Velur tú meg 12. november, so velur tú ein persón, sum vil arbeiða fyri einum meira innbjóðandi, livandi, og samanbundinum býi – har hvør borgari, óansæð bakgrund, kennir seg heima. Saman kunnu vit skapa ein felagsskap, ið fevnir um fjølbroytni
“Kemur tú at spæla innandura saman við okkum í kvøld?”
Hendan spurningin fekk eg summarið 2008 – fyrstu ferð eg var í Føroyum og vitjaði. Vit vóru nokkso upptikin tað summarið við at fyrireika brúdleyp. Eg takkaði nei og hugsaði, at eg nokk fór at fáa eitt annað høvi til at spæla innandura.
Tað var skeivt.
Eg varð ongantíð spurdur aftur.
Og nú 12 ár seinni havi eg lært, at hesir møguleikarnir koma sjáldan. Tað er alvorliga torført at sleppa inn í mannfólkakredsir her í Føroyum – og serliga í Klaksvík.
Hóast eg í dag eri komin ‘uppí’ ein vinabólk, so hevur tikið langa tíð og treiskni – men kenslan av at hava vinir, hoyra til og hava ein felagskap er góð. Hon er faktiskt lívsneyðug fyri trivnaðin.
Men hetta er mín uppliving, og allir tilflytarir hava ikki havt somu uppliving sum eg. Summi eri ongantíð komin ‘uppí’.
Vit hoyra enn fólk tosa um “filipinarar” ella “rúmenar” sum arbeiða í Føroyum – men vit kenna tey ikki við navni. Jú, vit kenna ein ella tveir, sum eru giftir við einum føroyingi og tí eisini partur av familjuni ella so. Men kenslan av fremmandaskapi er har enn. Vit vita ikki, hvør familja teirra er, ella hvar tey eru uppvaksin. Tað er ein gjógv, sum skilur okkum, og vit liva atskild í hvør sínum bólki og familju. Fyri tilflytarar er gjáin sum ein ósjónligur múrur, ið atskilur okkum, meðan tilflytararnir tykjast fremmand fyri tey lokalu.
Í 2015 gekk rættan veg í Klaksvíkar kommunu. Ein integratiónspolitikkur varð gjørdur, ein altjóða kafé lat upp, ein start-up bólkur fyri útlendingar varð stovnaður, og skipað varð fyri einum árligum altjóða mentanardegi. Hetta vóru tiltøk, sum bæði lokal og tilflytarar luttóku í saman. Men nú eru hesi tiltøk steðgað.
Fyri at bróta hendan múrin niður, sum er millum okkum, eru her 4 ting, eg vil leggja dent á fyri at byggja víðari á arbeiðið, sum var byrjað í 2015 og harvið eisini tryggja, at Klaksvík heldur áfram við at skapa kensluna av at hoyra til fyri øll:
1. Endurbyrja og víðka integratiónsátøk
Eg fari at arbeiða fyri at endurreisa verkætlanir, so sum altjóða kafeina og eisini leggja mentanardagar inn í lokal tiltøk, og harvið gera tey til ein fastan part av okkara kommunala kalendara. Hesi tiltøk skapa felags upplivingar og stimbra kjak millum klaksvíksingar og tilflytarar, sum so eisini byggir brýr millum mentanir.
2. Fremja innbjóðandi tiltøk fyri øll í felagsskapinum
Vit mugu bjóða til fleiri innbjóðandi tiltøk, har øll, uttan mun til bakgrund, kunnu luttaka. Hetta kann vera ítróttur, verkstovur ella “cultural exchange”, ið savnar fólk saman á ein gevandi hátt. Soleiðis kunnu vit at skapa fleiri møguleikar fyri samskifti og vinarløgum.
3. Styrkja mentorskipanir og møguleikar fyri at læra málið
Ofta verður tikið til, at málið er lykilin til felagsskapin. Tað liggur ein sannleiki í tí, sum ikki fornoktast. Tí vil eg arbeiða fyri at víðka møguleikarnar fyri at læra føroyskt. Men góð integratión er meira enn málsligir førleikar, og tí er eisini umráðandi at seta í verk mentor-skipanir, sum skulu hjálpa tilflytarum at knýta samband við tey lokalu. Tá ið vit seta okkum niður og veruliga tosa saman, læra báðir patar av hvørjum øðrum, og tá verða lunnar lagdir undir verulig sambond millum nýkomnir tilflytarar og tey, sum hava búð á staðnum í longri tíð.
4. Fagna fjølbroyttari søgu
Vit skulu eisini fagna teimum ymisku søgunum hjá teimum, sum eru flutt til Klaksvíkar kommunu. Við tiltøkum, sum varpa ljós á mentan, sið og persónligar søgur kunnu vit viðurkenna týdningarmiklu íkastini frá tilflytarum og fáa øll at kenna seg sum part av felagssøguni hjá kommununi.
Latið okkum bróta niður múrarnar, ið skilja okkum, og byggja eina kommuna, har øll hoyra til.
Velur tú meg 12. november, so velur tú ein persón, sum vil arbeiða fyri einum meira innbjóðandi, livandi, og samanbundinum býi – har hvør borgari, óansæð bakgrund, kennir seg heima. Saman kunnu vit skapa ein felagsskap, ið fevnir um fjølbroytni.
Vónandi verður tað tá lættari at sleppa uppí at spæla innandura!
David Im
Valevni fyri Norðoya Tjóðveldisfelagið
X við Im
Come and play indoor football
“Do you want to play indoor football?”
This was a question I was asked during my first summer of 2008 in Klaksvík. We were busy preparing for our upcoming wedding and I kindly declined and I thought surely, I’ll get to play later.
Wrong.
I was never asked again.
Twelve years later, I learned that these opportunities come seldom. Breaking into men’s social circles is extremely challenging in the Faroes, especially in Klaksvík.
Although now, I feel like I am “part” of a friends’ group, it has been a long road with persistence – but the feeling of having friendships, belonging, and a sense of community felt good. In fact, it is life-changing impact for your well-being.
But this is my story, and not everyone has had the same experience like me. For some, they have never been “part” of a friends’ group.
We still hear people talk about “Filipinos” or “Romanians” working, but not their names. Sure, we know one or two who are married and part of the family. But the feeling of unfamiliarity is still there. We can’t name their family history or say which house they grew up in. There is a gap between us, isolated in our own circles and families. Immigrants feel like there is an invisible wall that divides us, while the locals feel like immigrants are strangers.
In 2015, Klaksvíkar kommuna was on its way to being more inclusive. An integration policy was made, an international café was started, a start-up international group was created, and an international cultural day was organized. These were activities where both locals and immigrants participated together. But now, these things have stopped.
To break down the wall between us, here are 4 things I will focus on to build on the work that was started and ensure that Klaksvík continues to foster a sense of belonging for everyone:
1. Revive and Expand Integration Initiatives
I will work to revive programs like the international café and incorporate cultural days into local events, making them a permanent part of our community calendar. These events create shared experiences and foster dialogue between locals and immigrants, building bridges across cultures.
2. Promote Inclusive Community Activities
We need to offer more inclusive activities where everyone, regardless of background, can participate. This could include sports, community workshops, or cultural exchanges that bring people together in meaningful ways. By doing so, we will create more opportunities for interaction and friendship.
3. Strengthen Language-Learning Activities and Mentorship Programs
It is often said that language is the key to being part of community and that is the reality, therefore, I will work to expand language-learning activities. But good integration is just more than speaking the language. It is important to have mentorship programs that help newcomers familiarize themselves with their new community while connecting with locals. Pairing new immigrants with long-term residents in mentorship programs helps both groups learn from one another and form deeper connections.
4. Celebrate Diverse Histories
We should celebrate the diverse stories of those who have come to call Klaksvíkar kommuna home. Through storytelling events and heritage festivals, we can recognize the valuable contributions of immigrants and make everyone feel part of kommuna’s shared history.
Let’s break down the walls that divide us and build a kommuna where everyone belongs.
If you vote for me on November 12th, you are voting a person who will work for a more welcoming, vibrant, and connected town – where every resident, regardless of background, feels at home. Together, we can create a community that embraces diversity.
Hopefully, it will be easier to play indoor football!
David (Wonik) Im
Candidate for Kommunuval 2024 in Klaksvíkar Kommuna
X with Im!
