A report has been published on the situation and experiences of foreign residents in North East Iceland. The research was part of a larger project by ÞÞ, funded by the Immigration Development Fund, but this section was carried out specifically for SSNE and is based on 30 interviews with foreign residents in the region. The research provides insight into their experiences of settlement, services, language, social participation and opportunities for influence in their local community.
The aim of the study was to shed light on how foreign residents experience their position in society and which factors support or hinder their participation in it. The findings show that most interviewees have a generally positive view of living in the area, but challenges also emerge, related to, among other things, language, the flow of information and access to services. The language proved to be a key factor in people's experience of participation in the community. Although a large proportion of participants had attended Icelandic language courses, many described that they understood Icelandic better than they could express themselves in the language, which could affect their confidence and engagement in daily life.
The majority of participants felt they had relatively good access to key services, such as education, healthcare and social services. Nevertheless, the findings suggested that in some cases, a lack of information or language support could make it more difficult for people to make full use of the service. Social connections were also very important in the respondents' experience, with some describing that it could be difficult to form connections outside of the workplace or with people other than their fellow countrymen.
A will for democratic participation is present
The study also focused on the democratic participation of foreign residents. When participants were asked whether they felt their opinions were taken into account in decisions concerning their local community, 40% said they were, and 10% said this was partly the case. However, half of the participants felt that their voices were not heard. Half of the respondents said they had participated in local council elections or other decision-making processes at the local level, while the other half had not. Only a fifth of the participants believed that immigrants had a clear advocate in local councils.
Despite this, the results show that there is an interest in participating. When asked about their intention to vote in the next local elections, two out of three said they planned to do so. A significant proportion of participants also said they would consider standing for local council if the opportunity arose.
The findings therefore suggest that despite many people feeling they have limited influence, there is a willingness to participate in democratic activities. Given that local council elections are approaching, the findings provide important indications of opportunities to enhance dialogue, information provision, and the participation of foreign residents in the local community.
The report can be found here.