Well-being Week: Bridge-builders – our cultural mediators
Bridge Builders are cultural mediators in the Hafnarfjörður community. They help parents of foreign origin to navigate the Icelandic school system for their children. They also assist with registrations and the organisation of after-school activities.
The bridge builders have helped many.
The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður has three bridge-builders who help parents with a foreign background to settle into Icelandic society. The three mediators are Elizabeth López Arriaga, Freyja Maria Cabrera and Rima Alhakeem. They all speak Spanish, Arabic and English. The cultural mediators also use interpreters if needed for other languages.
The community of Hafnarfjörður has undergone significant changes in recent years and has become increasingly diverse. Over 16% of the town's residents are of foreign origin. This development calls for targeted and professional resources to ensure equal access, participation and well-being for all residents. The bridge-builders have played a key role in this.
Among 30 measures for children's well-being
The Bridge Builders are one of nearly 30 resources to promote the well-being of children in Hafnarfjörður. Well-being Week is currently taking place in the capital region. The aim is to draw parents' attention to the municipalities' new way of working, which is in the children's best interests. Various specialists now work together to ensure the children receive the right support at all times.
Bridge-builders work at the intersection of schools, leisure activities and families, providing invaluable support to children of foreign origin and their parents. They assist families in understanding Icelandic society and its service systems, provide information, break down linguistic and cultural barriers, and support parents in actively participating in their children's education and social life. This work builds trust, improves collaboration between families and institutions, and creates a safer environment for children.
Improved adjustment of children
The success of the work of the bridge-builders is reflected not only in improved child adjustment and increased family participation, but also in stronger social cohesion. When parents understand the system, feel welcome and trust the school and after-school provision, engagement increases, communication improves and the likelihood of marginalisation decreases. This has a positive impact on the community as a whole.
The excellent work of the bridge builders in Hafnarfjörður clearly shows that such a service is not a temporary project, but an essential pillar in a modern, multicultural municipality. Nurturing and strengthening this work is an investment in the children, families, and future of Hafnarfjörður.
- Parents and staff can contact the bridge-builders directly: bru@hafnarfjordur.is
Please state which language you require support in.
Caption: Rima Alhakeem and Freyja Maria Cabrera are our Hafnarfjörður bridge-builders.
