Autumn is the time to connect.

The youth centres in our local community

In her role as the subject manager for these areas, Stella B. Kristinsdóttir oversees and supervises the professional preventative and leisure activities taking place within the primary schools of the City of Hafnarfjörður. She travels widely in her role and works closely with the managers of leisure centres and youth clubs, the schools' parent-teacher associations and the Parents' Council of Hafnarfjörður, sports clubs, and all those involved in prevention, preventative education, and the municipality's leisure activities.

Stella was among the panellists at the brainstorming session 'We are the Village – the future is bright if we all want it', which was held last week at Bæjarbíó. Here, far right.

Stella was recently a guest contributor. Article in Fjarðarfréttir. We are also publishing this article here to mark the ongoing 2024 Week of Community Centres and Youth Halls.

Let's meet up and hang out at the youth centres.

Autumn is the time to connect. It's the time when we meet up with colleagues after a long summer holiday and pick up where we left off. It's so important to stay in touch with one another and maintain good relationships. Yes, to plug back in.

Participation in organised leisure and sports activities is a protective factor in the lives of children and young people. This applies to sports activities, youth club activities, music lessons or participation in community centre activities. I would like to remind you of the option to spend your free time in organised community centre activities. We are so fortunate to have youth clubs in our local community! Their role is to offer children and young people aged 10-16 a leisure activity programme that has preventative, educational and developmental value, and is tailored to their age and maturity.

In the work of youth clubs, staff place a strong emphasis on creating a unique culture and a safe environment with children and young people. Participation in the organised activities of youth centres and youth clubs with professional staff has important preventative value and increases the likelihood that young people will choose a healthy lifestyle and avoid risky behaviour. They offer recreational facilities and peer socialisation, alongside events both large and small. The emphasis is on engaging children and young people in the activities, and the programme is varied and developed with the young people themselves. Youth centres also carry out outreach work, both in their local area and jointly as part of the 'Götuvitan' project, which is a mobile youth centre.

Götuvitinn provides after-school activities in collaboration with parents' associations, but has also entered into a partnership with other municipalities in the greater capital area. Everyone is welcome at the youth club, and I encourage parents to look at the programme with their child, go along with them, or encourage them to use it as a place to meet up and hang out. Youth clubs are open in all schools on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the late afternoon and evening. The HHH Queer Youth Club is also open on Thursdays, and Music and Motor is open every weekday from 5 pm to 10 pm.

Find out about the work of the youth centres.

Thanks, Stella, and all your good people!

We are the village: The future is bright if we all want it. 

Find out about the work of the youth centres.

Youth Club and Youth Centre Week 2024 takes place from 14th to 18th October..Parents, guardians, siblings and other interested parties are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the activities of youth clubs and youth centres in Hafnarfjörður and to encourage their children and young people to take an active part.