Young people from Hafnarfjörður took part in a twinning event in Finland.
A group of young people from Hafnarfjörður took part in a twinning event held in Finland recently. They strengthened friendship, communication and cooperation between countries.
Strengthen connections and knowledge
A group of young people from Hafnarfjörður took part in the twinning event Nordic Meeting 2026 – Nice to Meet Me, which took place in Hämeenlinna, Finland, from 20th to 25th April. The meeting is part of a Nordic twinning association where participants from the partner towns meet every two years to foster friendship, cultural exchange and cooperation on matters concerning the municipalities and their residents.
The theme of this year's event was the general well-being of young people, with an emphasis on getting to know themselves better, showing themselves care, and being considerate of those around them. It was based on the concept of Hand of Mental Health and the young people then took part in a variety of workshops, discussion groups and projects related to mental health and wellbeing.
The aim of the project was also to create a platform for young people to form new connections, get to know diverse cultures, make friends across borders and learn from one another.
Varied programme and strong participation
The week was packed and varied. The young people took part in sports and team-building games, cookery workshops where they prepared various dishes, discussions about dietary habits and health, outdoor activities and creative workshops.
Particular attention was drawn to a project where participants worked together to design and set up so-called rest stations. There, the groups used their imagination and created an environment that promotes calm, relaxation and well-being. The young people from Hafnarfjörður did exceptionally well.
The group also visited an art museum in Hämeenlinna where the participants worked on creative projects based on works of art and took part in workshops alongside youth leaders, officials and elected representatives from the participating municipalities.
The voice of young people is given weight
At the end of the week, a special discussion and consultation meeting was held where young people, local councillors and officials discussed the project's findings and how to make the challenges and needs of young people more visible in the local authorities.
On behalf of the Icelandic group, Unnar Ómar Viggósson gave a speech about the participants' experience of the project and their involvement in the competition. He and Helgi Rafn Egilsson also took part in a panel discussion with young people and elected representatives from other nations.
Cohesion and a positive experience
The young people were keen to get to know other participants, take an active part in the activities, and form new friendships.
„They were a great credit to the municipality, took an active part in all activities and showed a great interest in getting to know their peers from the other partner countries,“ says Þórunn Þórarinsdóttir, vProject Manager for the Child-Friendly Municipality and in charge of the Hafnarfjörður Youth Council.
The twinning event in Hämeenlinna was therefore both an educational and memorable experience, where participants had the opportunity to build new connections, strengthen their identity and discuss the importance of young people's mental health and well-being in a Nordic context, and return richer for the experience.
Twin towns in the Nordic Twin Towns Association meet regularly at twin town conventions, which are held every other year. The meetings consist of events by youth, sports and cultural groups from the towns, as well as conferences and seminars on the various common issues of the Nordic towns.
The representatives who went on the trip: Fjóla Huld Daðadóttir, Rakel Sunna Magnúsdóttir, Unnar Ómar Viggósson, Helgi Rafn Egilsson, Lilja Bergrós Kristjánsdóttir and Agnes Sigríður Magnúsdóttir.