Health and Environment Supporter

Project location:
Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field.

This provides heat for hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers, and vegetable are produced throughout the year. Even bananas grow in these greenhouses! The name Hveragerði means“hot springs garden”. Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeline and chances are you won’t find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. Nearby you will find an even more geothermally active site: Gufudalur, the lovely “Steam Valley” behind the town. This whole valley is full of hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles, and steam vents. 

Our host is a non-profit organization called the NLFI Rehabilitation and Health Clinic, which is a part of the Natural Health Association of Iceland. Every year approximately 2,000 patients and other guests enjoy their diverse rehabilitation programs, which are focused on an approach that builds self-confidence and personal responsibility for the patients’ own health. Since its foundation in 1955, the clinic has earned a solid reputation, both in Iceland and internationally, for personal and effective care of patients. It is one of the two most important rehabilitation clinics in Iceland. In the last years, this ongoing camp has been the most popular camp in our organization.

Work:

The Natural Health Association has a horticultural and environmental department. This includes forestry, gardening, and greenhouses, which is where Worldwide Friends volunteers work most of the time. Volunteers will help with growing tomatoes, cucumbers and making tea made of Icelandic herbs, and also do some environmental work around the property. The nature of the work depends largely on weather conditions, which can change quickly. Volunteers should bring clothes appropriate for outdoor work, but also clothes for working inside the warm greenhouses. Working hours are usually from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and volunteers will have a one-hour lunch break.

We will give a special focus on global warming during the camp and the volunteers will have workshops about climate change and sustainability. The issue of global warming is well known all over the world. Humanity must act in a more environmental and sustainable way. Within the project, we will learn about green energy, sustainable householding, waste treatment, nutrition, the effects of consumption, and lots more. If you want to change something, develop solutions, or inspire others, you have to understand the issues and tasks first.

• 7:30 Breakfast
• 8:00 - 10:30 Working in the greenhouse
• 10:30 - 11:00 Break
• 11:00 - 12:00 Working in the greenhouse
• 12: 00 Lunch
• 13:00 - 15:00 Working in the greenhouse
• 15:00 Free time
• 20:00 Dinner
• 21:30  Planned activity (Ex. Movie night, game night, aurora hunting, pool)

Worldwide Friends volunteers have free access to the local geothermally-heated swimming pool. Traditionally, natural pools have played an important social role in Icelandic culture. Most Icelandic pools offer indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as hot tubs and saunas or steam rooms. 

Hveragerði is known for having great areas for hiking, including the hot river in Reykjadalur. WF Iceland will also organize reasonably-priced weekend excursions to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland can offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights, such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysers, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents or even icebergs.