Giving young people a voice

Giving young people a voice

Every year Samfés hosts the National Youth Congress, which brings together between 3 and 5 young people from every youth club in Iceland. The congress creates a platform for young people to form relationships and get new ideas for their youth club. It also means that Samfés has a good overview of the expectations and needs of young people right across Iceland.

Through the National Youth Congress young people take the initiative in governing what happens in their youth clubs. They do this by taking part in workshops on different projects that either are or will be taking place in youth clubs – exchanging ideas and knowledge from each other. They build new friendships and relationships..

The National Youth Congress is also a tool that helps young people learn in a practical way how to use democratic methods in life. At the Congress participants elect the members of Samfés Youth Council. Candidates have to prepare for the election with speeches etc and then all the participants of the Congress vote for the one of their peers that they would like to represent them in the Youth Council.

The first task of the newly elected Youth Council is to organise a meeting amongst all the participants where important issues are discussed, resolutions written and sent to local authorities, government ministries and the media.

Former Youth Council Members said:

"Youth Council of Samfés has given me a lot and the youth council is something for everyone that wants to have an impact on society as well as to meet new and wonderful people who all share the view that will have an impact for the youth of Iceland”
 "I met wonderful people and got a chance to affect the issue I'm interested in."
"I got a very good opportunity to have an impact and I learned a lot about meetings, which I think will help me in the future"