Caritas St. Laurentius
We offer guidance to immigrants, as well as courses in Norwegian and social studies.
If you are new to Norway, you can get useful information about welfare and rights, obligations, immigration, work, housing, health and social services. We also provide information about educational opportunities and leisure activities, and offer practical help with filling in documents and forms.
Caritas St. Laurentius has cooperation agreements with lawyers and psychologists, and can offer discounts to those who use these services.
You can reach us at the following times:
- Telephone only: Monday – Thursday: at 12.00 – 18.00
- In the office: Monday at 15.00 – 18.00 and Wednesday 15.00 – 17.00
If courses/gatherings are held on other dates, this will be agreed with the participants directly.
Visiting address: Sigurds vei 2, 3043 Drammen
Postal address: Pb9627 Fjellhagen, 3065 Drammen
Access: Bus 3 towards Fjell to Austad
E-mail: cardrammen@gmail.com
Telephone: + 47 906 85 691 / 482 18 048 / 971 21 800
Our courses and activities:
Caritas St. Laurentius is currently working on planning activities for 2025. Dates will be posted here when they are set, so stay tuned. Please contact us by email or phone if you have any questions.
This is a low-threshold course in Norwegian conversation, with room for individual guidance. We will facilitate a safe and inclusive learning environment where participants feel comfortable and encouraged to participate actively.
Time: Thursdays 5:00 PM-8:00 PM
Location: Austad Gård, Sigurds gate 2 (Bus 3 (Mountain) to Austad)
Course A1:
Start: Tuesday 18 March at 17.00-20.00
Location: Sigurds gate 2, 3043 Drammen. (Austad farm)
Access: Bus 3 direction Fjell, Austad stop
Registration: cardrammen@gmail.com
Duration
The course is held physically and runs over 11 evenings, 1 day per week and 3 hours each time, for a total of 33 hours.
Price
The course costs NOK 1000,-, which must be paid via Vipps 577779 and marked with your name.
Learning objectives
After completing the course, participants should be at Norwegian level A1, based on prior knowledge and course progression. The course is based on learning objectives from the curriculum for Norwegian and social studies for adult immigrants for levels A1. Learning objective A1: Understand and use familiar, everyday expressions and very simple statements about oneself and close relationships. The participant can participate in routine conversations in a simple way, if the conversation partner speaks slowly and clearly and is willing to help.
Target group
Labor immigrants and other refugees who have little or no knowledge of Norwegian.
The course is particularly aimed at newly arrived labor immigrants who need to learn basic Norwegian to improve their chances on the Norwegian labor market and acquire knowledge about Norwegian society.
Learning resources
Textbooks used are:
- Elisabeth Ellingsen and Kirsti MacDonald: "On the Way" text book
- Elisabeth Ellingsen and Kirsti MacDonald: "Workbook" that belongs in the textbook
At level A1, you go through the first half of the book/booklet.
Evaluation method
Participants will be given an evaluation form on the last evening of the course. This must be filled out before they leave the venue.
On the conversation Saturdays we talk about different topics, related to Norwegian culture, society, habits and traditions or to other countries and cultures. The goal is for the participants to practice spoken Norwegian and become familiar with different topics. This is also a good opportunity to get to know others and have social contact.
We serve something to drink and eat, and sometimes we have something extra good with food from other countries.
The activity is free and open to everyone, both men and women of all ages.
Time: Saturdays 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Austad Gård, Sigurds gate 2 (Bus 3 (Mountain) to Austad)
Start: Saturday, February 15, 2025
This is a gathering where people meet to socialize, speak Norwegian and learn something new.
The activity is primarily aimed at single mothers, women with children in kindergarten or school, and women in general who feel lonely and want to meet other people.
Here you will learn needlework such as knitting and crocheting, and we will make various decorations with flowers, paper and other materials that can be used for parties and holidays.
Mothers in the City Center is primarily aimed at women, but men are also welcome. The activity is free, and we serve something to drink and eat.
Time: Tuesdays 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: The Library, Cappelens gate 1
We offer help and support to older people living alone, who often feel depressed and lonely. We have visiting services and social gatherings for lonely, elderly people and their families.
Those who wish can be brought to the church for church services, church coffee or other social events.
Caritas in Drammen can also help with other relevant and practical information related to this group. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to talk to us.
This is an offer for people who are staying in Norway illegally.
Relevant candidates will be put in contact with the legal team at Caritas Norway, who will make a professional assessment of the case. The final decision is made by Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
For you between 7 and 20 years old. You will learn how to write a script, record a film on your mobile phone, edit and show the film. You will also get to participate in a film festival.
Time: Fridays 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (nine times)
Location: Austad Gård, Sigurds gate 2 (Bus 3 (Mountain) to Austad)
Caritas St. Laurentius believes in volunteering as an altruistic activity and that each person is unique and created by God with talents and abilities.
Volunteers are important resources in our association because their work makes a big difference for everyone who needs help to solve problems and crises they have been affected by.
Through volunteering, people can give something back to society and at the same time give themselves a new sense of purpose, learn something new, meet new friends and gain new experiences.
Caritas St. Laurentius welcomes new volunteers with different backgrounds and experience. We are looking for volunteers who can contribute with:
- English lessons
- Healthcare education/experience
- Solving problems related to living in a foreign country
- Knowledge of the labor market and finding housing.
- Interpreting services, especially in Polish, Russian, Lithuanian, Arabic and French.
Please contact us if you would like to volunteer at Caritas St. Laurentius.
As a voluntary organization, Caritas St. Laurentius is dependent on money to finance its work. We are grateful for all contributions.
If you would like to make a donation, you can do so directly to our bank account 2480 35 99668.
We also have VIPPS! Use reference number 577779