Upon arrival at the meeting, all participants were asked to write their personal challenges on a post-it and put it on a board. This gave a clear picture of the many different – but also common – challenges we face. At the end of the meeting, all post-its were read out, summarized and divided into themes – as a basis for further group work.
On Thursday, May 16, around 75 committed participants from both Iran and Pakistan participated in an important meeting where we worked together to create change. The participants were divided into two groups – one for Iranians and one for Pakistanis – to create a better framework for dialogue and a common understanding of our situation in Denmark.
Presentation on speaking out and freedom of expression
Jacob, an activist from Community House and member of the Danish Unity Party, gave a presentation on the right to speak out and use the opportunity to speak out.
Speaking out means that as a citizen you are allowed to meet with politicians in e.g. Parliament or local councils and tell about your challenges and wishes directly to those who make decisions.
Jacob emphasized that it is not dangerous to participate in a demonstration. It has no consequences for your case, and everyone in Denmark has the right to express themselves freely – it is a fundamental part of freedom of expression. Politicians are here to help citizens – not to punish them. When we stand together and talk about the rules that create problems, politicians also become more aware of their real meaning.
Municipal job opportunities and residency requirements
I gave a presentation about job opportunities in the primary sector – i.e. the many offers and workplaces in the municipalities. We talked about, among other things:
Rehabilitation centers
Relief centers
Emergency centers
Home care
We also reviewed the rules for getting a job as a social and health worker, which is an important entry point for many. There is no requirement for permanent employment – you can extend your visa with a six-month employment, as long as the job is as a social and health worker with salary level 18. The salary can vary, and SIRI makes an individual assessment of each case. All details about the positive list and evaluation employment can be found in my slides.
Preparing for the presentation
Later in the day we worked in small groups, where the participants from the medical group, the dental group and the nursing group prepared for the presentation. Each group formulated questions, and there was a particular focus on:
The lack of evaluation positions
Difficulties in finding assistant positions
The application for the presentation has now been sent, and we are waiting for a response on when we will be allowed to meet the politicians.
Preparation of a statement for politicians, unions and the press
We have also prepared a joint statement, which is a written description of our challenges and proposals for solutions. It will be sent to politicians, unions and the press. We chose four topics to focus on:
The need for visa extensions
Lack of evaluation appointments
The quality of language schools
The situation of our children in Denmark
Four groups described their experiences and challenges in relation to each topic. The text is now being edited in collaboration with Freja and Inas. After that, we will collect signatures and send it on. We will also seek access to documents and request rapid political action.
Help from Community House
Finally, we would like to remind everyone that Community House is ready to help with personal challenges. They are open every Wednesday, but it requires an appointment for an interview.