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Forestry
and gardening
activities in the
Rehabilitation and Health Clinic
in Hveragerdi Volunteer project: Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field which provides heat for hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year. Even bananas grow in these greenhouses! The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden.’ Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and you probably won’t find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. A very interesting site is Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. The whole valley explodes with hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.
Our host is the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic
which is a part of the Nature Health Association of Iceland located in
Hveragerdi. The Clinic is a place of choice for all those who are in need of
rehabilitation, regaining their strength or simply in need to rest. It has
earned a solid reputation, both in Iceland and internationally, since its
foundation in 1955 for personal and effective care of patients. It is the oldest
sanatorium in Iceland and, one of the two most important rehabilitation clinics
in Iceland. Every year approximately 2,000 patients and other guests enjoy the
diverse rehabilitation programs.
The work will mostly be focused on forestry,
gardening and greenhouse work. Language: English Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursion will be arranged for the volunteers.
Accommodation: We will be staying
in a very nice fully equipped flat. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag. Location: Hveragerði, 45 km east of Reykjavík Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík. Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 120 Euros
Introducing different cultures to kindergarten children Volunteer project: In Reykjavik you can experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland’s capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, space, clean air, nature, culture - and Reykjavik has them in spades. It has the features of a modern, forward-looking society which are complemented by a close connection to beautiful nature. The population of the Reykjavik Capital Area is about 200,000. Reykjavik is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. In this time of the year when conditions are favorable you can see the Northern lights (Aurora borealis) glowing curtain of greenish yellow lights, dancing in the distance to a spectacular, multi-colored fusion stretching across the sky. The world’s northernmost capital is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja, which keeps a watchful eye on the city, and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay. On a sunny day, the mystical Snaefellsjokull glacier appears crystal-like on the western horizon, while mountainous moonscapes spread to the southeast. The international volunteers will visit kindergartens in Reykjavik and introduce different cultures to the kids. One of the tasks of this workcamp is to prepare games, songs and materials for those visits and we kindly ask the participants to bring materials that we can use for the preparation. We will also participate in different types of activites in the centre of Reykjavik; this time of the year the city is usually full of life. Language: English Leisure time: Free access to all the modern geothermal swimming pools in Reykjavik. "Northern lights" excursion to areas in the countryside will be organized as well. Accommodation: We will be staying in a fully equipped house in the centre of 101 Reykjavik, the location can not be better. Location: Reykjavik Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 150 Euros
Green
army in Reykjavik
Volunteer project: In Reykjavik you can
easily feel the pure energy at the heart of Iceland‘s capital city - whether it
springs from the underground boiling thermal energy or radiates from the green
scenery surrounding the city. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun,
space, clean air, nature, culture - and Reykjavik has them in spades. Reykjavik
offers both the features of a modern and innovative society and the marvelous
traits of a pristine and unique landscape.
The volunteer work during this project will mostly consist in embellishing the downtown area and helping the local authorities improve the city’s look and atmosphere. Tasks will include cleaning tags and painting old houses. We will be mostly working outdoors giving a hand to the environmental department in taking care of the parks and green areas in the heart of Reykjavík. In addition to that, we might also clean the coastline in the city area. Language: English Leisure time: Free access to all the geothermal pools in Reykjavik; excursion will be organized by the hosts. Accommodation: We will be staying in a fully equipped house in the centre of Reykjavik, the location can not be better. Location: Reykjavik Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 120 Euros
Volunteer project: In Reykjavik you can
easily feel the pure energy at the heart of Iceland‘s capital city - whether it
springs from the underground boiling thermal energy or radiates from the green
scenery surrounding the city. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun,
space, clean air, nature, culture - and Reykjavik has them in spades. Reykjavik
offers both the features of a modern and innovative society and the marvelous
traits of a unique natural landscape.
All around the world photographers are
participating in photo marathons.
We will help with the preparation of the Photo
Marathon, hand out brochures and posters and help with the promotion of the
activities. We will than help the participants during the Marathon and
afterwards prepare the photo exhibition. A short course in photography will be
offered to the volunteers, where they will have the opportunity to improve their
skills to capture their memories in an unforgettable way. We will learn how to
think about landscape photography from capture to finished image, your ability
to create dramatic compositions will become more effortless and you'll learn
about what might be holding you back from reaching your full potential as a
photographer. Language: English Leisure time: Free access to all the geothermal swimming pools in Reykjavik and excursion will be provided by our hosts. Accommodation: We will stay in a nice house near the city centre. Location: Reykjavik Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 150 Euros
Easter
camp in Reykjavik Volunteer project: In Reykjavik you can experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland’s capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, space, clean air, nature, culture - and Reykjavik has them in spades. It has the features of a modern, forward-looking society which are complemented by a close connection to beautiful nature. The population of the Reykjavik Capital Area is about 200,000. Reykjavik is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. In this time of the year, when conditions are favorable, you can see the Northern lights (Aurora borealis) glowing curtain of greenish yellow lights, dancing in the distance to a spectacular, multi-colored fusion stretching across the sky. The world’s northernmost capital is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja, which keeps a watchful eye on the city, and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay. On a sunny day, the mystical Snaefellsjokull glacier appears crystal-like on the western horizon, while mountainous moonscapes spread to the southeast.
The international volunteer group will create a
great atmosphere in the central area of Reykjavik with a lot of lights on houses
and in the gardens. One of the tasks is to prepare coffee and cakes for homeless
people. Language: English Leisure time: Free access to all the modern geothermal swimming pools in Reykjavik. "Northern lights" excursion to areas in the countryside will be organized as well. Accommodation: We will be staying in fully equipped house in the centre of 101 Reykjavik, the location can not be better. Location: Reykjavik Terminal: Reykjavík - Keflavík Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 150 Euros
Organic
gardening
and forestry activities in the
Solheimar Eco-village
Volunteer project: Sólheimar Eco-Village,
founded in 1930, is the first community in the world where the so-called able
and disabled people live and work together. Inspired by the theories of Rudolf
Steiner, Sólheimar has focused on cultivating both the individual and the
environment and it is the first community in Scandinavia to practice organic
farming.
The volunteers will mostly work in the Ölur Forestry Centre (the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland) and in the Sunna Organic Cultivation Centre. During the project, other tasks may arise depending on the needs of the community. The work in Ölur, and in the village as well, will mostly consist in building paths and planting trees in Southern Iceland Farm Forest. In Sunna we will be planting vegetables, eradicating weeds and other gardening work. Language: English Leisure time: Free access to the swimming pool and the fitness center. Excursions will be provided by the hosts. Accommodation: In a nice house with double bedrooms, each with a private bathroom. The house is fully equipped and has a big living room. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag. Location: Sólheimar Eco-village Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík. Distance from the airport to the project site: 140 km. Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 150 Euros
"The project was an amazing experience for me. Everyone I worked with in Solheimar was great, volunteers and locals alike. The guy that led everything, Valgeir, was great to get to know and everything was incredibly organized. He showed us around on our first day there and gave us a detailed tour of the village. The first four days, I worked outside with Urn and did landscaping (painting, laying down turf, etc), the rest of the time I worked in the forestry area or in the organic cultivation area. The people in those 'departments' were also great and I learned so much. During my stay there the group was invited for coffee and tea at one of the lady's house, which was nice to see an Icelander's house. I think doing this workcamp was one of the best experiences of my life....getting to know people from all over Europe as well as learning about Icelandic culture while working cannot be beat. We also had the chance to do excursions on our free time which was organized by Valgeir as well as some that were organized by the group itself (the group of volunteers). I will definitely do a workcamp again in the future." Fatemeh B., Cadip volunteer 2007
Environmental
and renovation activities in
the harbor of Siglufjordur
We will maintain the area around the harbor of the
town. There are many different tasks, for example it is needed to fix some
walking paths, cleaning and beautifying green areas near to the port and the
center and we will also help painting and maintaining some of the houses in that
area. Language: English Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool. Excursions, such as hikes with local guides and fishing trips, will be arranged. Accommodation: We will be staying in a nice house near to the center of the village. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag. Location: Siglufjörður Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 120 Euros
Renovating
a volunteer centre and improving the environment
in the east of Iceland Volunteer project: Eskifjörður is a major fishing town (population: 972) and an export harbor with direct sailing to Europe, which is located at the northern shore of the fjord Eskifjörður. It is built on a small sand spit and up the slopes of the mountain which rises above the town. Its main industries are fishing and small-scale farming. Eskifjörður became an authorized trade port in 1786 and has been a commercial center since 1798. One of the several shops in Eskifjörður, Gamlabúð, built in 1816, houses the Maritime Museum Of East Iceland. Eskifjörður town faces the mountain Hólmatindur, from the top of which you can view some of the tallest mountains in the Icelandic interior. One of the favored sights in the area is the Helgustaðanáman mine, which is one of the world’s best-known sources of Icelandic spar. The area, which is just a ten-minute drive from the town, is a nature reserve and open to all, free of charge. A swimming pool with hot pots (geothermal pools) and a sauna is located in Eskifjörður, as well as a gallery and crafts shop.
We will have two different tasks in this project.
Volunteers will renovate a house in Eskifjörður which will become a centre for
volunteers in the east of Iceland. During the workcamp we will paint, move
things and start the renovation of the house. We will also do some environmental
work. Possible tasks are for example planting trees, taking old fences down and
beautifying the town and the surrounding area. We may also clean up the
coastline and even make hiking paths. Language: English Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool, guided hikes with locals. Excursion or a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner. Accommodation: We will be staying in a nice community center. Mattresses will be provided and everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. We will have showers at the local swimming pool and sports centre. Location: Eskifjörður Terminal: Intl. airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. The national airport in Egilsstaðir is 40 km away from the project. Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 120 Euros
Maintenance
and environmental works in
a University Center in the Westfjords Volunteer project: The “Westfjords” are situated in the Northwest part of Iceland, reaching out almost to Greenland – therefore the most westerly part of Europe. The landscape here is majestic, with fjord after fjord, towering above shore and sea, each and every fjord has its own distinctive character and tiny fishing villages nestle at their foot. It is an ideal place for hikers and all nature lovers, in summer and winter alike. Seals bask on the rocks, huge colonies of seabirds are seen and the king of the skies, the white-tailed eagle may be watching over.
The project will take place in Nupur which used to
be a boarding school in the past but now it is a hotel and a University. The
cozy school buildings are surrounded by beautiful mountains with a view over the
Alps of Westfjords and the blue seas of Dyrafjordur. The international volunteers will be helping with the maintenance of the oldest building in Núpur, cleaning the coastline and beautifying the area around the center. Language: English Leisure time: Excursions and a boat trip will be organized by the hosting partner, as well as guided hikes. The volunteers will have free access to the swimming pool in Þingeyri. Accommodation: In the dormitories in Núpur, everyone is asked to bring his/her own warm sleeping bag. Location: Núpur in Dýrafjörður Terminal: International Airport Reykjavík - Keflavík (KEF). The national airport in Ísafjörður is close to the project site. Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 150 Euros
Building
hiking trails
in the Land of elves and fairies Volunteer project: The northernmost Fjord in the Eastfjords is called Borgarfjörður Eystri, where also the small fishing village with the same name is situated on. It is located in a dramatic spot, in between rhyolite peaks and the Dyrfjöll Mountains (1136 m). The area is very famous for stories of elves. Locals even believe that the queen of Icelandic Elves lived in the town. Álfaborg (Elf Rock), a small nature reserve is a tourist highlight of the area until now. Close to the town, you can also find the Islet Hafnarhólmi, a puffin colony with 10,000 pairs. Iceland’s best known artist Jóhannes S Kjarval grew up close to Borgarfjörður Eystri and took much of his inspiration from the area. There are many hiking trails in the area. We will make a new trail along the seaside. We will also help the locals with all kind of small projects in the local community and will clean the coastline. Language: English Leisure time: This is a paradise for hikers and hiking trips will be arranged by the local partner. Accommodation: In a fully equipped house owned by the local community, participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag. Location: Borgarfjörður Eystri Terminal: Int. airport is Keflavik airport. Next national airport is Egilsstadir. Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 120 Euros
Photography
and environment in the Western fjords Volunteer project: The “Westfjords” are situated in the Northwest part of Iceland, reaching out almost to Greenland – therefore the most westerly part of Europe. The landscape here is majestic, with fjord after fjord, towering above shore and sea, each and every fjord has its own distinctive character and tiny fishing villages nestle at their foot. It is an ideal place for hikers and all nature lovers, in summer and winter alike. Seals bask on the rocks, huge colonies of seabirds are seen and the king of the skies, the white-tailed eagle may be watching over.
The project will mainly take place in Nupur which
used to be a boarding school in the past but now it is a hotel and a University.
The cozy school buildings are surrounded by beautiful mountains with a view over
the Alps of Westfjords and the blue seas of Dyrafjordur.
The purpose of this project is to improve the
skills of the participants to capture their memories in an unforgettable way. We
will learn how to think about landscape photography from capture to finished
image, your ability to create dramatic compositions will become more effortless
and you'll learn about what might be holding you back from reaching your full
potential as a photographer. We will also make some videos during those two
weeks. Language: English Leisure time: We will have free access to the swimming pool and guided hikes will be provided by our hosts. Accommodation: We will stay in one of the buildings in hotel Núpur. Mattresses will be provided. Location: Núpur in Dýrafjörður, Westfjords Terminal: Reykjavík – Keflavík Int. airport Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 150 Euros
Iceland projects slideshow:
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Volunteer project:
Siglufjörður is the northernmost town in Iceland, located at the foot of
towering mountains on the shore of a small fjord bearing the same name. Fishing
and the processing of marine products provide the principal source of employment
for the town's 1,600 residents, as the settlement has developed around one of
the country's best natural harbors. The historic architecture, the colorful
rooftops of the upper town, the harbor and inspiring backdrop are all postcard
material on a fine day. There is plenty of variety in the life of the town,
which includes many sorts of social and cultural activities. Both the church and
music school are centers for musical activities, and sports are very popular.
Furthermore, the splendor of the mountains and natural beauty are practically an
invitation to everyone.
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