SEEDS 053. ISLAND OF VIÐEY (2/2)

Name: SEEDS 053. ISLAND OF VIÐEY (2/2)
Start: 2020-05-12
End: 2021-05-20
Location: Reykjavík, Iceland

Code: 879f486f-90db-11ee-9a63-fa163ef8d720 Copied

Iceland Construction Environment Renovation Farming Construction Environment +2 Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

Founded in 2005, SEEDS Iceland is an Icelandic non-governmental, non-profit volunteer organisation designed to promote intercultural understanding, environmental protection and awareness through work on environmental, social and cultural projects within Iceland.

SEEDS works closely with local communities, local authorities, individuals and other Icelandic associations both to develop projects in partnership, aimed at fulfilling an identified need, and to give vital assistance to established initiatives. Projects are designed to be mutually beneficial to all involved: the volunteers, the local hosting communities and Iceland as a whole.

Our projects in Iceland are supported by the local hosts and the volunteers participating in the project themselves; additionally we receive strong support for our long-term projects from the Youth in Action and Life Long Learning programmes of the European Commission.

Since 2005 SEEDS has hosted nearly 8000 international and local volunteers in our projects all around Iceland. In this time we increased our work with various environmental and conservation projects, we raised the number of projects related to culture, cultural activities, festivals & sports gatherings, and experimented with a number of new project concepts, including language and environmental education projects.

💼 What the programme involves

SEEDS volunteers will have the opportunity to work on the historical island of Viðey for the 18th year in a row with our host, the city of Reykjavík. Viðey is a popular destination during the summer among Icelandic and foreign visitors. Volunteers will help prepare the island for the winter season. Volunteers will beautify the surroundings by cleaning up the area, especially along the coastline, for instance by hand-picking garbage or collecting trash blown by the wind or brought by the sea to the shores and surroundings. SEEDS volunteers may carry out some gardening activities as well and possibly make and maintain walking paths. Well maintained paths enable people to visit the island without damaging it and this important work also helps to improve safety for visitors. Depending on the advance of the project and weather conditions, volunteers may have other possible tasks such as checking up and repairing garden furniture. The working day normally runs from 09:00 - 17:00 with breaks for lunch and coffee; however, please be prepared for some flexibility due to the nature of Iceland’s changeable weather, as we may not be able to perform some of the tasks or activities planned. The temperature in late August can drop during the evenings. Volunteers should have motivation to work outside and work in all kinds of weather, as it can get cold and rainy. The working plan is flexible and it will depend on the needs of our host. No previous experience is necessary.

🏠 Accommodation on site

SEEDS volunteers will be lodged in a local house on Viðey Island, in shared rooms. The facilities are equipped with a kitchen, shower, and a washing machine. Everyone is expected to show consideration for their companions. Participants will sleep in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Volunteers will receive food supplies and will be in charge of cooking and cleaning. Please note the food SEEDS provides will be vegetarian. Do not forget to bring some traditional/typical food, drinks, recipes, music, games or movies from your country for the intercultural evening. Please be aware some items or ingredients may be expensive in Iceland and you will need to buy them yourselves or bring them from your country.

📍 About the location

Viðey or Wood Island is the largest (1.7 km²) island in the Kollafjörður Bay, just outside Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. The island is covered by many species of plants and at least 30 species of breeding birds have been counted here. Viðey was inhabited soon after the settlement of Iceland in the 10th century. In the beginning of the 20th century, around 100 people lived there. Today the island is uninhabited. There is a regular ferry connection between the island and the harbour of Reykjavík. The island is only a few hundred metres away from the city and the trip takes a few minutes. This makes Viðey so special; it is a peaceful place, very close to the busy city life of the capital. There are hiking and cycling paths around the island and there is no motor traffic allowed. It also features intriguing sculptural artwork, amongst them all nine pairs of basalt pillars that comprise Richard Serra’s work Áfangar and Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace column, a tower of light, which is supported by the widow of John Lennon. Other places of interest on Viðey are related to archaeological research.

ℹ️ Additional information

Participation fee EUR 400 (Euros). The fee can either be transferred in advance via bank transfer, or paid in cash on arrival. It includes transportation from the meeting point to the camp (on the first day) and a whale watching trip. We will have rides with the ferry during free time; subject to its schedule.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.