People are the foundation of all cross-border cooperation. Interreg Aurora is happy to present the people and different professions working across borders with the aim to improve our daily lives.
Meet Gry Heggås Jensen, Manager Kirkens SOS Nord-Hålogaland
I´m a dedicated worker who wants to contribute to ensuring that the Sami population receives an equal health service as the rest of the Nordic population. I live in Tromsø in Norway. I´m a part of the Girku SOS project team, a cross-border collaboration between Kirkens SOS in Norway and Kyrkans SOS in Sweden. Girku SOS is a service run by volunteers whose purpose is to be there for all people who need someone to talk to when life is challenging.
Helpline service in Sami language
In the Interreg Aurora funded project Girku SOS the project partners and volunteers, have developed a helpline service in Northern Sami language. The volunteers know Sami language and they also have the cultural background. In this way, the project contributes to improving public health in Sápmi.
The project enhances the quality of life and promote social inclusion, addressing specific challenges faced by communities in Sápmi. This work is important because it fosters cooperation between neighboring regions to share knowledge, best practices, and resources, ultimately leading to better solutions.
Cross-border collaboration is both fulfilling and demanding
The best thing about working in an Interreg project, a cross-border project is the opportunity to collaborate with diverse groups of people and learn from diverse cultural perspectives. It creates a sense of unity and shared purpose across borders, helping to address common challenges more effectively. On the flip side, the worst challenge can be overcoming the logistical and bureaucratic hurdles of working across different legal frameworks, languages, and administrative systems, which can sometimes slow down the project’s progress.
Building stronger and more inclusive communities
“I am deeply committed to working towards creating stronger, more inclusive communities, and I believe that cross-border collaboration is the key to overcoming many of the challenges we face today. My wish for the future is to continue building bridges, fostering understanding, and ensuring that all individuals, especially those in marginalized communities, have access to the resources and support they need to thrive. Through our collective efforts, I believe we can create lasting, positive change for future generations.”
Learn more about the project Girku SOS and the project partners:
- Stiftelsen Kyrkans SOS
- Kirkens SOS Nord-Hålogaland
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