Protest against pressured daycare institutions:– We demand action now

Prams are pushed back and forth rhythmically in the rain. 

Children play on large piles of snow left by the winter, while Evannguaq Cortzen takes the floor in front of the large and somewhat atypical, demonstrating crowd.

- We have had enough of the conditions for children and staff in daycare institutions. Everyday life for the staff has become pure survival. It has been going on for many years, and now we demand action, Evannguaq Cortzen asserts through the slightly scratchy loudspeaker.

The turnout is large and the message is unmistakable. The poor conditions for pedagogical staff in the country must be improved. Not tomorrow. Not in six months. Right now.

Evannguaq Cortzen, together with two other parents at the Nukariit daycare institution, are the initiators of the demonstration. Sermitsiaq described last week how the daycare center is short of 16 out of 29 employees, and that was the last straw, says Evannguaq Cortzen.

The politicians and those responsible must do something to change the urgent situation.

When there are no hands, the children suffer

One of those who has turned up for the demonstration is Rasmus Isaksen, who is studying to become a teacher.

He stands shoulder to shoulder with his fellow students in the crowd in front of Amisut in Nuuk's city center.

They are here because they are passionate about their profession and look forward to working with children, but also because they insist that it should be done under proper conditions.

He knows that there is a great shortage of employees, and has experienced it firsthand during his visits to various daycare centers in connection with his studies.

But first and foremost he is here for the children.

- I think the conditions should be better and the salary higher. It's about the children. I am convinced that a salary increase will encourage more people to apply for work in daycare institutions. Every time there is an election, people talk about the lack of "warm hands" - and that is us. We should have better conditions, says Rasmus Isaksen.

Ten meters from Rasmus Isaksen stands Panik Kleemann. She is the mother of a child in a daycare institution and feels for herself in everyday life how the pedagogical staff is pressured.

- I am here because nothing has been done about the great staff shortage for a long time, she says.

The demonstrators are standing closely surrounded by signs and voices that mix in the cool Nuuk air. Around her, other parents nod in recognition, while the conversation turns to everyday life in the daycare institutions.

As a mother of a child in daycare, Panik Kleemann has experienced firsthand that stable staff are only present for short periods. One day, when she was supposed to drop her child off at daycare, there was no staff at all, and when she went up to drop her off at kindergarten instead, there was only one staff member.

- It doesn't feel safe as a parent. I admire the staff for working under those conditions, she says.

Panik also experiences firsthand how the lack of staff has consequences for her child's development.

- For example, the children don't go outside, even when the weather is good, and the activities are reduced due to the lack of staff, she says.

Evannguaq Cortzen guides the demonstration towards Katuaq. Children jump in the large puddles in the square in front of the cultural center, where the crowd stands in silence and waits.

Out of Katuaq, where May Day celebrations have taken place, first one politician comes, then another, and finally politicians from all parties stand and listen to the frustrated demonstrators' message.

Proposal for minimum standards

Mayor of Sermersooq Municipality, Avaaraq Olsen, is the first politician to grab the microphone.

She says that the problem, unfortunately, has been going on for many years, and that she herself has experienced it up close, as she has previously had her own child with her to work.

- I agree with you. I believe that there needs to be more action. Both from the municipality, the parents and the staff. We need to talk together and jointly point out possible solutions, says the mayor. Although she emphasizes the need for action, it remains unclear what specific initiatives are needed to solve the problems in the day care institutions.

Naalakkersuisoq for children, youth, the justice sector and gender equality, Mariane Paviasen Jensen, also takes the floor and expresses understanding for the serious situation.

She points to a proposal for the Inatsisartut spring session to introduce minimum standards of four employees per room in all day care institutions.

- We support that proposal in Naalakkersuisut, and we have adopted it. Even though the area is owned by the municipality, and we from Naalakkersuisut cannot directly get involved, we are open to cooperation with the municipality. Because it is everyone's responsibility that children have good conditions, she says. There is sporadic applause.

Want to see action now

Several of the speakers focus on how important it is to do something for the country's future. Our children, it is said.

Parents and educational staff listen attentively to the politicians' speeches, but their looks also tell a different story - a story that at one point is also shouted out loud by some demonstrators: Enough is enough.

Between signs and raincoats, educational staff with many years of experience stand side by side. Hands that have lifted, comforted and organized the everyday lives of the city's children for decades are now raised in protest. The atmosphere is calm but serious.

Evannguaq Cortzen rounds off the day with a demand for action.

- We are here to send a clear message. We demand that the pedagogical staff who take care of our children receive better conditions. We demand that there be proposals for concrete solutions that can alleviate the problem before the spring session is over, she says.

The square in front of Katuaq is emptied and signs are packed up in the rain. The politicians are retreating into Katuaq. Tomorrow the educational staff will once again try to keep a busy everyday life together.