Organic gardening and forestry activities in the Solheimar Eco-village

  Iceland

• Other Cities in Iceland: 
Reykjavik

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: Solheimar Eco-village, founded in 1930, is the first community of its kind in the world where so-called able and disabled people live and work together. Inspired by the theories of Rudolf Steiner, Solheimar has focused on cultivating the individual and the environmental, and is the first community in Scandinavia to practice organic cultivation. Today, Solheimar (The home of the sun) is a charming village of about 100 inhabitants, renowned for its international, artistic and ecological atmosphere, which prides itself on its varied cultural, social and sporting activities. The village is only one hour drive from Reykjavik.
The volunteers will mostly work in the Olur Forestry Centre (the only organic reforestation centre in Iceland) and in the Sunna Organic Cultivation Centre. More environmental tasks may pop up according to the needs of the community. The work in Olur and the other environmental tasks might consist of making paths and planting trees in the South Iceland Farm Forest. In Sunna we will be planting vegetables, digging weeds out and doing other kinds of gardening work.

Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool and to the fitness centre. Excursions will be organized by the hosts.

An extra fee of Euro 90 is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.

Highlights: If you are enthusiastic and open-minded, are looking for an exciting time and great experiences, ready to make friends with people from all around the world, while contributing for a good cause, you may find your charity project in our Volunteer Programs.

Cost in US$: USD 290

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Motivated to work voluntarily within an international team, tolerant, open-minded and cooperative person with adventurous spirit.

Age Range: 18 and over

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to Iceland Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

CADIP - Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects's Mission Statement: CADIP promotes peace, cooperation, tolerance and understanding in international, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural surroundings. The organization also promotes patterns and examples of civil activities focused on serving others, on building social ties and strengthening communities, on supporting civil society development. Aims and general objectives: * To promote volunteering as an expression of civic contribution * To strengthen the international contacts among young people * To build tolerance and understanding in multicultural and multi-ethnic surroundings *To promote multiunderstanding among youth all over the world * To facilitate the individual growth of the volunteers through the acquisition of work, life and learning skills * To work for the recognition and promotion of non-formal learning * To support the community initiatives and assist in community development.