Integration of newcommers in Roskilde Cooperation with the

Integration of newcommers in Roskilde: Cooperation with the local mosque By Khalil Ahmad, Integration consultant, Jobcenter Roskilde October 28 th 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 stakeholders on 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 are self-supporting and have a foothold in the Danish labor market.

Continue • 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