📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Worldwide Friends (WF), was founded in 2001 as a non-profit organization promoting nature and peace-oriented activities for volunteers wanting to spend some time in Iceland. Our main theme for this year is to give education about the 17 Sustainable Goals of the United Nations and to clean the whole coastline of Iceland. The main activities that we offer are workcamps, seminars, local events, and exchange programs suitable both for young people and adults.
💼 What the programme involves
This camp has a variety of activities. Our main activity is Beach Cleaning. Beyond the sheer tonnage of trash removed, and probably more importantly, we feel that cleanups are the gateway for volunteers and people from all walks of life to become aware of the issue and feel empowered to take action. Through data collection, tracking item by item will create a moment of reflection that is truly invaluable. A beach clean-up is also an opportunity to gather new data about the state of our coasts and the types of trash that pollutes them. By identifying the most harmful debris items, environmental groups can find ways to stop them from entering the ocean or being littered again on beachesWe work with the local community as well helping with the reforestation of the areas nearby. Some days, when the weather conditions are not suitable, we will focus on renovation work; painting or fixing things around and inside the house. We will upcycling garbage into art While creating bookshelves out of driftwood or designing a chair with old tires and nets, your imagination is the limit Our work will depend on weather conditions, which is why we must be flexible. Working hours are about 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. You should be prepared for unfriendly weather, as they say: if you dont like the Icelandic weather, just wait 5 minutes it might change.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will be staying in the house of Worldwide Friends in BrE . The house has 12 double rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, several bathrooms, common areas, workshop rooms, and galleries. House capacity 30Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bags, but beds and sheets are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge. Access to a washing machine.Food is included for the duration of the work camp; however, everyone is expected to do their fair share of the cooking and cleaning. We provide a well-balanced and healthy variety of food products that includes a wide variety of whole grains, seasonal fruits and amp; vegetables, pantry staples, and dairy products. A vegetarian diet is encouraged.
📍 About the location
Worldwide Friends Iceland is running a center of Environment and amp; Sustainability near the crossroads to the West, South, and North of Iceland. The center is called BREs, and it is located in Hrutafjordur which is 36 km long fjord in Hunathing vestra, on the R1. Keep in mind that is a 1-hour drive to the closest city (Borganes). Based just off the main road, we are not set in a town, therefore the only way to get around is by car. BrE s stunning surrounding countryside offers the perfect tonic to relax and leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life.Around the house, you can find a lot of pure and unspoiled nature, waterfalls, rivers, canyons, and craters. The purpose of the center is to protect nature in the area and to raise awareness of sustainability among the locals and the visitors who are coming to the area. The area nearby is great for hiking. The best time to see aurora borealis in Iceland is between September and April. Its when the nights are dark enough to see the Aurora. Iceland only gets 2-4 hours of daylight in midwinter, providing endless opportunities to hunt for aurora borealis.We will also concentrate on intercultural learning and exchange. Every evening, volunteers from different countries will be in charge of presenting their country of origin and culture in an informal way. It can be a presentation, a game, or theatre ( the form of introduction is up to you Therefore, we encourage you to bring along some food, photos, or anything interesting related to your country for a fun and informative evening amongst other volunteers. WF Iceland will organize reasonably-priced weekend excursions to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights, such as waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, lava forests, hot springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam vents, or even icebergs. This workcamp allows you to spend an amazing time in Iceland with other international volunteers and to have an incredible experience where participants share their knowledge while exploring creativity, environmental issues, and intercultural learning.
ℹ️ Additional information
The first day of the camp is Arrival Day and the last day of the camp is Departure Day. The minibus will be at the meeting point in Reykjavik on the first day of the workcamp in the morning and arrive again at the Meeting point / BSE Bus Terminal in Reykjavik in the evening on the last day of the workcamp.Keep in mind that you need to arrange for your stay in Iceland before and after the workcamp.
