Project Location:Sólheimar, Iceland‘s first and only eco-village, is located in
southwest Iceland, 80 kilometers long (50 miles) east of
Reykjavík. Founded in 1930 by a young visionary named
Sesselja Sigmundsdóttir (1902-1974), the place has become
reputable for its innovation and its ecological concept,
attracting visitors and volunteers from all over the world.
It is a community where people with or without special
needs live and work together. Sólheimar is a pioneer of
practicing organic farming. In Sólheimar there is an
organically certified greenhouse, forestry, and arboretum.
Other environmental-friendly projects in Sólheimar include
geothermal energy and recycling.
About the Ecovillage:
The heart of the Sólheimar ideology is to give all individuals a
fair chance and to maximize their potential. By focusing on
individuals' possibility instead of their limitations, Sólheimar
aims to create a space for each resident to take every
opportunity that arises for each person to grow and develop.
Versatility is the strength of Sólheimar so people with special
needs that reside here will always be the center of the
community. This works through the idea of reverse
integration: those without special needs adapt to the
abilities of those who do, and they can work together to make
their community one of an equal and sustainable one. The
foundation of the ideology of Sólheimar derives from the
visions and lifework of Sesselja herself. The eco-village is located in the countryside with no public transportation in the area.
Work:
The main work in this camp will be with the forestry called
Ölur and also in the greenhouses which are called Sunna.
Volunteers will be working in the greenhouses planting and
harvesting vegetables, doing weed control and sometimes
you will also be gardening. The work might involve work
around the property painting or fixing things. During the
winter volunteers will also have to help remove snow and
keep the walk paths clear for the residents.
Working hours are 09.00 to 16.00 with one hour break for
lunch and there are some coffee breaks as well.
Our work will depend on weather conditions, which is why we
must be flexible. You should be prepared for unfriendly
weather, as they say: if you don’t like the Icelandic weather,
just wait 5 minutes it might change.
Our work will depend on the needs of the local community
and the season. This is a perfect camp for people who like
outdoor work and physical challenges. Working hours are on
average 5-6 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Camp Leaders:
There are always one or more leaders for each camp,
depending on the size of the group. Leaders represent the
link between the hosting community, WF, and the group of
volunteers. They coordinate the work, organize leisurely
activities and plan excursions, shopping, and cooking
sessions.
Apart from these additional responsibilities, they are equal to
other volunteers. Most of our camp leaders are from other
countries, as we are very open-minded in hosting
international leaders from other organizations. All our
leaders start their program with one week of training.
During the Camp:
You will all participate in the elaboration of a Week Schedule,
dividing the tasks equally between all the volunteers and
camp leaders, which will include: Cooking, Cleaning, Work, and Free time. Breakfast is free, which means volunteers will cook
their own. For Lunch, you get to eat in the Eco-village Cafeteria and for Dinner you will cook in pairs, depending on the total amount as well for the cleaning
afterward.
Remember as you will be spending time with people from
different backgrounds/cultures sometimes it will be difficult
to adjust to different ways than yours. To prevent or resolve
conflicts that may occur in any social interaction, you should
maintain an attitude of respect for others, be open-minded
and willing to compromise, and know how to work together
calmly to resolve conflicts.
Understanding different cultures is not only critical, but it
also promotes ample coexistence.
Last Day:
Before you depart on the last day, all the camp will have a general house cleaning. You will all make sure that you don’t leave any rubbish behind. it is always nice to leave the house cleaner than the way you found it! We recommend packing lunch for your day trip. Make sure you leave your room clean & tidy. Please remember to change your bedsheets. Please make sure you have completed your Evaluation Form. Ask your camp leader for the link. Make sure you have packed all of your belongings! You will be picked up in the afternoon.
What to pack?
Hiking boots
Work gloves
Water bottle
Warm sleeping bag (we only provide bed sheets)
Towel
Swimsuit (to take advantage of the traditional swimming pools and hot springs)
Warm and waterproof clothes/shoes (you will spend a considerable time outdoors)
Snow gear (depending on the season)
Work clothes (Clothes you don't mind getting dirty)
Slippers/shoes for indoors, we don’t bring shoes inside the houses!
Raincoat
Pillow
Medication
Food, photos, or anything interesting related to your country for Intercultural Nights
Cash (ISK or Euros) for camp fees and excursions as we do not accept credit card payments on the spot.
Luggage allowance: 1 large suitcase and a small carry-on
