LIETUVIŲ IMIGRANTŲ VAIKŲ INTEGRACIJOS PROBLEMOS NORVEGIJOJE [INTEGRATION PROBLEMS OF LITHUANIAN IMMIGRANTS' CHILDREN IN NORWAY]

The regaining of Lithuania's independence has broadly opened its borders to emigration of compatriots. Various reasons make Lithuanians leave their homeland and look for happiness abroad. Recently, more and more people are discussing about Lithuanian families' immigration to Scandinavian countries, and in particular to Norway. Therefore, the problem of this article is based on the notion, that the families of Lithuanian emigrants and their children who are in a foreign country, in a foreign social environment, must adapt and integrate. However the problems they face require not only help of family members and other relatives, but also state intervention and assistance which is not is always effective or insufficiently implemented to provide full benefits to immigrants. On the other hand, it can be assumed that immigrants are not sufficiently interested to get the benefits from the assistance and services that those institutions can provide. Therefore, this study examined the main problems of the integration of Lithuanian immigrant children in Norway and what actions of Lithuanian immigrants are leading to successful integration of their children. Experiences of the study of the integration of Lithuanian emigrant families and children in Norway revealed that at the beginning of integration, despite immigration positivity's (a better education system, better perspectives for the future of children), problems such as language barriers, negative attitudes towards them, ignorance of the functioning of the social system are encountered. These problems could be avoided by the need to learn the Norwegian language quickly, using relatives, friends and neighbors and local communities, actively communicating and cooperating with educational institutions, participation in public life and the support of certain state social institutions.