All children and young people have the right to participate in leisure, youth work and creative activities without barriers. To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs in Iceland issued its first policy on leisure and youth work for children and young people in March 2022, in line with the pre-existing Youth Act no. 70/2007. With the strategy, leisure and youth work activities are based on a solid operating base. The policy aims at ensuring that all children and young people, especially those from marginalised groups, have access to professional and safe opportunities for leisure and youth work activities with social, preventive and educational values, ultimately improving democratic consciousness and well-being.
The Future: Policy on leisure and youth work for children and young people – Iceland
Abstract
The policy was developed by the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs, in co-operation with the Youth Council. The policy was informed by broad consultations with children, young people and youth stakeholders. Inputs from the consultations were integrated into the draft policy and action plan, ensuring that the final document reflects the needs and aspirations of young people. Targeting children and young people aged 6- 25, the policy outlines overall objectives and sub-goals across different dimensions, and it clarifies the institutional and organisational framework for leisure and youth work activities. The policy is accompanied by a three-year action plan to guide its implementation by the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs in collaboration with the Youth Council, the Ombudsman for children, the Union of Icelandic municipalities and youth stakeholders. The policy supports a broad spectrum of leisure and youth work activities that are tailored to children and young people’s interests, involving youth in decision-making, fostering experiential learning and personal growth, encouraging self-exploration and diversity, educating on rights and respecting opinions, and promoting inclusive group dynamics and safe environments. The policy sets out priorities for the Ministry of Education and Children’s Affairs in Iceland until 2030, including the revision of the Youth Act no. 70/2007, the establishment of a platform for leisure and youth work activities, the development of professional quality standards in leisure and youth work and the reinforcement of research in the field of leisure activities for children and young people.
Monitoring and evaluation will be conducted as an on-going process. It will include consultations with the Youth Council and dialogue with stakeholders in the field of youth leisure activities and it will be informed by youth research in Iceland. The policy will be re-evaluated in 2025.
Further reading
Stjórnarráð Íslands (2022), Framtíðin: Stefna um tómstunda- og félagsstarf barna og ungmenna; Stjórnarráð Íslands (2022), Stefna um tómstunda- og félagsstarf barna og ungmenna til 2030. This practice also supports the implementation of provision IV.5 of the OECD Recommendation on Creating Better Opportunities for Young People.
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