During the six weeks, you will travel around Iceland starting in Reykjavik for two days, spending twelve days in our sustainable center in the Northwest, two weeks in Raufarhöfn near to the Arctic circle, and two weeks in Stödvarfjörður in the east of Iceland.
Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the denominators of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 300,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.
Brú the sustainable center of Worldwide Friends is near to the crossroads to the West, South, and North of Iceland in the area of Hrutafjordur which is a 36 km long fjord in Hunathing vestra. In the neighborhood, you can find a lot of pure and unspoiled nature, beaches full of driftwood, Snæfellsnes peninsula, glaciers in the highlands, waterfalls, strong rivers, canyons, and craters. The purpose of the center is to protect the nature in the area and to raise the awareness of sustainability among the locals and the visitors who are coming to the area.
The house is more than 1.000 m² and has 16 double rooms, two kitchens, several bathrooms, and common areas, rooms for workshops, and galleries. It has its own generator to produce electricity for heating and daily use. We are renewing the generator and it will be up and running at the end of the year.
The village of Raufarhöfn is the community that lies farthest north in Iceland. It is located in the eastern part of Melrakkasletta close to the Arctic Circle. The population of Raufarhöfn is about 200 and most of the people there earn their living from fishing and fish processing. The harbor is very beautiful and partly shaped by nature itself. A wide and untouched open area surrounds the village with a lot of birds and varied vegetation. In summer one will observe wild migratory birds within the village being a part of the village life with the villagers most often waking up in the morning to the songs of birds. The coastline with its inlets and creeks is filled with driftwood and reaches out into the Arctic Sea. Away and on the surface of the sea various sea-birds will be spotted and an occasional seal. On the beach waders strut and inland on the grassy moorlands, there are dozens of lakes filled with trout. In the vicinity, many species of ducks, waders, and species that favor heaths and moorlands may be observed.
Stödvarfjörður
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 harbors depict postcard-like fishing villages and seemingly never-ending roads cross the region, providing beautiful views. “Fjarðabyggð" is an association of villages in the Eastern fjords of Iceland. It includes the towns of Eskifjörður,
Fáskrúðsfjörður, Mjóifjörður, Neskaupstaður, Reyðarfjörður, Breiðdalsvík 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 rich sea life, a great variety of birdlife, and countless breathtaking hiking paths. You will explore the area during your stay in the east.
Volunteers will do clean the coastline in different parts of the island and help to recycle the plastic which we are collecting there. Working hours are 4 - 6 hours per day five days a week. Most of the mornings during the program we will have workshops for two hours about the sustainable development goals of the UN with a special focus on climate changes. The main goal of this project is to improve the environmental education and consciousness of the participants. Within the project, we will learn about green energy, sustainable householding, waste treatment, nutrition, the effects of consumption, and lots more. In addition to the theoretical part, we are going to practice sustainable work. The clean-up of the coastline is the main task but we will also plant trees during the camp. Planting trees becomes a very useful action against climate change because trees absorb carbon dioxide, clean the air, and prevent erosions. Our work will depend on weather conditions, which is why we must be flexible. You should be prepared for unfriendly weather, but hopefully, the weather will be nice most of the time. This is a perfect camp for people who like outdoor work and physical challenges.