Integration of newcommers in Roskilde:Cooperation with the local mosque

By Khalil Ahmad, Integration consultant, Jobcenter Roskilde October 28th 2010, Linköping

Beskæftigelsesområdet

The 3 overall objectives of the government's integration policy

• More immigrants and their descendants must work and be self-supporting.

• The social legacy to be broken, by giving the bilingual children and youth an education.

• Society must be based on shared fundamental values of democracy.

Roskilde Kommunes Integrationspolitik• Promote equality and equal opportunities for all

citizens regardless of ethnic background.• Encouraging cooperation between citizens,

organizations and other stakeholderson integration as a holistic effort.

• That bilingual children have the same opportunities to get a good education as ethnic Danish children and youth completing an education on equal footing with Danish youth.

• That citizens with different ethnic background areself-supporting and have a foothold in the Danish labor market.

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• To promote employment policy based on diversity in public and private workplaces where Roskilde Municipality, as a workplace, is emerging as a model.

• To promote greater equality in health for citizens regardless of ethnic background.

Roskilde citizens by country of origin (Top 15)

Denmark 74764

Turkey 1668

China 444

Iraq 436

Poland 357

Germany 338

Libanon 317

Afghanistan 278

Norway 203

UK 188

Sweden 179

Iran 163

USA 115

Thailand 102

Yugoslavia 87

Cooperation with the local mosque

• Objective: promoting mutual understanding and political decision making in relation to question of integration in Roskilde

• The activity is aimed at Turkish ethnic minority in prticular and all minorities using the mosque in general.

What the Municipality got out of the cooperation?• The ethnic minority groups participation in health, educational

and social projects e.g. football.• Used the mosque as a platform to convey our messages on

health, education for the youth, repatriation to home country.• Goodwill towards the Municipality from the community’s side• (The priest wished to work on reduction of crime among the

youth)

What the ethnic minority group get?• More knowledge on education and health• Sweming pool opportunity for women• Influence om our coming integration policy

Recommendations• Break with the traditional understanding of secularism • Look at the common religious values, rather than

differences.• Prevent distrust in local government