Colour-blindness

Copenhagen’s inclusion policy and its implementation are centred on balancing the majority and the minority, and in this research it was sometimes difficult to discuss Danish-Somali Copenhageners as such. Municipal employees argued that there are no

data dividing people by ethnicity, and a typical referral within the City was to the VINK project dealing with religious radicalisation.

A memorandum on the Somalis has circulated within the City Administration, pointing out Danish-Somalis as a specific group among ethnic minorities. Many interviewees acknowledged that Danish-Somali residents share some problems with other ethnic-minority Copenhageners, but they agreed that they do have specific issues arising from their particular circumstances. While majority Danes avoided reference to race, minority interviewees often spoke about ethnicities and skin colour. The tendency to talk about socio-economic status instead of ethnicity seemed to be founded in a wish to avoid relying on ethnic stereotypes for social problems, which is well intentioned, but has created a taboo concerning reference to ethnicity and skin colour, which has become a silent reality. The insistence on the only divisions being according to language disguises the important differences

The insistence on the term “ethnic-minority” instead of Danish-Somali is seen in the economic funding strategy, where NGOs working with the Danish-Somali community, for example in labour market projects, and the Somali bridge-builders are refused financial support due to their ethnic focus. In interviews there were discussions about whether it was prudent to establish special initiatives or projects aimed at Danish-Somalis. Danish-Somalis working with Danish-Somali citizens find it very difficult to get financial support. It appears that a significant amount of social work is carried out by Danish-Somalis on a voluntary basis and does not attract the attention of the city or the social housing projects because they are below the economic radar.

12.4 Education

Discrimination in education was very high, which suggests that there is an urgent need to deal more explicitly with discrimination in the classroom.

The personal relationships with teachers, moderators and facilitators were extremely important for both pupils and parents who were interviewed, and there were examples of how a teacher can make a huge negative or positive impact. The presence of integration advisers seemed to work successfully, and the voluntary Somali bridge-builders and the Youth and Education supervisors seem also to be important actors in the relationship between the school, the parents and the pupil. It was seen as important to support the whole family instead of just seeing the individual child or parent, especially when dealing with single-parent families with many children.

12.5 Employment

The national employment workfare policy and the focus on activation was characterised in the focus group as “the Ferris wheel in Tivoli”.

Users of the job centre described being trapped by poverty and control mechanisms, but at the same time they also described the system as irrational, unproductive, a waste

of money and disorderly. Nevertheless, they had to rely on the system to help them find a job and they directed their main frustration against the job centre or the municipality instead of the labour market. So despite the heavy criticisms, they had to rely on a system that they hoped could help them get a job.

Several key civil society informants referred to the huge workload among volunteers helping and guiding Danish-Somali Copenhageners who need social benefits and assistance, not only from the Employment and Integration Administration, but in general from the municipality and the immigration service, housing companies and other agencies. Those interviewed stressed the urgent need for a guidance service adjusted to the needs of Danish-Somali citizens enrolled at the job centres and a targeted effort to increase their knowledge about rules, rights and the way the system works.

12.6 Housing

Many of those interviewed were very offended by the government officially terming their social housing neighbourhood a ghetto, perceiving it as an insult and yet another mechanism of exclusion. Since one of the criteria for designating an area a ghetto is still its ethnic composition, that is, having many residents with an ethnic-minority background, the label was regarded as provocative and preventing good images and stories from the neighbourhood from reaching mainstream society.

More than 80 percent of the Danish-Somali population in Copenhagen lives in social housing with a locally elected structure that does not include the Danish-Somali residents. Furthermore, many Danish-Somalis found it difficult to manoeuvre their way through a whole range of housing inquiries, rights and responsibilities.

Participation in social events and activities in the neighbourhood with other residents was reported to be difficult, and there were conflicts with other residents, for example at the playground. Social workers in housing areas also referred to Danish-Somalis as being at the bottom of the ethnic hierarchy in the neighbourhood and that the Danish-Somalis were seen as isolated and preferring to be only with other Danish-Danish-Somalis.

12.7 Health and Social Protection

Stakeholders interviewed on the health of the Danish-Somalis estimated that their health problems were more significant than recognised; and more research would be valuable in order to better target information and services from the City, given that health profiles produced by the municipality are only divided into ethnic-minority/majority or Western/non-Western categories.

Different barriers and concerns were mentioned in the focus group discussions, such as difficulties with written information. The language barrier had a huge impact on their interaction with the system and the lack of knowledge about services was another important obstacle.

The fear of having their children taken away by the authorities hangs over many families, according to interviewees, which may prevent them from contacting the authorities.

Mental health was a specific area of concern, and according to the focus group discussion, there are many Danish-Somalis with mental illnesses who are not given the proper treatment by the authorities. The fear of being stigmatised and socially excluded among the Danish-Somalis is parallel to the general experience of mental illness as a stigma, even though it may be spoken about in different terms.

Many in the focus groups agreed that the relationship between changing gender roles and the struggles of many Danish-Somali men in Denmark are linked to khat, alcohol abuse and homelessness. Many Danish-Somalis mentioned that older men are a specific vulnerable group who are not attended to by the social welfare workers.

Increasing homelessness among younger people was also mentioned as a worry, as well as unaccompanied asylum seekers who may be at risk of living very vulnerable and lonely lives.