News from the Intercultural Centre

Humor & Amor starts this Sunday

Humor & Amor is a new project aiming to celebrate human diversity with a focus on what unites people. The project is a collaboration between the City Library, Þjónustumiðstöð Miðborgar og Hlíða, the youth council of Miðborg and Hlíðar, the Intercultural Centre and Hitt Húsið. Different humorous and amorous happenings will take place over the course of 2009 and the City Library has the honor of starting on Sunday February 22nd, the Icelandic Women's Day.

The program takes place at the Main Library, Tryggvagata 15 and starts at 14.00. The Police Choir will sing, poet Arngrímur Vídalín will recite love poems and every woman that enters the building will receive a flower. Guests can also experience an exhibition with photos and various objects connected to all things love in Iceland before and now. At 15.00 Jóakim the sircus animal will perform and the day ends with an art workshop for kids and everyone interested.

Everyone is welcome!

Craft workshop and Ash Wednesday Ball in Gerðuberg

On Sunday February 22nd from 14-16 guests can learn how to make Icelandic Öskupoki and Bolluvöndur. Children of all ages are welcome. Take mom or dad with you or even grandma and granddad. All material is provided and there is no entrance fee.

Then on Ash Wednesday, February 25th from 14-16 there will be a grand ball. The magician Jón Víðis will entertain and the band Fjörkarlarnir will perform. Everyone is welcome and there is no entrance fee.

Pregnancy Mother Child weekly meetings

The society for single parents (Félag einstæðra foreldra) invites expecting young mothers and their children to weekly meetings. The aim of the meetings is to give all around support through pregnancy, childbirth and information on social security benefits. The aim is also to support the mothers in their life with their new baby. The staff includes two social workers and a midwife. We expect to begin in the latter half of march. For further information contact Oktavía Guðmundsdóttir at 696 6793 or 55 11 822 or by e-mail oktavia@fef.is

Polish Festival in Akranes

Come and enjoy with our polish friends “TLUSTY CZWARTEK”(Fat Thursday) on Sunday, 22nd February, 2009 between 4pm and 6pm at Þorðið (the old music school) in Þjóðbraut 11, Akranes. There will be real polish food & drink, music and lots of fun. Everybody welcome. Free entry.

For more information call Pauline 824-2640.

Participants wanted for research study

MIRRA, the Center for Immigration Research at the Reykjavík Academy, is conducting a research study in cooperation with the Icelandic Red Cross, about how immigrants in Iceland deal with the economic crisis.

The researchers will discuss with people of foreign origin in small groups (focus groups), about topics like how life was before the onset of the crisis, how people perceive the present situation, whether there have been any changes concerning work, interaction with Icelandic people, and how the family copes with difficulties. Participants will also be asked to fill in a form with written questions. The session will take ca 2,5 – 3 hours, in the late afternoon after ordinary working hours. A light supper will be served.

It is very important to hear what immigrants have to say so as to map the current situation and identify the needs of this group and, among others, improve the service of the Red Cross towards the immigrant population. The study is anonymous and strict confidentiality will be observed. No information that can be traced to individual persons will be registered.

Now we are mostly looking for male volunteers to participate, those who are interested please contact Thora Kristin Asgeirsdottir regional manager of the Red Cross for the capital area by e-mail: thoraa@redcross.is

Radio Hello Hafnarfjörður broadcasts

Hello Hafnarfjörður 97,2 fm, broadcasts all weekdays between 18 and 19 except Tuesdays and on Sundays between 11 and 13. All Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays the broadcast is live from the Intercultural Centre.

The program:

All weekdays: News in English

Mondays: Multicultural show and Catalonian show

Wednesdays: Russian show and French show

Thursdays: Thai show and Lithuanian show

Fridays: English show and Spanish show

Sundays: The week’s previous shows

Open house on Friday

Language exchange evening at the open house on Friday. Guests will teach each other useful sentences and words in their mother tongue. It starts at 20 and is in the Intercultural Centre’s basement (entrance from side alley).

www.ahus.is