Jehads story
Between 2011 and 2014, Jehad Yasen made the perilous journey from Syria; through Jordan, Turkey, Greece, and onwards to Norway to seek asylum. His country was no longer safe, neither for him nor his children. He survived sniper shootings and the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean Sea on an unseaworthy, inflatable boat. A journey which has stolen – and continues to steal – the lives of thousands of people. Since 2014, more than 22,000 people have drowned attempting the journey.
One of the first people to greet Jehad, after he arrived in Norway late on a cold April night in 2014, was a police officer. She welcomed him with a smile, calmed him, and found him somewhere to rest for the night. Even the taxi driver on the short ride to the station had offered for Jehad to stay with him, had the station been closed. “There was generosity from the start and people wanted to help,” says Jehad. “In Norway I was welcome – and safe.”
But why Norway? The answer may surprise some. While in Greece, Jehad watched a video on YouTube from Oslo Kommune. It was about a social experiment. A boy, around 10 or 12 years old, was sitting at a bus stop, in winter, without a jacket. Everyone came up to him and gave him their coat – asking if he needed more help. “I thought, yes!” says Jehad, “the people here are so kind. This is the country I want my kids to grow up in.”
Cultural translation
After arriving in Norway, he successfully applied for asylum and a year later, was reunited with his family. He also started working as a Cultural Assistant for Trondheim Kommune. “My role was to help translate the culture,” says Jehad, “to help Norwegians and Syrians understand each other.”
Part of his job was to meet Syrians at the airport, on day zero of their new life in Norway. He did this alongside Norwegian officials whose job required that they inform all newcomers about the basics of life in Norway. At this point, Jehad could step in and explain to aghast Syrians that this was the reason a Norwegian official was explaining what a toilet was to them. It wasn’t supposed to be insulting, merely incredibly thorough protocol that had to be fulfilled.
This cultural translation helped to prevent misunderstandings but even so, sometimes people from different cultures behave in different ways, even if the goal is the same. After inviting Norwegian friends around to his house to eat falafel one December evening, Jehad waited at the doorway to say goodbye.
“I waited for 6 or 7 minutes, but they wouldn’t leave!” he says. “After a while I realised that they were waiting for me to go back inside. In my culture I can’t close my door while they are outside, but Norwegians can’t leave until I have gone back into the warmth. We both wanted to see each other get home safe!”
Barnas verdensdag
That different cultures approach the same goal in different ways is a concept shared by Rolf Bjarne Jensen, organiser of Trondheim’s Barnas verdensdag (World Children’s Day). “As part of the event, we want children to become curious, discover more about the world, and to see that there are differences between cultures,” says Rolf Bjarne, “but also that in many ways, we are very much alike.”
The festival, which will take place on the 24th of September will introduce families and children to different cultures through workshops and fun activities. There will be the chance to discover Persian art, make Polish ceramics, and even try out the Brazilian dance and acrobatics combination Capoeira.
The Flying Seagull Project, a UK-based charity that plays with and entertains children in refugee camps around the world, will also captivate the imaginations of children at the festival. “By hiring The Flying Seagull Project, we can also support their work,” says Rolf Bjarne, “in this way we can begin to help children around the world have the freedom to play.” Ultimately though, the festival is for children to experience and approach different cultures with an open and tolerant mind.
Colourful differences
What is it about the Syrian culture that Jehad would want Norwegian children to know? “People’s generosity and open mind,” he answers after a thought. “Everyone who you meet in the street will invite you into their home, or if you’re moving house, the kids will come to the car asking what they can help with.” Whilst it might be less common to do this in Norway, he has experienced Norwegians’ openness and welcoming attitude in other ways. “Everyone is human and differences are a great thing,” says Jehad. “Let’s accept these differences as part of a colourful life.”
24th of September
Barnas verdensdag | World Children’s Day
Families and children aged 0 – 10 years
Trondheim folkebibliotek, Hovedbiblioteket, Peter Egges plass, and DIGS
At Barnas verdensdag in Trondheim, workshops for families and children will allow them to experience different cultures from around the world. Workshops, around 15 to 20 minutes long, will be held at Trondheim folkebibliotek, Hovedbiblioteket, and you can visit pop-up performances at Peter Egges plass. At DIGS, there will be food and a children’s stage for children to perform for each other. Immerse yourself in someone else’s world and experience their culture with them!