Unaccompanied children and young people engaged in education and leisure activities

At the beginning of 2020, the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður received a 4 million króna grant from the Ministry of Social Affairs to implement a professional service and a project for unaccompanied minors who come to the country seeking international protection. Two municipalities are currently responsible for these individuals, and there has been a lack of resources to meet their needs beyond certain basic obligations. The project, which includes personal and tailored guidance, will be available to all unaccompanied children and young people who are applicants for international protection in 2020.

The number of unaccompanied children arriving in the country in search of international protection has been increasing in recent years, and it is important to address their needs as well as their physical and mental well-being. It is likely that the issue of refugee children will become even more prominent in the future. The Immigration Authority has extensive operations in Hafnarfjörður, where a reception centre is run in the municipality. The practice has been to bring unaccompanied children to the centre in Hafnarfjörður, and subsequently, the child protection services of Hafnarfjörður are contacted for services and support for this group of asylum seekers. „We want to find ways to better equip unaccompanied children to cope with Icelandic conditions and the environment while their cases are being processed. These individuals need encouragement and attention from the outset so that they become good and valued members of society who understand the boundaries and the culture.“ says Ægir Örn Sigurgeirsson, Manager of Refugee and Asylum Seeker Affairs at Hafnarfjörður Municipality.

Waiting time for a decision on protection is used for education and activities for learning and leisure.

^{Rannveig Einarsdóttir, Head of the Family and Children's Services Department for the City of Hafnarfjörður, and Jón Halldórsson, Managing Director of KVAN, have signed a new partnership agreement.}

A new project aims to better prepare individuals for life and use the waiting time for a decision on their protection claim for education and activities for learning and leisure. The City of Hafnarfjörður has joined forces with When will you be back? on specialised resources for the group. Thus, When will you be back? During the year, each unaccompanied child and young person receives personalised advice and services, which include an initial assessment and diagnosis, and appropriate subsequent education where participants are targeted training in specific competency areas that contribute to improved quality of lifeskills and facilitate integration into Icelandic society. Examples of the skills that are developed include daily routines, the importance of exercise, basic cooking skills, personal hygiene, social skills, communication, financial management, creative arts, community orientation, Icelandic culture, leisure activities and public transport, to name but a few. „This is a pilot project which will hopefully become something bigger and better. Looking to the future, it is necessary to develop a procedure and ensure a coordinated reception and service for this group from the moment they arrive in the country until their case is finally resolved. This work requires active and interdisciplinary cooperation from all relevant parties.“ Ægir says at last. 

^{An agreement for cooperation between the City of Hafnarfjörður and KVAN was signed at Hafnarborg. In the picture are Rannveig Einarsdóttir, Director of the Family and Child Welfare Department of the City of Hafnarfjörður, Bogi Hallgrímsson, project manager and coach at KVAN, Ægir Örn Sigurgeirsson, Head of the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Department at Hafnarfjörður Municipality, and Jón Halldórsson, Managing Director and coach at KVAN.  Also pictured is Sossa Eyþórsdóttir, a trainer and consultant at KVAN, who, together with Bogi, is providing training and personal counselling to a group of unaccompanied children in Hafnarfjörður this year.}   

All information about KVAN can be found on the association's website.