Agreement to make love the guiding light
Prevention Day 2025 kicked off at Vogaskóli this morning with a conference titled: Togetherness – belonging – connections. This marks the 20th time Prevention Day has been held. The event happens each fall and targets ninth-graders and first-year junior college students.
At today's conference, 9th graders from Vogaskóli heard from Halla Tómasdóttir, president of Iceland, who spoke about the importance of managing screen time. She posed the pressing question of what we could do with all the time and attention that devices take from us and how much better we might feel if we had more meaningful moments. She recalled the tragic events when Bryndís Klara Birgisdóttir lost her life in a stabbing attack on Culture Night last year. Those events inspired the "Knights of Love" movement. The president urged those present to be knights of love "because the world desperately needs more people who show up with love in their hearts."
Influencers in their own lives
Director of Health María Heimisdóttir echoed the president's message about the importance of prioritizing public health and promoting love and kindness, both toward ourselves and those around us. "Communication based on love, trust, and kindness toward one another is vital for all our health and well-being." She discussed protective factors in the lives of children and young people and reminded the audience that they are influencers in their own lives. "You make decisions every single day that can shape how your entire life unfolds," she said.
The best young generation yet
In her presentation, Mayor Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir stressed the importance of solidarity in society. She said research shows significant progress has been made in recent years regarding the well-being of children, and we must continue on that path. "We are proud of the progress we have seen here in the city. You are the best young generation there has ever been — smarter, healthier, more capable. But we must always keep moving forward and we all need to do our part." Then she turned her attention to the adults. "I think we adults should ask ourselves whether we are really there for youth today. Are we there for our friends' children? Or for teenagers we see whom we should perhaps reach out to?”
Hundreds of friends on their phones but none in the real world
The conference also featured the voices of young people. Úlfhildur Elísa Hróbjartsdóttir from the Peer Education Center of Hitt Húsið gave a presentation about how loneliness has taken deep root among today's young people. Some of them have hundreds of friends on their phones but none in the real world. "They withdraw from the real world and become vulnerable to everything the online world has to offer." Society needs to respond with more peer education and greater parental support and understanding.
Eva Karítas Bóasdóttir, a student at Verslunarskóli Íslands (Commercial College of Iceland), then read responses from 9th grade students who participated in last year's Prevention Day about what they believe matters most for living a good and healthy life. Finally, the event concluded with a video greeting from Embla Backman and Kári Einarsson, who participate in the "Knights of Love" movement, which aims to foster love in society, reduce violence, and improve well-being through dialogue and action across generations and groups.
Young people encouraged to enter competition
Students who participate in Prevention Day can submit projects to the Prevention Day competition. The focus is on the challenges and solutions from phones, screen devises and social media. The President of Iceland presents awards for the projects at a ceremony at Bessastaðir later in the year, and winners also receive a generous gift certificate from 66°N. More information about the competition can be found in this video and on the Prevention Day website.
Prevention Day: A Collaborative Effort
At the start of the conference, Aðalsteinn Hjartarson, assistant principal of Vogaskóli, welcomed guests on behalf of the school. Dóra Guðrún Guðmundsdóttir, director of the public health division at the Directorate of Health, moderated the conference.
The Directorate of Health oversees Prevention Day, working with partners that include the Office of the President of Iceland, Reykjavík City, Research and Analysis, Planet Youth, National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland, Youth Association of Iceland, Samfés, Icelandic Association of Local Authorities, the Coalition of Prevention Organizations, Icelandic Boy and Girl Scout Association, National Commissioner of Police, and Home and School.