Albanian-speaking immigrants encounter both language- and cultural barriers when trying to integrate into Slovenian society. In the following, we describe the good practice of the Slovenian municipality of Jesenice, in the Gorenjska region (in the north, near the border with Austria), which has recruited an interpreter for the purpose of helping the better integration of Albanian-speaking immigrants. We also present the OrientAkcija project that is aimed at a better social activation of Albanian-speaking women.

In Jesenice, Albanian-speaking immigrants have had to overcome language barriers for several years now. Currently, an Albanian interpreter helps to bridge the language gap, which is encountered mostly in schools and health-care institutions in the town. The initiative came in 2015 from the Centre of Social Work Jesenice because of the difficulties faced by the health institutions-, schools- and other institutions staff in the communication with Albanian language speakers. No other foreign language spoken by the staff of these institutions could be used for communication. Albanian-speaking immigrants were supported by their neighbours and children who helped with translating, but it turned out that this approach was inappropriate, for example in situations where sensitive medical matters had to be discussed or where the subject of the discussion put an extraordinary burden on the child. Therefore, in 2015 an official interpreter was engaged to help in communicaton. A year later, this interpreter was employed through the public works programme and with the municipality’s support. She helps in ten organizations (kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, healthcare centre and the general hospital).

The interpreter is most needed in schools. On the one hand, the Albanian-speaking students do not speak Slovenian, while on the other, the teachers and other school staff are not able to inform parents about how their children are doing at school. With the help of the translator, parents are better able to understand their children’s situation at school and make sure they attend regularly. There is also a positive impact on students’ self-confidence and their easier integration into Slovenian society.

Another big user of the interpretation support  is the women’s health, maternity and children's department of the general hospital. Without an interpreter, communication would be almost impossible, and there would be huge problems in determining the causes of patients’ health problems and medical treatment.

The second example of good practice is the OrientAkcija project - Social Activation of Albanian Women in the Gorenjska region. Helping the social inclusion of women from the Albanian community and increasing their employment opportunities are the main goals of this project. Albanian women face many obstacles to their integration into Slovenian society, particularly language barriers and the cultural differences stemming from their extremely traditional (patriarchal) way of life. At the same time, they want to participate in the labour market to a greater extent as they are young, healthy and capable women who have working habits and need only a little help in entering the labour market. In the context of everyday socializing organised in the framework of the OrientAkcija project, functional knowledge (from Slovene language courses to computer- and financial literacy) and visits to various companies and institutions (potential employers) in the municipality are offered. Albanian women are often seen with prejudices, as the ones belonging to a closed society, not even wanting to integrate and not being interested in employment. But in-depth interviews revealed that they have very high ambitions and very much want to be active members of the society. They just need someone to show them the way.

Sources:

Delo. Za albansko govoreče zaposlili prevajalko (An interpreter employed for the Albanian-speaking community). Delo, 13 March 2018.

Rant, Mateja. Pomoč pri vključevanju v družbo (Help with social inclusion). Gorenjski Glas, 18 March 2018.

Text by Nataša Kump and Nada Stropnik, researchers at the Institute for Economic Research (IER, Ljubljana)