News from Ahus

Icelandic language courses in the Intercultural Centre, Laugavegur 37

Registration and information at The Intercultural Centre’s office

Tel: 530 9300, 530 9309 or mail to: halldora@ahus.is

Icelandic level 1 60 x 40 min

Laugavegur 37 at 9.00-11.00 3.6.2009 - 16.07.2009

Price: 21.000

Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

Icelandic level 2 60 x 40 min

Laugavegur 37 at 19.00-20.40 6.5.2009 - 13.7.2009

Price: 17.000

Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

The Intercultural Centre is closed today

This Friday May 1st is Labour Day and the Intercultural Centre will be closed.
There are 15 public holidays in Iceland. They are called "red days" and are marked in red on Icelandic calendars:

January 1st (New Years Day)

Holy Thursday

Good Friday

Easter Sunday

Easter Monday

First day of Summer (the 1st Thursday after April 18th)

May 1st (Labour Day)

Ascension Day

Whit Sunday

Whit Monday

June 17th (National holiday)

1st Monday in August (Bank holiday)

December 24th (Christmas eve) From 12:00 onwards

December 25th (Christmas day)

December 26th

December 31st (New Years Eve) from 12:00 onwards

16 May is Intercultural Day in Reykjavík

Do you want to join us?

At 13:00 a mulitcultural parade for peace will take off from Hlemmur.

From 14:00-17:00 The Intercultural Centre and The City of Reykjavik will celebrate multicultural diversity at the town hall and in the theater Iðnó. There will be singing, dancing, costumes and more interesting happenings from all over the world.

If you or your group of friends know how to sing or dance and want to join in, there are still some openings left in the program. Please let Júlía or Audur know as soon as possible: julia@ahus.is tel.896-5680, audur@ahus.is tel. 692-8818.

See you 16 May!

Volunteers needed – Heilahristingur homework assistance

Do you want to give to society, gain experience and meet fun kids?

Do you want to assist immigrant students in grades 5 to 7 with their homework? Are you free on Thursdays from 14.30-16.00? Heilahristingur is homework assistance and takes place in the City Library in Gerðuberg, Breiðholt. The goal of the project is to help students in their studies, build up their confidence and introduce them to what the library offers. If you are interested come to the City Library in Gerðuberg these Thursdays: April 30th and May 7th and 14th at 14.30. We are looking for volunteers that are older than 18. For more information contact Þór Gíslason at thorgisla@redcross.is or 897 2040.

"Brazil-Samba-Latino-Salsa" Party May 9th

Saturday 9th of May a "Brazilian Party" will be held at LIONS INTERNATIONAL, Soltún 20 in Reykjavík. This is an open event for everyone interested, especially created for all south-American people living in Iceland, or people from other southern countries, along with all icelandic admirers of south-America (f.e. former exchange students). The purpose is to come together, enjoy the music of south-America, some brazilian food and a brazilian dance show. The party will be between 20:00 until midnight. Between 17:00 and 19:30 we will have a Children party where we play games and have a lot of fun together with the children. Entrance is 2500 kr.for adults, 500 kr.for children.

Women’s story circle on Sunday

Women’s story circle will be held this Sunday May 2nd from 15-16 at the City Library, Tryggvagata 15, 6th floor. María Helena Sarabia from Colombia will tell her story, plus open talks. Light refreshments will be offered and the event is free, there is also a play area with games and books for children. Women of all nations are welcome.

The women’s story circle is a collaboration project between the City Library and W.O.M.E.N.

Listen to Thai radio and watch Thai TV

A helpful friend of the Intercultural Centre has been compiling over 60 Thai radio and TV stations, which can be found here: http://www.thainorge.com/radio/a_radio.htm

Ethnicity and disability: Minority families with disabled children

Tuesday May 5, 2009, between 12 noon and 1 pm, Berit Berg Associate Professor from Throndheim, Norway will give a talk, Ethnicity and disability: Minority families with disabled children, at the University of Iceland in the building Askja, room N-131. Little is known about minority ethnic families with disabled children, particularly families form non-western countries which are for various reasons seldom included in studies about family and disability. This talk will address questions such as: How do they understand disability? Do disabled people from ethnic minorities face the same types of challenges as the majority population in their daily lives, or do they meet special barriers due to factors as culture, religion, language, prejudice or racism? What are their experiences from interactions with the service system? The empirical basis for the presentation is an ongoing study of minority families with disabled children in six Norwegian municipalities. T he parents are first generation migrants from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Vietnam.

Berit Berg is Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Health Science, NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) and Head of Institute for Diversity and Inclusion. She has many years of experience in working with immigrants and refugees in Norway.

The lecture will be in English and will be in Askja, romm N-131

Everyone is welcome.

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