Project Location: Scoured by Ice Age glaciers, the dramatic east coast boasts long, narrow fjords with steep sides and jagged peaks which contrast with inland fertile farmlands. Natural harbours mean picture-postcard fishing villages and seemingly never-ending roads cross the region, providing beautiful sweeping views.
“Fjarðabyggð" is an association of villages in the Eastern fjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður, Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður and Stöðvarfjörður, all tiny fishing villages with steep mountains towering just behind the houses. In this area you will see some of the features that make Iceland a unique place in the world: spectacular fjords with a rich sea life, a great variety of birdlife, and countless breathtaking hiking paths. You will explore the area during your stay in the east.
Work: We will live together and create a cosy atmosphere in Eskifjörður. One of the tasks is to decorate the area where our house is located by putting up lights and Christmas decorations. The main idea of this camp is to celebrate Christmas together and to promote peace and friendship among the group trough intercultural learning and exchange. We will learn Christmas songs from all over the world from each other and perform in the home of elderly people and in public places in town as a sign of peace and multiculturalism. For New Year’s Eve we will organize a little party for the volunteers and we will enjoy Iceland´s spectacular fireworks. We will also organize a open house and invite the locals for a visit.
During this workcamp participants will take part in the production of a video documentary which will be focused on how Icelandic people celebrate Christmas in rural areas. It will be a mix of landscape shots and interviews of local people in order to find out how they feel about living there and what they think about international volunteers coming to the village. Another part of the project will be focused on the Auroras Borealis. During this time of the year it is very easy to see and experience this amazing spectacular phenomenon. Volunteers will be involved in a Time-Lapse project in order to catch the lights and have a common visual arts project.
During this time of the year the weather in Eskifjörður can be a little bit cold. We strongly recommend you to bring really warm and waterproof clothes. You should also be aware of the fact that the weather can get so extreme that it will not allow us to go out of the accommodation for some days. Don't forget to bring your cameras and tripods if you have one since big parts of the project are focused on Auroras hunting. The tripod is an essential tool to keep the camera working in a long exposure.
The third part of this workcamp will concentrate on intercultural learning and exchange. Every evening a different country will cook for the rest of the Group and will be in charge of presenting their origin country and culture in a non formal way. It could be a presentation, games, theater or however you would like to show it. Therefore we recommend you to bring food, photos or whatever you think is important and nice for the Worldwide evenings.
This work camp is a way to enjoy an amazing time in Iceland with other international volunteers and to have an incredible experience where participants share their knowledge with each other while they are exploring creativity, environmental issues and intercultural learning.
Leisure: Worldwide Friends volunteers have free access to the local swimming pool. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms.
WF Iceland will also organise reasonably-priced weekend excursions to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer.
Accommodation and Food: Worldwide Friends volunteers stay in a nice house that used to be the school of the community long time ago. WE offer basic facilities. Beds are provided and volunteers should bring their own warm sleeping bags. We will have showers in the local swimming pool.
Food is included for the duration of the workcamp, however everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking and cleaning. Since it is always nice to try new and different dishes, volunteers are encouraged to bring along their favourite recipes from home!
There will be Wi-fi internet connection available.
To keep in mind, don’t forget your cameras and tripods if you have one. A Laptop could be very useful as well. Really warm clothes since we are going to a very isolated place which is very cold in winter. Please bring also traditional food from your country, photos and other things
Language: A basic knowledge of English is required for this workcamp.
Requirements: No special requirements but visual arts skills will be considered especially in the selection process.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík. The closest national airport to the camp site is Egilsstaðir airport which is 40 km away from the project’s site.
Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik, Iceland. WF Iceland will offer a minibus trip from Reykjavik to Eskifjörður for a fair price going through the North to the East of the island. After the camp we will also offer for a fair price a trip from the workcamp place to Reykjavik through the east and south of Iceland. This trip includes unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs. If you join our minibus both ways than you will go all around the island if the road condition will allow us
Additional Information: There is an Extra participation fee of 250,- Euro for this workcamp.