Summary of interview results

▼Limited information obscures the reception process and very little is done to explain it to children

Upon arrival in Iceland, many children said they were afraid of police and other government officials because of negative past experience. It is important to build trust with the authorities and provide clear and useful information for children to understand their position. The children experienced uncertainty and insecurity because they did not know what would happen next in the process or when. It is therefore important to inform children about the reception process and strive to make the timeline of the process clearer from the beginning. There is a great lack of child-friendly material and child-friendly facilities where information is provided efficiently. Places that did have some child-friendly facilities, such as toys, were fresh in the children’s memory and their experience became more positive. The children experienced a lot of waiting and found that specially difficult. There was also a lack of preparation and assistance for children who were denied protection.Therefore, it is important for children to have access to appropriate toys, entertainment or leisure, along with child-friendly information and support throughout the whole reception process.

▼Facilities unacceptable and restrictive in daily life

The majority of the children described being hungry, tired and cold for the first 24 hours in Iceland. When their living arrangements were remote and there was a lack of toys and playgrounds, the children expressed loneliness. Most of the children stated that the first rooms they stayed in were dirty and incomplete. They remembered being very tired when they needed to help clean the room upon arrival, even at midnight. Then it was important to the children that it was a sleeping place for everyone in the family, but it had not been in every case. Most often, housing by the municipalities turned out to be better. Providing nutritious food immediately upon arrival, as well as ensuring adequate housing conditions, could increase children's well-being during the first 24 hours and build the necessary confidence.

▼Lack of functional remedies both before and after school starts

Children experience loneliness in Iceland and describe a lack of guidance and assistance from adults. They expressed great interest in school and school, but did not feel that adults would meet them at school. They felt that the responsibility for school integration was placed on the shoulders of other children of foreign origin. There was a difference between municipalities regarding invitations to leisure or other activities, since children living in Hafnarfjörður were not invited to do so. It is important that children in these situations have something to do outside of school. Oftentimes there are difficult situations in the home where the application process is very tedious and it relieves situations when the children are thinking about other things. Most of the children expressed great interest in learning Icelandic and spoke about the importance of the language both socially and in education.

▼Difficulties with access to health care

Parents expressed concern about access to health care. Health services could only be obtained through social workers, but access to them varies by municipality. Furthermore, it does not appear clear where applicants for international protection in Reykjavik and Hafnarfjordur should apply for such services. The Immigration Agency's agreement with the Capital Region Healthcare provides access to public health centers, but in practice, only the outpatient ward in Mjódd is available. Limited access to health care had the effect that sometimes health problems became much more difficult and required more complex interventions than if they had failed immediately. In addition, it would have far-reaching positive effects on increasing access to health care facilities, including accelerating epidemiology, which is a prerequisite for children's education. In addition, children who had experienced severe parental illness indicated that they had received little support.

▼Lack of care and support for unaccompanied children

Unaccompanied children come to the country without their parents and are therefore in charge of child welfare authorities. There was a difference in the experience of unaccompanied children depending on when they came to the country and whether they turned 18 during the application process. Before changing the law on foreigners, unaccompanied children were placed in the custody of child protection and lived in housing on their behalf or with a foster family. Children who arrived during that period experienced great support from their social workers and foster parents. Good co-operation between social workers and children increases confidence and increases opportunities for learning, leisure, foster care and other resources. However, they found it difficult to come to the country and to establish themselves in a new community and the requests and refusals in the application process were too much of an issue. But with support, they got through the process. Children who came after the entry into force of the new law experienced a different reality.

The new law allows children over the age of 15 to be housed in the Immigration Office's premises at Bæjarhraun in Hafnarfjordur. It is the view of both children and professionals in this field that conditions in Bæjarhraun are unacceptable. The children experienced fear, insecurity and hopelessness because they lacked all care. They expressed a desire for important adult partners to assist them with daily activities and the application process in collaboration with them. It increases the sense of independence and self-esteem when the child is an active part of the application process, including in the spokesman's work. The children experienced a great lack of information about the application process and the situation at each time, as well as information about the community. They received weekly allowance and were expected to shop and cook food themselves. They expressed regret if good food and worries about poor nutrition. Hot and good food is important to the children and reduces loneliness.

This group often lacks education and language teaching which causes them to miss out on learning opportunities and limited independence. Then they experienced a great lack of activity and they had not offered a fetus. Foster families greatly enhance the children's opportunities to understand the application process and Icelandic society. They relieve the stress of waiting and help prepare for the future. Concerns about their own families were high on the children, but some expressed a lack of family unit support after protection was provided. In general, those who were still in the application process were very concerned about the future and did not receive assistance in preparing the future. Negative and extremely difficult changes occur at the age of 18. Then it is considered that the child has become an adult and it is moved to worse resorts with adults.

▼Parents are concerned about their children's well-being and future

Parents expressed great concern about the well-being of their children. Most of them felt they were struggling to protect their children from situations, especially when the family lived in the same housing as other applicants. Parents were idle, experienced great distress, and lacked information about their rights and obligations. Some had experienced a lack of consultation with them because of the children and most people experienced fear, hopelessness and helplessness towards the application process. Good access to services and information helps parents to fulfill their role well. Greater activity by parents helps them cope with waiting and uncertainty.