Ecovillage - One with Nature
Coordinator | Sebastian
Coordinator | Sebastian
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Disconect from the daily routine and experience the Icelandic Nature
Volunteer alongside participants from all around the world
Wok in the first Eco village in Iceland!
Join in the Golden Circle excursion and discover waterfalls, national parks, and the Geysir
Either work at the forest planting trees and taking care of them or give a hand at the greenhouses and practice organic agriculture
Volunteers at the one and only Ecovillage in the South of Iceland. You will have the opportunity to do forestry work, organic agriculture, and workshops.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+
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.
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
Typical day
- 8:00 Breakfast & Getting ready
- 9:00-12:00 Work (with a coffee break)
- 12:00 to 13:00 Lunch
- 13:00-16:00 Work (with a coffee break)
- 16:00 to 18:00 Free time
- 18:00 Workshop
- 19:00 Dinner
- 20:00 Movie Night
Free-time activities
Excursions:
WF Iceland will organize reasonably-priced weekend or
one-day 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;
- Golden Circle (Included in the camp fee)
- South Coast
- Geldinganes volcano
- And more….
Swimming
Sightseeing
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Hiking
Sports
Yoga/
Meditation
Meditation
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak English (intermediate level)
required
CV and ID
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
Volunteers must be able to do physical work.
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
from
09:00
- 16:00
What's Included
Th
e fees include: WF Cancellation fees & charges As we start to incur costs from the time the contract is confirmed we will apply cancellation charges as shown below from the time when written notification of the cancellation is received: Code of Conduct In order to have adequate conduct during the program, the following points are established that must be complied with without exception.
The house is across the village and is shared with the local workers. WF has allocated 4 double rooms with private bathrooms. The house has;
- Laundry room
- Kitchen
- Living room
- Dining room
- Gym access
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 & vegetables, pantry staples, dairy products, and vegetarian/vegan options. We try to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet by cutting down our meat intake and we usually encourage volunteers to try more sustainable dishes.
Since it is always nice to try new and different dishes, volunteers are encouraged to bring along their favorite recipes or ingredients from home!
*Breakfast is individual activity
*Lunch is served at the cafeteria
*Dinner is prepared by the group
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.
The nearest airport is Keflavik International Airport (KEF) in Reykjavik. We assist you to find cheap flights to Iceland.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Iceland provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Iceland you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Iceland.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
The first day of the camp is Arrival Day and the last day of the camp is Departure Day
Arrival
Participants will be picked up at the City Hall of Reykjavik in Tjarnargata 11 101 Reykjavik at 09.00 am at the first day of the camp.
Departure
Drop off will be on the evening of the last day of the program at BSI Bus Station. You will arrive no sooner than 18:00. The time may vary due to adverse weather conditions and other related conditions.
Note: the night of the last day of the camp is NOT included. Keep in mind that you need to arrange for your stay in Iceland before and after the work camp. We strongly recommend arriving in Iceland at least one day before the first day of the camp and to depart no earlier than one day after the last day of the program.
- The program starts on Monday to Monday, every 4 weeks;
- 09.01
- 06.02
- 06.03
- 03.04
- 01.05
- 29.05
- 26.06
- 24.07
- 21.08
- 18.09
- 16.10
- 13.11
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
4 - 24 weeks
Program fees
4 weeks
(min. stay)
$1,356
6 weeks
$2,034
8 weeks
$2,712
10 weeks
$3,390
12 weeks
$4,068
14 weeks
$4,746
24 weeks
(max. stay)
$8,136
Average fees
$339
/week
The organization charges its fees in EUR. The price table in USD is subject to currency fluctuation.
Worldwide Friends
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with Worldwide Friends during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
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Ecovillage - One with Nature
Volunteers at the one and only Ecovillage in the South of Iceland. You will have the opportunity to do forestry work, organic agriculture, and workshops.
$300/week
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