Organizer 1
Kari Laugtug
Project assistant
Refugee and Immigrant Office , City of Oslo
Box 9019 Grønland Hausmannsgate 7 N- 0133 Oslo

Tel: 22 99 58 54
Fax: 22 99 58 01
Email:kari.laugtug@fie.oslo.kommune.no


Organizer 2
Merete Munch
Project manager
Refugee and Immigrant Office, City of Oslo
Box 9019 Grønland Hausmannsgate 7 N- 0133 Oslo

Tel: 22 99 58 55
Fax: 22 99 58 01
Email:merete.munch@fie.oslo.kommune.no





Workshop description:
The main goal of this workshop is to highlight the needs of unaccompanied minors in terms of their relation to their native country and the question of voluntary repatriation: How do we enable unaccompanied minors to make a choice concerning voluntary repatriation? How can we assist in a possible return? Firstly, the Directorate of Immigration will present the Norwegian government’s policy on reception and integration of unaccompanied minors. Secondly, the presenters will share examples of how this policy is being implemented. SINTEF Industrial Management has in the past two years completed a study of municipal efforts in integrating unaccompanied minors. The main goal of the project has been to find favourable methods concerning this groups particular needs in the process of growing up. The Refugee and Immigrant Office, City of Oslo, will present the project “Back to the future”. The perspective of repatriation requires careful handling in dealing with this specific group. The project co-ordinates different activities focusing on reconnecting with family and homeland. The activities are carried out in co-operation with The Child and Family Welfare Service, City of Oslo. Save the Children, Sweden, will make a presentation of the project “Integration and voluntary return of Somali youngsters”. During the summers of 1996 and 1998, unaccompanied minors from Somalia visited East-Africa. During these visits the children met with their friends and relatives and worked as volunteers in different NGOs. Returning to Sweden, the participants were highly motivated for further education and planning for a possible future return to Somalia.





Presenters / participants /other information
Randi Kleven, Directorate of Immigration, Norway

Merete Munch, Refugee and Immigrant Office, City of Oslo, Norway

Berit Berg, SINTEF industrial management, Norway

Eva Larsson Bellander, Save the Children, Sweden




Summary:
The main goal of this workshop is to highlight the needs of unaccompanied minors in terms of their relation to their native country and the question of voluntary repatriation: How do we enable unaccompanied minors to make a choice concerning voluntary repatriation? How can we assist in a possible return?



Date: 11 September


(1 session is 3 hours)
Number of sessions: 1

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