Anna invites you – empowering women of foreign origin

The project 'Anna invites you' was launched by
Zonta Club Sunna in Hafnarfjörður. Zonta Club Sunna wanted to contribute financial support to a project aimed at empowering women of foreign origin. This led to the project 'Anna býður þér', which organises a variety of monthly events and get-togethers from September to May. Participation and the programme are free of charge and open to all who identify as female, from all countries of the world, including Iceland. The main benefit for participants is forming new connections, whilst gaining new knowledge and skills in a warm environment and good company. 

Opportunity for empowerment and personal development 

The project has yielded very good results.
In practice, this has opened up opportunities for those who attend the events for personal empowerment and development, such as leading workshops and walks organised by the library and the town. The project itself has evolved and been shaped by the participants themselves. In addition, the project managers are, in a sense, a source of information for
any question that arises in discussions at meet-ups, whether it concerns
facilities for art exhibitions, dance classes, baby swimming courses or as an addition to
driving licence, to name but a few. 

A grant from the Library Fund intended to further strengthen Anna's community. 

Recently, the City of Hafnarfjörður and the Hafnarfjörður Public Library were awarded
it is an honour to receive a grant from the Library Fund to keep the project going. The grant is an important recognition of the good work that has been done and
will come in handy to further strengthen Anna's community. The programme after the summer holidays will resume in full swing on 24 September. Everyone
Events are advertised on the Hafnarfjörður Library's Facebook page and on the website.
of the town. There is also a special group on Facebook: Anna's ladies

^{Hugrún Margrét Óladóttir, Head of the Children's and Young People's Department at Hafnarfjörður Library, and Ólafía Björk Ívarsdóttir, Multicultural Project Manager for the City of Hafnarfjörður, are in charge of the Anna Community and recently received a grant from the Library Fund. Here with Sigrún Guðnadóttir, Director of the Hafnarfjörður Library.} 

Examples of hits that have
to take place:

• Guidance and workshop
  in Hafnarborg
• Macramé
• Axe Throwing at Widegate Field
• Cultural walk through
  Guided tour of Hafnarfjörður
• Watercolouring
• Introduction and guidance on
  The learning game: Turn
• Shadow Theatre Workshop

Why Anna?

When it came to finding a name for the project, it was important that
it would be accessible to everyone. Anna is a very internationalised name, in addition to which it means in
in itself woman. Furthermore, the title honours the first head of the Library.
of Hafnarfjörður, Anna Guðmundsdóttir, who was a pioneer in
in the Icelandic library sector. For example, she was the first woman to hold such a position.
In a leading role, he introduced the first children's and music departments and was at the forefront.
for the establishment of the Icelandic Librarians' Association. Anna Guðmundsdóttir also held events
at the library, a remarkably artistic and worldly woman, a graphic artist and
Graphic designer/teacher alongside his role as head of the library.