Advent and Christmas in Reykjavík (1)

WORK/PROJECT: In December the city gets busy with people preparing for Christmas. SEEDS volunteers join the festive atmosphere and support the Reykjavík branch of the Icelandic Red Cross handing out hot chocolate in the city centre as a way of fundraising for its projects.

We will help in the preparation by putting up the chocolate stations, decorating the tables, making the chocolate and taking it to the different stations around the city. At the end of the day, we will assist in taking down the stations and leaving the areas clean.

In this time of the year many families struggle to make ends meet and need to reach out for support of any kind. The Red Cross organises food donations to them and we will assist them during this busy time. The tasks will be to put food packages together, organise and classify the food in stock and other related tasks.

Volunteers with artistic skills, such as singing, juggling, playing music are encouraged to apply for this camp as they will have the chance to perform during the chocolate handout and help to create a nice and friendly atmosphere.

ACCOMMODATION: We will stay in a fully equipped house in Reykjavík; sleeping in shared rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

We will receive food and be in charge of the different cooking and cleaning activities.

LOCATION: Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, often called "the nightlife capital of the north". But there is more to Reykjavík than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík also gathers the most interesting of Icelandic culture. It is an incubator of new ideas and styles which often indicates new global trends. It is an International city with a lively Cosmopolitan cultural scene.

The world's northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides.

The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland's inhabitants live here. It is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources - geothermal power and glacial rivers.

In December the city is lighten up with Christmas lights in "every window". During this month the changes to see spectacular Northern lights (aurora borealis) are high.

The warm geothermal swimming pools offer a great way of relaxation; dipping into a hot pot, surrounded by snow and stars shining above is an experience not to miss.

Iceland was badly hit with the contemporary financial crisis, which did affect the life for foreign visitors in a positive way, making Iceland a much cheaper country for to visit, the local currency greatly lost value -many goods and services cost (in EUR) just a half comparing to year 2007.

LANGUAGE: English will be the official language in the camp; high proficiency is not a requirement.

TERMINAL: Closest International Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF).

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 160,- (Euros).

Volunteers have to bring warm clothes, hats, gloves and scarves as part of the project takes place outside. SEEDS will provide volunteers with passes to access free of charge the city's seven geothermal swimming pools. This may sound a bit strange, since the weather is so cold, but the hot tubs as the pools in Reykjavík are in use the year round.

Tours and excursions will be arranged for SEEDS volunteers at discount fares.

AGE: 18+