Hilde Genberg
27 March 2017
Norwegian B Teacher, Survivors of Conflict Programme, UWC Red Cross Nordic
In 2012, Hilde left a 12-year career as a local journalist to become a language teacher at UWC Red Cross Nordic. She teaches Norwegian B, gives evening classes in Norwegian for staff and supervises kayak activities. Furthermore, Hilde is a key person in the Survivors of Conflict Programme, where the College, together with the neighbouring Rehabilitation Centre, provide education and rehabilitation for youth with disabilities who come from conflict or post-conflict areas. A work day often includes teaching, communicating with health workers, finished with a hike with students in the beautiful, but often wet and cold surroundings.
Curiosity in encounters with people is an important motivation in Hilde’s life, and this is reflected in her academic and professional life. She studied Art and Communication in Nice, France, French and Journalism in Bergen and Stavanger, and did Teacher Training in Sogndal, Norway.
“Seeing how young people, with just a little help from people around them, find ways to deal with their disabilities and work for a better future, is incredibly inspiring to me. And I think they have a great impact on their peers, many of whom used to take access for granted, be it access to buildings, school, social settings, sports or health care.”