Discuss youth work in different European countries
A group of around 15 people, working with young people in Europe, visited the City of Hafnarfjörður today. It is important to promote democratic participation among young people.
International cooperation in Hafnarfjörður
A group of around 15 people, who work with young people in Europe, visited the town of Hafnarfjörður today. The staff learnt about the town's youth work while also sharing about their own work. The group gave and received advice. This is an Erasmus project.
Mayor Valdimar Víðisson led the tour and thanked the group for their interest and attendance. Stella Björg Kristinsdóttir, Manager of Leisure Activities and Prevention, spoke about the youth work and prevention programmes. Þórunn Þórarinsdóttir, project manager for the Child-Friendly Municipality and supervisor of the Hafnarfjörður Youth Council, spoke about the brand-new recognition, as the town of Hafnarfjörður is now a child-friendly municipality.
Visiting the capital region
The international group will be staying longer and will be travelling further afield around the capital region. They will be visiting, among other places, the Innovation Centre at Lækinn. Not only are these European staff looking at youth work, but they are also learning about democracy and young people, and how best to engage them in society.
The mayor touched on this very point in his speech. „The project you are working on to promote democratic participation among young people is very close to my heart. Before I became mayor, I worked for 20 years as a primary school headteacher. During those years, I saw every day how important it is to give young people a voice, to listen to them and to encourage them to take part in shaping their community. Young people are not just the future, but an important part of the present,“ he told the group.
It is important to share the experience
Representatives of the City of Hafnarfjörður say it is important to share their experience and look at the issue from different perspectives. The people are from many countries; Denmark, Norway, Greece and Germany. It is important to be in such a conversation, to pick up on their ideas and to hear what they are doing.“
Valdimar thanked the group for coming. „I believe that our interaction will not only lead to good ideas, but also to new connections and friendships across borders,“ he said.
„I wish you a good meeting and a pleasant time in Hafnarfjörður.“