2024-10-31 10:50:00
Juliana Mattson, a 22-year-old from Rhode Island, arrived in Norway in early August as a recent college graduate eager to learn more about sustainable agriculture through the Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) initiative.
The initiative aims to promote educational and cultural exchange around the world, with program participants staying on host farms to learn more about eco-friendly farming practices.
She signed up for the program as a gift to herself for graduating with a degree in sustainable development science, and after discovering she had Norwegian ancestry through a DNA test, she opted for Norway as the first stop on her journey.
“I decided that I’m going to go to Norway because I’m Norwegian and I want to, you know, connect with my roots there, see if something works, see if I like it, as well as further my education since I just graduated,” Juliana said at The Local.
He chose to stay on a farm run by Toni and Victoria Poleo in Eidskog, Innlandet County, on the border between Norway and Sweden and about an hour and a half’s drive from Oslo.
However, after just three days, police officers showed up at the farm and demanded to see the passports of all visitors.
“It was scary. I had no idea what was happening because everyone around me spoke Norwegian. It was just strange, I didn’t really understand what was happening,” Juliana said.
After police asked to see Juliana’s whereabouts and to take a look at her passport, officers informed her that she would be questioned in connection with a deportation case against her.
“I was scared because I didn’t speak the language and everything was done through an interpreter over the phone,” she said.
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A week after she was first questioned by police, officers returned to the farm and took her to Gardermoen Airport, where she was put on a flight and deported for breaking immigration law.
Norwegian immigration laws do not allow citizens without a valid residence permit or right of residence (as through EEA freedom of movement rules) to carry out any form of work, paid or unpaid, and Juliana’s stay via WWOOF was considered volunteer work.
“A foreigner who intends to work in Norway with or without pay, or who wishes to undertake business activities in Norway, generally must have a residence permit granting the right to work or undertake business activities.
“In this context, ‘work’ is understood broadly as an activity that represents value creation. Value creation can be material or ideal. It doesn’t take much for an activity to be considered work. In this case, after a concrete assessment, UDI assumed that Juliana’s activity on the farm should be considered work,” said Bjørn Risberg, head of the control unit at the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). . The venue.
As well as being deported from Norway, Juliana was banned from entering the Schengen area for two years and as a result had to cancel trips to Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome and Florence.
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Juliana had checked the WWOOF and UDI websites before her trip and believed that her tourist visa would cover her as she thought her trip might be classified as tourist.
“I didn’t really understand the gravity of something like that. I didn’t understand that it would be such a big deal that would justify what happened. But it was,” he said.
“So, I wish the seriousness of this was made clearer sooner,” Juliana added.
Paradoxical rules and lack of common sense
Toni, a scientist and associate professor at the Inner Norway University of Applied Sciences, has been hosting WWOOF since 2013. He said he sees the initiative as a cultural exchange rather than a work volunteering programme.
“For us it is absolutely about educational and cultural exchange. And my wife Victoria, she’s a teacher too. So, I mean, I think it’s deep within our bodies to be teachers and mentors,” Toni told The Local.
In addition to those staying during the WWOOF, the farm is also visited by students pursuing their bachelor’s and master’s projects, as well as doctoral students, and the learning was often a mix of practice and theory adapted to the specific interests of the visitors.
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The problem is that WWOOF doesn’t allow hosts to pay visitors according to its statute, making it impossible for those outside the Schengen area to get a work permit to help on the farm.
“So, I mean, they come here, they help out, basically to learn, but they help out. And they do it in exchange for room and board. And this is the system. So, what we thought was fine was that, okay, then you can, I mean, you can come here as a tourist and do the same thing. And that’s what she (Juliana) did,” Toni said.
He said the fact that two other people on the farm at the same time as Juliana were allowed to stay because they were French and Norwegian created a “paradox”.
“It’s a paradox. They (the authorities) say that Juliana works, and then she is kicked out (of Norway), and the reason for that is that when we have people working for us like that, it means that we are not paying taxes to the state and undermining the system fiscal (in the eyes of the authorities),” Toni said.
Announcement
“And it’s so ridiculous because French and Norwegian visitors also do the same things, and they (the authorities) don’t seem to care about all the taxes we’re (allegedly) not paying when it comes to them,” he added.
After deportation, Juliana sought free legal advice and was told that she would be entitled to legal assistance to appeal the UDI’s decision.
His lawyer, Kristoffer Klausen, said the UDI’s decision lacked “common sense.”
“In my opinion the expulsion is clearly disproportionate and demonstrates a lack of common sense. Unfortunately, we have seen multiple decisions of a similar nature and believe our legislators should investigate the current practice more thoroughly,” he told The Local.
“It is in everyone’s interest that illegal work is treated severely. However, it is disconcerting to me that immigration authorities classify volunteering on a farm as illegal work. Especially where there is no evidence to suggest malicious intent,” he added.
#Juliana #deported #Norway #volunteering
Interviewer (Time.news Editor): Welcome, everyone! Today, we have a unique perspective on the intersection of sustainable agriculture and immigration policies. I’m here with Toni Poleo, an associate professor and a dedicated WWOOF host in Norway. Toni, thank you for joining us today!
Toni Poleo: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to discuss our experience and the challenges we face.
Interviewer: Let’s start with Juliana Mattson’s recent experience. She arrived in Norway eager to learn about sustainable agriculture but was unfortunately deported due to immigration laws. What was your initial reaction when the police questioned her?
Toni: When the police showed up, I was just as confused and worried as Juliana. We welcome WWOOFers to our farm mainly for cultural exchange and education, not to exploit them for labor. I thought our arrangement was compliant with tourism laws.
Interviewer: It’s interesting how that viewpoint differs from the legal interpretation. The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration characterized her voluntary work on the farm as a legal violation. How did that clash affect your understanding of the regulations surrounding WWOOF?
Toni: It’s indeed a paradox. We see our work with WWOOF as mentorship, and I’ve always believed that a cultural exchange should be an extension of tourism. But on a legal level, it complicates things when it’s seen as work. We want to educate and share, yet the laws don’t seem to accommodate that kind of hand-in-hand learning environment.
Interviewer: Juliana mentioned that she had checked the WWOOF and UDI websites, believing her tourist visa would suffice. Do you feel that the guidelines could be clearer for participants from outside the Schengen area?
Toni: Absolutely. Clearer guidelines would make a significant difference. I think many participants enter with the intention of learning and receiving knowledge, not engaging in labor. If there was greater awareness of the implications of immigration laws, fewer people would face unfortunate consequences like Juliana did.
Interviewer: Your farm has hosted numerous WWOOFers, including students working on various academic projects. How do you balance educational pursuits while ensuring compliance with the law?
Toni: It’s challenging, particularly because our methodology is inherently hands-on. We teach by doing, which can be misconstrued. We’ve had to become much more careful about how we structure these experiences and ensure everyone involved is aware of their legal standing. We also encourage participants to come in as tourists, but as Juliana’s case shows, the definition of work can be broad.
Interviewer: Let’s talk about the implications of Juliana’s deportation. She had to cancel interactions in various European cities due to her ban from the Schengen area. What do you think the broader repercussions are for cultural exchange initiatives like WWOOF after such incidents?
Toni: Every incident like this casts a shadow over cultural exchange initiatives. It discourages potential participants who may fear legal repercussions over something that should be as simple as encouraging learning and sharing practices. Additionally, it can foster misunderstanding about the beautiful connections people can make across cultures. We miss out on diverse knowledge when we allow fear to govern educational opportunities.
Interviewer: How do you suggest we enhance understanding between governments and organizations like WWOOF to facilitate these important exchanges?
Toni: Open dialogue is crucial. Governments must understand the spirit of these initiatives—it’s not about replacing local labor but rather fostering friendship, mentorship, and shared knowledge. Meanwhile, organizations need to advocate for clearer regulations that support these cultural experiences rather than hinder them.
Interviewer: Those are insightful points, Toni. As we conclude, what message do you want potential WWOOF participants to take away from Juliana’s experience?
Toni: I want them to know that while the journey may come with unexpected challenges, the spirit of learning and connection is invaluable. Always check regulations thoroughly, but never let fear prevent you from seeking knowledge and cultural exchange. It is a two-way street, and together, we can make it work better for everyone involved.
Interviewer: Thank you, Toni, for shedding light on this important debate. We appreciate your insights, and hopefully, we can encourage a more understanding approach to educational exchanges in the future.
Toni: Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these critical issues!