NEWS
YOUTH
Save the Children made a video about Lambertseter Kings
Friday 12/04-´24
Save the Children Norway has made a new video about our football team Lambertseter Kings. The video will be used in a large national school campaign. Mostafa and Imam talk about their experience of fleeing from their home country Syria to Norway and how playing football has helped them make new friends and cope with their trauma. Lambertseter Kings evolved into more than a football team, into a sanctuary for more than 30 young refugees. This community creates bonds of friendship and resilience amidst the echoes of cheering fans and the rhythm of the game.
RESEARCH
Workshop in Stockholm about «Remedy» with HEUNI and Ethical Trading Initiative Sweden
Monday 11/03 -´24
On March 6th, the King Institute hosted a roundtable on the topic of «remedy» in Stockholm together with our partners HEUNI (Finland) and Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Sweden.
We had engaging discussions related to the project «Safety for all? Remedy for exploited migrant workers in the Nordic region«, and the roundtable focused on common challenges across sectors.
The group discussions were particularly engaging and emphasized common challenges and the importance of collaborating with established partners, seeking new and unconventional partnerships, and realizing that one’s critic can be one’s best friend in efforts to strengthen access to remedy for migrant workers.
We will continue the conversation on remedy and are looking forward to future collaborations towards creating meaningful change.
Read more here:
Here are some key points from the roundtable:
- The importance of collective responsibility from government and business sectors in meeting the obligations of the UNGPs, the Norwegian Transparency Act, and upcoming regulations with remedy highlighted as a core element.
- Identification of barriers migrant workers face in accessing remedy, such as language barriers, lack of knowledge about their own rights as well as existing complaint mechanisms.
- Information on ongoing processes to strengthen systems in the Nordic countries to prevent exploitation and human trafficking.
- Insights into ongoing efforts to enhance systems in the Nordic countries to prevent exploitation and trafficking.
- The Fackligt Center för Papperslösa presented existing challenges in accessing remedy, including the courts’ hesitance in using the stricter criminal code and issues arising from migration/visa policies that impact employment opportunities during a remediation process.
- Electronic Watch shared the Principles for Worker-Driven Remedy, and emphasised that companies need to understand where they have leverage and use it.
- Thought-provoking discussions on the role businesses play in providing remedy, and the importance of including migrant workers in the remediation process beyond compliance with local laws.
EDUCATION
King Course on «Conflict De-escalating Social Work in the Asylum Sector»
Monday 11/03 -´24
Last week we had our 3rd gathering for our course in cooperation with HLT (Norwegian School of Leadership and Theology) – “Conflict De-escalating Social Work in the Asylum Sector”. The course aims to improve the skills of people working in the asylum sector to mitigate and mediate conflicts and improve their overall leadership skills. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday students learned about Mediation methods and got to practice them during numerous role-play scenarios. The 84-hour course started on the 30th of November 2023 and will end on the 20th of April 2024, being worth 20 credits in total.
DIALOGUE
Celebration of Martin Luther King Day at the interfaith Sabbath in Fairmount Temple in Cleveland, Ohio
Monday 15/01-´24
Director Thomas Dorg was the keynote speaker on Friday, January 12th, at an interfaith Sabbath commemorating the annual national Martin Luther King Day in the USA at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Cleveland.
The King Institute was invited to Ohio to meet and advise the newly established Interfaith Forum in Cleveland. The ongoing difficulties in the Middle East after October 7th also affect the dialogue there.
The Sabbath that followed was a visible expression of the desire to maintain dialogue between faith communities in the area despite the challenges. More than twenty representatives from churches, synagogues, and mosques in Cleveland attended the event. Together with Rev. Dr. Lisa Goods, senior pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church, and Michael Hunter Ochs, co-founder of Pursuit of Harmony, Dorg spoke to the audience during the annual MLK Sabbath service. He talked about how the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. inspired the establishment of the Coretta & Martin Luther King Institute for Peace in Oslo, to contribute to creating a world where reconciliation, equality, and human rights are achievable through dialogue and non-violent approaches.
YOUTH
Experience sharing with representatives from schools, leisure activities, NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration), child welfare, police, and civil society organizations in Nordre Follo.
Thursday 16/11 -´23
Alongside a fantastic group of colleagues from schools, child welfare, NAV (youth group), leisure sector, PPT (Educational Psychological Service), Police, and Outreach workers in Nordre Follo, Thomas Dorg from the King Institute shared experiences in mentoring youth facing social exclusion.
Belinda Ekornås (RVTS Øst) gave a lecture on «Vulnerability and Motivation for Radicalization – and a Way Out.» She is a psychologist specialist and special advisor at RVTS Øst.
Thomas Dorg from the King Institute shared experiences and the scientific basis for the mentoring work at the King Institute. The work is anchored in the SaLTo (Local Youth Action Plan) work in Oslo. «It’s always exciting to share experiences in demanding social work in an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral forum,» says Thomas Dorg, director of the King Institute. «We have several active mentor relationships ongoing right now. We think relationally, long-term, and holistically in our mentoring work,» he continues. «From a professional standpoint, we draw on, among other things, ACE research from Southern California.»
LAMBERTSETER KINGS
Great evening with Save the Children and the Prime Minister on the TV campaign
Despite the cold and windy weather, our football team Lambertseter Kings collected NOK 44,350 for Save the Children through a football trick campaign outside Lambertseter center last Saturday.
Secretary General of Save the Children, Birgitte Lange, thanked the team for their invaluable participation in the TV campaign. On the day of the TV action, Haidar handed over a training shirt to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre as a symbol of the importance of good activities for the integration, prevention, and inclusion of minority youth. The jersey had number 10, which is Haidar’s number on the team. Prime Minister Støre joked about whether this was a signing for the team, to which Haidar replied, «You are welcome anytime!»
The Lambertseter Kings were thrilled to participate in the campaign, but the biggest winner was Save the Children, who set a new record with an amazing NOK 273 million in collected funds. The money will be used to improve conditions for children in war and conflict.
We thank Redd Barna (Save the Children) and NRK for their cooperation, and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre for taking the time to chat with and get to know the team.
LAMBERTSETER KINGS
We collect Money for the TV-Action
Saturday 21/10-´23
The Lambertseter Kings football team has made a significant contribution to this year’s TV campaign for Save the Children. The players have served as expert consultants for the campaign, sharing their own experiences of conflict and war to inform how children are portrayed. Haidar, a member of the team, participated in the kick-off event at Save the Children, where he shared his personal journey and spoke about the football team and its origins.
During the TV campaign weekend, the team will collect donations at Lambertseter Senter, and the total amount will be presented on the TV broadcast itself on Sunday!
RESEARCH
Rapportlansering for fagfeltet og for publikum
Monday 11/9-´23
We launched our latest research report on the recruitment of migrant workers in Norwegian food production on August 7, 2023, to a full house at our premises in Pilestredet 27. Tina Davis presented the findings to a broadly represented group of professionals, including representatives from the Norwegian Labor Inspectorate, the Police, civil society organizations, and several employee and employer organizations.
In addition to the full house in Pilestredet, many people followed the launch online.
On election day, September 11, we presented the report to the public in an open event supported by the Fritt Ord Foundation. An exciting panel discussion was held, led by Henrik Syse, chairman of the King Institute. The panelists included Bjart Pedersen from NorgesGruppen, Endre Lie from Fellesforbundet, Natasza Bogacz from the Norwegian Labor Inspectorate, and Tina Davis from the King Institute.
HUMAN RIGHTS/ DIALOGUE
THE KING INSTITUTE WAS PRESENT AT THE PARLIAMENT OF WORLD’S RELIGIONS GLOBAL GATHERING IN CHICAGO
Wednesday 23/8 -´23
The King Institute attended the Parliament of World’s Religions global summit in Chicago this year, where the theme was «A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Human Rights.» Ethics, joint platforms, and solutions to our time’s major challenges were discussed with leaders from a variety of large and small organizations, religious communities, and indigenous communities.
Tina Davis from the King Institute gave a talk on «A Hope-Filled Approach to Human Rights» on a panel with Dr. Kamilah Majied from California State University.
More than 7,000 people from 95 countries and 210 different traditions participated in the summit.
LAMBERTSETER KINGS
EXCITING AND ACTION-PACKED TRAINING CAMP IN STOKKE
Saturday 19-20/8-´23
This weekend, Stokke municipality opened a training facility for the Lambertseter Kings and the Lambertseter Sports Club A team. The successful summer camp, supported by the PAF Foundation (Karpe), included hard work on the pitch, football strategy sessions, competition, and exciting activities at Vestfold Event’s great facility (boot throwing, axe throwing, balance exercises, bonfires, barbecues, etc.), as well as delicious food served by volunteers from Oslo.
Thank you to the PAF Foundation (Karpe) for their support!
DIALOGUE
THE KING INSTITUTE PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR STL
Tuesday 23/5-´23
This year’s theme for the Cooperative Council for Faith and Belief Society’s annual conference was «What can we achieve with religion and belief dialogue?» The keynote speaker was Professor Azza Karam, head of Religions for Peace. Other presenters and panel participants included Professor Sturla Stålsett, Didrik Sønderlund of the Humanities Association, Anne Sender of the Mosaic Religious Community, and research dean TF Anne Hege Grung.
In his speech, King Institute Director Thomas Dorg emphasized the importance of dialogue in general, and especially between different religions and communities of life in the demanding times we live in with increasing conflicts and unrest. However, he noted that dialogue needs to be facilitated with a wise approach to form and method, as not all interactions that are called dialogue actually are.