Young leaders wanted

Are you a teenager of foreign origin, born 2009-2012, and attending elementary or high school in Reykjavík?Are you a teenager with an international background, born between 2009-2012, and attending a primary school or upper secondary school in Reykjavík? Do you want to learn about equality, develop leadership skills, and make a positive impact on your local community?

Antirasistarnir and the Reykjavík City Human Rights Office are looking for young people to participate in the Young Ambassadors project, which begins in mid-September.

Share experiences and learn

The Young Ambassadors program began in the fall of 2024 after the Reykjavík City Human Rights Office received a grant from the Council of Europe to increase the inclusion and participation of youth with international backgrounds in community dialogue. This project brings together a diverse group of young people from various cultural backgrounds to meet weekly with facilitators from the Human Rights Office to discuss equality and multiculturalism. Participants are also equipped with tools to build confidence, communication skills, and leadership abilities. Before the project concluded last year, the group met with elected representatives from the Human Rights & Democracy Council and the Multicultural Council to discuss Icelandic language instruction in schools, recreational activities for everyone, and other issues that matter to young people.

This year, the project is supported by the Immigrant Affairs Development Fund, and it will be led by the women of Antirasistarnir, who know from personal experience what it’s like to be a young person with an international background in Reykjavík. Antirasistarnir previously received the Innovation Award from Nordic Safe Cities for their role in combating racial prejudice and discrimination in Iceland.

Young voices matter

The group will meet weekly until the project ends in early December. Meetings will include workshops on prejudice, hate speech, democracy, civic participation, and more. There will also be a two-day educational trip outside the city where participants will take part in a democracy workshop.

Does this sound exciting? Send us an email at ungirleidtogar@reykjavik.is by the end of Monday, Sept. 8 with your name and ID number, plus answers to these two questions:

1. Why do voices of young people of foreign origin matter?
2. If you could change something for young people of foreign origin in Reykjavík, what would you change?

The Reykjavík City Human Rights Policy emphasizes that everyone's contributions should be valued on their merits. The Young Ambassadors project is part of Reykjavík City's goal to systematically promote increased participation of people with international backgrounds in city affairs and on boards, councils, and committees.