HiMolde and project “Friluftsliv tilrettelagt for utviklingshemmede” organizing an outdoor event at Hollingsholm Gård. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger
HiMolde and project “Friluftsliv tilrettelagt for utviklingshemmede” organizing an outdoor event at Hollingsholm Gård. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger

International students living the Norwegian dugnad spirit

AUKRA (Panorama): Monday, 24 students from HiMolde dedicated some of their time to help organizing an entertaining event for people with developmental disabilities.

By RAPHAELA OSSBERGER (text & photos)

“Dugnad” – a typical Norwegian word without a clean definition, but as soon as you as a newcomer to Norway engage in the social life here, you know what it means – and you realize that it is actually a really precious habit. (See: Dugnad/Wiktionary)

The red-green horde getting some final instructions. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger
The red-green horde getting some final instructions. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger

This semester’s Erasmus students, and some international master’s students, got the chance to experience the dugnad spirit at Hollingsholm Gård outside Molde, where the project team of ”Friluftsliv tilrettelagt for utviklingshemmede” (“Outdoor life designed for persons with developmental disabilities”) around Anne Botslangen and Eirik Dahl organized the third event this year.

The ESN members ready to welcome the guests at Hollingsholm Gård. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger
The ESN members ready to welcome the guests at Hollingsholm Gård. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger

Usually, they organize an event for people with disabilities once a month and thereby provide them some joyful hours out in the nature around Molde. The project is a cooperation of the Molde and Romsdal trekking association (DNT), the Norwegian Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (NFU), the Friluftsrådet Nordmøre and Romsdal and HiMolde.

A curious Norwegian goat discovering its international visitors. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger
A curious Norwegian goat discovering its international visitors. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger

Initially, ESN was asked to provide five or six students who were willing to help organizing this event. In the end, an impressive number of 24 of them showed up to set up a variety of outdoor activities such as boccia ball, horseshoe throwing and lassoing a cone.

“Just say ‘Hei!’ and smile!”

With that advice, Anne took all the doubts from the students about the language barrier when it came to interacting with the guests. But just after an initial and passionate tug of war, all inhibitions were gone. Since Hollingsholm Gård is a farm with lots of animals, ranging from chicken to sheep and horses, petting animals was definitely one of the highlights of the day for the participants, as well as for the international students. Live music played by French students and some hot chocolate and juice made the event a very pleasant and enjoyable evening.

HiMolde student showing how to throw a lasso. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger
HiMolde student showing how to throw a lasso. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger

More than 150 people literally turned Hollingsholm Gård into a big playground.

“So many happy participants – this is a new record”, Anne delightedly resumed after their first event at the farm – and probably not the last one.

French students entertaining the guests at Hollingsholm Gård. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger
French students entertaining the guests at Hollingsholm Gård. Photo: Raphaela Ossberger