Vífill Harðarson (to the far right) has traveled all around the world with his family. This picture was taken when they were in Vietnam last year.

In a sincere and heartwarming video on YouTube, Icelandic teen Vífill Harðarson encourages everyone to love and accept themselves whether they’ll come out of the closet or not, for that is the only way to go through life. Vífill decided to make the video after speaking to LGBT teens from all around the world and finding out how many suffer from low esteem.

“I knew right away by the first stories that many teenagers remain closeted due to religious problems and so forth. However, I knew I’d be posting a video online and it would only do harm if I’d talked badly about religion or certain countries. So instead I came to the conclusion that my project would have to target each individual, individually,” he explains.

Vífill who’s turning 17 later this year has lived and studied in Iceland, Switzerland and Singapore. He’s a practice swimmer, a piano player, a traveler, a student, a friend and gay.
Vífill who’s turning 17 later this year has lived and studied in Iceland, Switzerland and Singapore. He’s a practice swimmer, a piano player, a traveler, a student, a friend and gay.

The reason for Vífil reaching out this way was a project at school in Singapore where he temporarily lives with his family. He himself came out to his parents two years ago, just before his 15th birthday.

“They were sitting on the balcony and I was taking a bath, and at that time I wasn’t really happy about being gay. In other words; I didn’t want to believe it. But I had seen and met a lot of people of all sexualities and they seemed so happy and jolly when out of the closet, and of course I wanted that too. So while sitting in the bathtub I told myself over and over again “I’m gay, I’m gay, I’m gay”. So I decided that the only way to settle the fact would be to come out to my parents who had been hinting towards the fact themselves for a long time. I put on some clothes and took a good half an hour before waltzing to them and just told them, and they said they knew. After that I felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off my chest, because I was so thrilled I had come out to them.”

Like so many before him Vífill felt free after coming out. And that made him want to help others feel the same way.

“After that my parents often asked how I felt about being out and free. I’d always give them positive answers. But it soon made me realize that I wasn’t coming out to them but to myself which allowed me to find love for myself and that’s what really made me free. It also made me realize that it wasn’t a big of a deal coming out to my parents, family or friends, because none of it mattered to me. The thought of someone disagreeing with my sexuality didn’t matter anymore because I loved myself for who I am and that’s all I cared about. That’s also why I decided to talk to others in similar situations, learn about their personal stories and finally make a video stressing how important it is to love yourself.”

“I also spoke to a boy forced to remain in the closet due to the law and religion of his country. If he’d admit he was gay he’d be thrown out of home and face punishment.”

So when Vífill was required to work on a personal project at school he saw an opportunity.

“I decided to extend my horizon of the current situation for LGBT youth in different societies in the world. And create a video, which I’d then post on YouTube, discussing and stressing the importance of loving yourself for who you are. I used TrevorSpace (a social network similar to Facebook but specifically for LGBT youth) to contact LGBT teens and entered a whole new social media of teenagers of all sexualities. There I posted a forum of sorts explaining that I was doing a project about the closet and sexualities and would be so pleased if anyone could contact me.”

Vífill with his brother Sindri, his parents Íris and Hörður and his sister Stefanía.
Vífill with his brother Sindri, his parents Íris and Hörður and his sister Stefanía.

Vífill got responses from all over the world: USA, Germany, Singapore, India, Saudi-Arabia, England and more. Many of the kids were faced with great obstacles because of their sexuality. Some due to culture and religion. Others due to struggles within.

“One person was threatened she’d be thrown out of home if she wouldn’t change. Surely enough that same person was accepted with a warm heart by her mother. I also spoke to a boy forced to remain in the closet due to the law and religion of his country. If he’d admit he was gay he’d be thrown out of home and face punishment. Few others remained in the closet because they simply didn’t want to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, etc., and felt they needed to change to elude name calling if they’d come out. Many felt that they needed to change or talked about trying to change by forcing themselves to like the opposite gender. That was a huge problem which made them remain closeted.”

But was there a certain big challenge that all these kids, whether from England or Saudi-Arabia, seemed to face?

“The matter of facing themselves,” Vífill answers. “That seemed to be the biggest challenge for everyone I spoke to. And some kids were just afraid of what others might think of them.” Although it’s important for others to like you, Vífill stresses that it’s more important to love yourself.

TrevorSpace is a social networking site for LGBT youth, similar to Facebook, where teens of all sexualities can communicate with each other, find support and make new friends from all over the world. Trevor space was created by the Trevor Project, an organization that runs charities to support prevention of LGBT youth suicides. For more information on TrevorSpace, check out trevorspace.org.

Main photo: Vífill Harðarson (to the far right) has traveled all around the world with his family. This picture was taken when they were in Vietnam last year.

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

Webpage/vefsetur

Blush

    Blush was founded in 2011 when it started selling high quality sex products. The goal from the beginning was to change the market and take the discussion about sex products to a higher level. Today Blush provides professional services in a pleasant environment that fulfills different needs, both for individuals and couples. Blush respects diversity and wants to set a good example in all of its messaging to target audiences. Sexual health and equality in sex is important and Blush wants to focus on those issues through education and open discussion. Blush works in a socially responsible manner for society, their customers and the environment.

    Check out Blush’s website: https://blush.is/

    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

      Our creative flavors are carefully crafted by meticulous chocolate makers. The cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, ground, and refined into melty-smooth chocolate.

      Omnom’s process is one of constant exploration, invention, and experimentation. If it doesn’t please us, if something isn’t absolutely delicious, there’s no reason to be doing it. So, we always start with our taste buds and follow our instincts. Our team searches for the finest ingredients in the world and new ways to improve chocolate. This obsession with knowing where our ingredients come from has led us around the corner to dairy farms in the Icelandic countryside and all the way to rainforest cacao farms of Nicaragua.

      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

        As we move forward together, we will continue advancing diverse ideas and perspectives that help fulfill the promise of a more inclusive and prosperous world. We aim to set the pace for rethinking capital markets and economies anywhere and everywhere. To learn more about the company, technology solutions and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on Twitter @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
        - leading financial institution
        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

        The bank’s vision is to be exemplary and its role is to be a trusted financial partner.

        Special emphasis is placed on promoting a performance-oriented culture in the bank. To follow up on the implementation of this strategy, the bank has defined key goals which are measured regularly to determine progress. These goals include, for example, customer satisfaction and loyalty, profitability, cost efficiency and the correlation between risk appetite and employee satisfaction.

        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
        - get inspired
        Dohop

        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
          - for all your Apple needs
          Macland

          From starting out as a proper startup with only a good idea and the need to change things, to becoming an established company with 6 employees. Starting from scratch and expanding organically has allowed us to love our expansion and take our customers on the ride with us.

          Macland is located at Laugavegur 23 (101, Downtown Reykjavik)
          For all your Apple needs. We are here.

          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
          This is our secret and you are in on it

          You can read more about Ísey skyr on our website.

          Contact Us


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          Thank You. We will contact you as soon as possible.