Often young people's first experience of paid work
The Hafnarfjörður Work Experience Programme is designed as young people's first workplace, where they can experience the world of work and learn to be a part of it in a safe environment. This is often their first experience of paid work, and they get to take these first steps under good guidance and with their peers.
The work experience isn't just about the work itself.
Hafnarfjörður Labour School It is designed as young people's first workplace, where they can experience the world of work and learn to be a part of it in a safe environment. This is often their first taste of paid employment, and they get to take these first steps under good guidance and alongside their peers. Bergþór Snær Gunnarsson is the supervisor of the Hafnarfjörður Work School for the summer of 2023. He has worked at the work school for four years, working his way up from a group leader to a foreman and then to supervisor. He oversees the operation and organisation of the work school and is responsible for planning the work, along with other fantastic people. Bergþór holds a BSc degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Iceland.
„The Work Club is not just about the work itself; it is also designed to socially engage young people, help them maintain a routine and reduce social isolation during the summer. We at the Work Club place great emphasis on having fun at work and break up the working days with peer education, hold competitions for the best-cleaned bed, and then the Work Club's summer party towards the end of the summer is the carrot that nobody wants to miss out on.“ says Bergþór. „I was in the work experience scheme myself every summer as a teenager and found it a really good place to get my first experience in the job market. The thing that sets the Work Club apart is that it rewards those who do well, and it's easy to work your way up to the most sought-after jobs if you perform well.“
All 14-17 year-olds get a job at the work experience school.
All young people from Hafnarfjörður aged 14-17 who apply to the Work School get a job. „As young people get older and more experienced, they can apply for a wider variety of jobs.“ Everyone in their first year of secondary school is placed in a general group in their school district. A year later, they have the opportunity to apply for sports courses, an arts group, peer education and more. „Of course, we cannot fulfil everyone's wishes, but this is precisely where hard-working employees find it easier to get ahead. We also have a variety of jobs available for 18-year-olds and older, but unfortunately, we cannot guarantee employment for everyone in that age group at the Work Experience Programme.“ says Bergþór.
One of the main tasks of the work school is to keep the town clean and beautiful.
The Work Club offers many different jobs, e.g. work in general groups, with sports clubs, in an arts group, in peer education, at museums, on sports courses and in nurseries. Age restrictions apply to certain workplaces and projects, and more opportunities become available as the young people get older. One of the main projects for the Work School each year is to keep Hafnarfjörður clean and beautiful. General groups are active all over the town, with a morning group in the town centre and several groups for 18-year-olds and older who, for example, are responsible for mowing and planting flowers.
Feature in the Hafnarfjörður Youth newspaper, published by Fjarðarfréttir on 22 May 2023