📅 Date: Sunday, April 6th ⏰ Time: 2:00 PM 📍 Location: Litteraturhuset, Wergelandsveien 29, Oslo
The Norway–Nepal Friendship Association and The Norwegian network for global mental health invites you to a thought-provoking event focusing on Suicide Prevention in Nepal. This event will feature expert insights, a panel discussion, and an opportunity for open dialogue with the audience.
🎙️ Panelists:
👤 Mr. Matrika Devkota A passionate mental health and human rights activist from Nepal, Mr. Devkota brings invaluable firsthand experience to the discussion. As the founder and leader of Koshish Nepal, a pioneering patients’ rights organization, he has made significant strides in advocating for mental health support and human rights in his community. His empathetic approach has helped transform countless lives.
👤 Dr. Suraj Thapa A distinguished psychiatrist, professor, and Head of Research at the Division of Mental Health & Addiction, University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Dr. Thapa combines deep clinical expertise with a robust research background. With extensive experience in both Norway and Nepal, he has contributed to several collaborative projects aimed at enhancing mental health capacity in Nepal.
👤 PhD Ragnhild Dybdahl, co-chair of Norwegian Network for Global Mental Health. She is currently seconded from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health to Africa CDC in Addis Ababa. She is also associate professor of global mental health at the Centre for Crisis Psychology, University of Bergen. She has a background as a psychologist and has worked in leadership positions in international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance for many years. She has experience from Somalia, Bosnia, Guatemala, Niger, Sudan, France and UK.
This event is a unique opportunity to gain insights into mental health challenges in Nepal and explore ways to foster hope and support. Whether you’re a mental health professional, a community advocate, or simply interested in learning more, your presence and input will be valuable.
The Norwegian network for global mental health (www.globalmentalhelse.no) are co-hosts for the event and will participate in the programme.
A warm welcome to the annual meeting of the Norway-Nepal Association. The annual meeting is the association’s highest body and is convened once each calendar year. The annual meeting starts at 6 PM, and is followed by a break with coffee, mingling and raffle, before we start Nepal Evening at 7:15 PM with guest Arne Vinje.
🗓️ March 24, 2025 🕛 06:00 PM 📍Sagene Community Center, Kristiansands gate 2, 0463 Oslo
You can attend this event online through this Google Meet link.
Agenda for the annual meeting:
Election of the meeting chair
Selection of referee
Election of two members to sign the minutes
Board of Directors’ Annual Report for 2024
Accounts for 2024
Reported cases
A case has been reported to the board: Application for support for a book project, from Marit Bakke and Olav Myrholt. See attachment.
Election: This year, five of the seven board positions are up for election. They are as follows:
Chairman
Webmaster
Editor
Member
Member
Optional
Do you have a business to report to the annual meeting
According to the association’s articles of association, members may submit matters: Proposals to be considered at the annual meeting must be sent to the board no later than 2 weeks before the annual meeting. This deadline also applies to proposals to the election committee of candidates for the board and proposals for amendments to the articles of association. Proposals from the board for amendments to the articles of association must be attached to the notice of the annual meeting. Members may propose amendments to the board’s proposals for amendments to the articles of association no later than 2 weeks before the annual meeting.
We will also be organizing a themed evening and lecture in connection with the annual meeting. This year, Arne Vinje (73) is the guest. He is the former mayor of Vinje municipality in northwest Telemark county, where he still lives. Follow the links for more details and RSVP to the event.
Krysskulturelle liv – Identitet, Tilhørighet og Flytting
I dag er det mange som har erfaring med å bevege seg eller flytte mellom land og kulturer. Hva gjør disse skiftene med oss som enkeltpersoner? Hvordan er det å flytte krysskulturelt ulikt i ulike faser av livet? Hvordan skal vi finne ut hvem vi er når det som er rundt oss forandrer seg? På hvilken måte er krysskulturell bakgrunn en ressurs i familien, arbeidsmarket og i samfunnet?
I denne serien av arrangementer setter vi temaet krysskulturell oppvekst på agendaen. Målgruppen er voksne og særlig foreldre til ungdom. Velkomne er både de som har personlig erfaring med krysskulturell identitet, som lever i en krysskulturell hverdag, og de som jobber i en kontekst med stort mangfold. Arrangementene gi deg mange refleksjoner om hvordan flytting har påvirket deg og hvem du er i dag. Mange opplever at det er godt og oppklarende å stille disse spørsmålene og høre om hvordan andre med lignende bakgrunn beskriver det.
Målet er å åpne opp en prosess hvor man kan bli bedre kjent med seg selv, sin identitet og livshistorie, sine ressurser, og sine barns krysskulturelle liv. Programmet vil veksle mellom presentasjon av temaet, og refleksjonsoppgaver. Det vil være tid til å dele egne tanker, og høre på andres erfaringer.
Arrangementene vil ta utgangspunkt i Flexid, som er et kurskonsept for personer som vokser opp krysskulturelt. Flexid står for «fleksibel identitet». Kurset er særlig tilpasset ungdom. I arrangementene i høst får du en smakebit av innholdet i kurset.
Presentasjoner ved kapellan Jurek Laub, diakon Eldrid Brekke, fastlege Raja Khuram Iqbal, psykolog Laila Mukhtar og psykolog Ingunn Dreyer Ødegaard
Arrangementene er et samarbeid mellom Islamabad Rawalpindi Welfare Society (IRWS), Internasjonal helse og sosial gruppe (IHSG) og Norge-Nepalforeningen, og er støttet av Oslo kommune, Velferdsetaten.
Datoer og Program:
📅 15. oktober: Identitet og tilhørighet. Hvor hører jeg til? Hvem er jeg? Hva er CCK/TCK (Cross-Cultural Kids/Third Culture Kids)?
📅 12. november: Flytting – Hvordan er opplevelsen av å flytte mellom land ulik for voksne og barn? Hva vil det si å «lande» i et nytt land? Skal man «lande», og hvor lang tid tar det evt.? Hvor er hjemme når man vokser opp et annet sted enn der foreldrene vokste opp?
📅 17. desember: Kjønn – roller og forventninger, friheter og begrensninger
Hvordan skal man som forelder forholde seg til et nytt land med andre verdier knyttet til kjønn? Hvilke verdier har man egentlig med seg, og hva er verdiene i samfunnet man lever i? Hva kan være fordeler med å bli kjent med barne- og ungdomskulturen og forstå mer av kjønnsrollene og hvilke grenser de unge utforsker?
Arrangementene finner sted på Furuset, Oslo – Furuset bibliotek FUBIAK- Hagerupsalen 2.etasje kl 18: 00-20:30
Påmelding: Det er 25 plasser, og påmelding skjer ved å sende en epost til post@norge-nepal.no, eller post@irws.no . Påmeldingsfrist er mandag 14. oktober kl. 20.00. Ved spørsmål kan dere kontakte Raja Khuram Iqbal på tlf: 95434343
Cross-Cultural Lives – Identity, Belonging, and Relocation
Today, many people have experience moving between countries and cultures. What do these shifts do to us as individuals? How is cross-cultural relocation different at various stages of life? How do we figure out who we are when everything around us changes? In what way is a cross-cultural background a resource for the family, the job market, and society?
In this series of events, we put the topic of cross-cultural upbringing on the agenda. The target audience is adults, and parents of teenagers are particularly welcome. We welcome both those who have personal experience with cross-cultural identity, who live in a cross-cultural environment, and those who work in contexts with great diversity. The events will offer many reflections on how relocation has affected you and who you are today. Many find it helpful and clarifying to ask these questions and to hear how others with similar backgrounds describe it.
The goal is to open up a process where you can become more familiar with yourself, your identity and life story, your resources, and your children’s cross-cultural lives. The program will alternate between presentations of the topic and reflection exercises. There will be time to share your own thoughts and listen to others’ experiences.
The events will be based on Flexid, a course concept for people growing up cross-culturally. Flexid stands for «flexible identity.» The course is particularly tailored to young people. In this autumn’s events, you will get a taste of the course content.
Presentations by Chaplain Jurek Laub, Deacon Eldrid Brekke, General Practitioner Raja Khuram Iqbal, Psychologist Laila Mukhtar, and Psychologist Ingunn Dreyer Ødegaard.
The events are a collaboration between Islamabad Rawalpindi Welfare Society (IRWS), International Health and Social Group (IHSG), and the Norway-Nepal Association, and are supported by the City of Oslo, Welfare Department.
Dates and Program:
📅 October 15: Identity and Belonging. Where do I belong? Who am I? What are CCK/TCK (Cross-Cultural Kids/Third Culture Kids)?
📅 November 12: Relocation – How is the experience of moving between countries different for adults and children? What does it mean to «settle» in a new country? Should one «settle,» and how long does it take? Where is home when you grow up somewhere other than where your parents did?
📅 December 17: Gender – Roles and Expectations, Freedoms and Limitations
What values do we carry with us, and what are the values of the society we live in? As a parent, how should one relate to a new country with different values regarding gender? What are the benefits of getting to know youth culture and understanding more about gender roles and the boundaries young people explore?
The events will take place at Furuset, Oslo – Furuset Library FUBIAK – Hagerupsalen, 2nd floor, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.
Registration: There are 25 spots available, and registration is done by sending an email to post@norge-nepal.no or post@irws.no. The registration deadline is Monday, October 14, at 8:00 PM. For questions, please contact Raja Khuram Iqbal at phone: 95434343.
De siste årene har fotojournaliststudenter ved Oslo Met reist til Nepal for å gjøre prosjektarbeid. Reisen er fast innhold på studiets siste år, og dette er studentenes avsluttende oppgave på bachelorutdanningen. Resultatet av prosjektene er mange individuelle presentasjoner og en bildebok.
På denne Nepalkvelden presenterer to av fjorårets studenter sine prosjekter:
Isabel Svendsen Berge har laget en konseptuell fotoserie som tar for seg hvordan det er å være skeiv i Nepal. Prosjektet belyser også HIVs rolle blant landets LGBTQ+ befolkning, hvor så mange som 10-14% er smittet.
Martin Solhaug Standal sitt prosjekt handler om gårder i Nepal. Flere og flere gårder blir forlatt. Samtidig er landets økonomi avhengig av landbruket, som bidrar mest til BNP.
Tidspunkt: Onsdag 17. april kl. 19.00 Sted: Oppsal samfunnshus, Vetlandsveien 99. Ankomst: med T-bane til Oppsal T eller buss til Oppsal senter. Gateparkering for dem som kommer med bil.
Arrangementet gjennomføres på engelsk.
Velkommen til en kveld hvor det settes lys på viktige samtidstemaer i Nepal!
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
In recent years, photojournalism students at Oslo Met have traveled to Nepal to do project work. The trip is a regular part of the final year of study, and this is the students’ final assignment on their bachelor’s degree. The results of the projects are many individual presentations and a book with photos.
At this event, two of last year’s students present their projects:
Isabel Svendsen Berge has created a conceptual photo series that looks at what it’s like to be queer in Nepal. The project also shed light on the role of HIV among the country’s LGBTQ+ population, where as many as 10-14% are infected.
Martin Solhaug Standal’s project is about farms in Nepal. More and more farms are being abandoned. At the same time, the country’s economy is dependent on agriculture, which contributes the most to GDP.
Time: Wednesday 17 April at 19.00 Location: Oppsal community center, Vetlandsveien 99. Arrival: by subway to Oppsal T or bus to Oppsal centre. Street parking for those arriving by car.
The event will be in English.
Welcome to an evening that give us perspectives on important contemporary themes in Nepali society!
Norge-Nepalforeningen 