PH Embassy in Oslo Conducts 1st Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar for Filipino Au Pairs
Filipino au pairs in Bergen with Philippine Embassy in Oslo Third Secretary and Vice Consul Christiansen Cabahug (first row, second from left), Tatjana Devold of the the Norwegian Immigration Directorate (UDI) (first row, second from right) and Erwin Navarro (first row, rightmost) of the Caritas Au Pair Center in Bergen. (Oslo PE photo)
BERGEN 04 December 2019 – As continuation of the Philippine Embassy in Oslo programs on Gender and Development (GAD), the Embassy conducted its first Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar (PAOS) this year for Filipino au pairs in Bergen, Norway. The PAOS for au pairs has been a yearly activity of the Embassy to reach out to Filipino au pairs in Norway, which has been an important venue for Filipino au pairs to raise their questions and concerns about Norway au pair scheme, and at the same time share their experiences under the cultural exchange program.
As in previous years, the PAOS for au pairs was organized by the Philippine Embassy in coordination with the Caritas Au Pair Center. For this year’s PAOS for Filipino au pairs, the resource persons were Norwegian Immigration Directorate (UDI) Adviser Tatjana Devold, Caritas Au Pair Center Integration Adviser in Bergen Mr. Erwin Navarro and Philippine Embassy in Oslo Third Secretary and Vice Consul Christiansen Cabahug.
During the open forum, the participants inquired on their rights under the au pair program, and shared their stories and challenges as Filipino au pairs in Bergen, Norway. In addressing the concerns of the au pairs, Tatjana Devold and Erwin Navarro emphasized the importance of maintaining an open dialogue between au pairs and their host families, especially with the cultural differences of Filipinos and Norwegians. Tatjana Devold also encouraged the participants to report violations of certain host families so that the authorities may investigate and place such host families in “quarantine status.”
Aside from the conduct of the PAOS for au pairs, the Embassy also met with some members of the Filipino community in Bergen, including a Filipino Catholic Priest Father Cruf Climaco at the St. Paul Church in Bergen. END
Father Cruf Climaco (fourth from left) and some members of the Filipino community in Bergen with Embassy representatives. (Oslo PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.oslope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinNorway/.