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Utilise Resources!
What ensures integration? How can we create spaces where people from different cultures learn from each other, gain confidence and become New Friends – New Amigos?
“To be able to integrate, I need someone to integrate with.” –Participant at a New Amigos language café.
Everyone is a resource by virtue of their native language. For example, there are Arabic speaking pupils in many Norwegian schools. With New Amigos, they can immediately become a resource and give Norwegians access to a major world culture. Newly arrived refugees become an asset as they can exchange language and culture with locals. In this way, they immediately start learning the local language while also having the opportunity to teach their native language in return.
This allows them to connect with those around them without having to wait for formal classes or tuition. Instead of a classic top-down situation with teachers and students, we enable them to meet as equals.
New Amigos was awarded The European Language Label from the EU commission in 2016 for the Norwegian-Arabic version of the game and the Secretary to the Minister of Education, Magnus Thue, who presented the language award, said:
“The New Amigos board game creates meeting places between Norwegian and Arabic speakers and is a motivating and inclusive alternative to regular language tuition. The premise is that everyone has a valuable resource in the form of their mother tongue and that learning goes both ways. It creates balanced relationships and mutual understanding. These are very important elements of good integration.” New Amigos helps municipalities, NGOs and public libraries integrate refugees faster and better.
