurial Leadership cohort 2021-2022, a European Institute for entrepreneurial leadership and have given all to learn Norwegian, now almost B1 level. You can only get all this out of your comfort zone.
Similarly, I make a clarion call to local authorities and leaders of different communities, to help us more and continue to support us towards integration now that the times are even harder. This can involve more efforts and innovative approaches of offering support towards small organizations, units, cells, and communities that aim towards integration of newcomers in the society. With a suggestion that these immigrant organizations should be more involved in welcoming and initial settlement of immigrants in this country.
Finally, giving a smile to a stranger is contagious. I also extend my heartfelt appreciation to my community, Bærum kommune, local authorities and immigrants who welcome new members and offer them support towards integration but also challenge them to be more innovative in helping us integrate especially in such times.
