Reykjavík: Hinsegin Dagar, Menningarnótt & Maraþon

WORK/PROJECT: The City of Reykjavík* will be our host again during these cultural and sports events, which are the largest ones in the country. We will be working in two main fields: Festivals and environment/green areas. During the period of time the workcamp takes place there will be 3 big festivals in the city, volunteers will be collaborating and helping around the different tasks before, during and after the festivals. This means that volunteers will work during the 2 weekends and will have two days off during the regular working/business days (Monday to Friday). The 3 big festivals are Hinsegin Dagar (The Gay Pride) on August 10-12, Menningarnótt (The Cultural Night) and Maraþon (The Reykjavik Marathon) during the second weekend, August 17-19. The working load will be heavier during the 2 weekends and out of the tasks related to the festivals we will be working with the Public areas department of the city, in charge of environmental affairs and green areas.

Volunteers will work before, during and after the festivals, helping in the many different activities related to their preparation and execution as re-arranging all again, once they are over.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be lodged in a building located in the centre of Reykjavík, sharing a large room and sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Volunteers are expected to cook their own meals, ingredients will be provided and the common tasks will be shared fairly.

LOCATION: Reykjavík*, the Icelandic capital, has been called Europe’s hottest capital. Slick advertising campaigns have championed the city’s famed nightlife. But there is more to Reykjavik than pubs and clubs. Reykjavík held the prestigious title European City of Culture in the year 2000; a welcome recognition of the energetic and colourful cultural life of the capital.

The world’s northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America, is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxaflói Bay. The population of the city is about 115,000 (40% of Iceland’s population) in the metropolitan area and 180,000 (60% of Iceland’s inhabitants) including its suburbs. It is growing steadily and 45% is younger than 30 years old; 83,1% of men and women aged 16-74 are active on the labour market. Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city in harmony with beautiful nature, using renewable energy sources, geothermal power and glacial rivers. It is an International city with a lively Cosmopolitan cultural scene.

Visitors to Reykjavik experience easily the pure energy at the heart of Iceland's capital city - whether from the boiling thermal energy underground, the natural green energy within the city and around it, or the lively culture and fun-filled nightlife. Reykjavik is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean on almost all sides. In the summer, you can sit by the harbour at midnight and watch the sun dip slightly below the horizon before it makes its way up again.

STUDY THEME: Environmental messenger in the project. S/he will be in charge of delivering ecological and global education messages to both, International volunteers and local hosts through organised activities. We intend to raise awareness and to encourage the participants to undertake simple but easy-to-implement actions which will affect the way we deal with the environment and the world we live in.

TERMINAL: Closest International Airport: Keflavík (Reykjavík), KEF. Closest bus terminal in Reykjavík.

* The name Reykjavík means “smoky bay”: Given by the first settlers that arrived to the area due to the high geothermal activity and the constant rise of steam out of the hot springs around.