SEEDS Winter Photo Marathon

WORK & STUDY/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers in this project will be part of the 8th SEEDS international photo marathon in the Icelandic capital! One of our objectives is to deliver messages and draw the attention to the local population through pictures and photos made during the camp! The main idea and task of the project is involvement and participation of the volunteers in the SEEDS Photo Marathon.

SEEDS coordinators (among them a professional international photographer) will have prepared few different topics on which the participants will base their entries to the competition; those topics will be mainly related to the work of SEEDS: Environment and intercultural understanding. Winter in the northern hemisphere offers a great opportunity to make photos, the beauty of new fallen snow and frozen water and the contrast of light and shadow are inspiration for many photographers.

Participants need to take their own digital cameras and its main work will be done by walking or cycling all around the city and taking photographs on the issues given; the best pictures will be selected for a final exhibition, which will be the last part of the project.

We shall be prepared for walking, flexible time schedule (early morning photo sessions, night photographing). A session in the surroundings of Reykjavík will be organised. We hope that volunteers will make a serious effort to achieve a high level of work with original ideas, interesting and creative results.

In this project we will also join the festive atmosphere in December 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 centre. At the end of the day, we will assist in taking down the stations and leaving the area clean.

ACCOMMODATION: We will stay in a local house in Reykjavík; sleeping in shared rooms. Bringing your own sleeping bag is needed.

We will receive food and be in charge of the different cooking and cleaning activities. Equipped kitchen and washing machine are available.

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

The population of the city is over 200,000 including the metropolitan area, so two thirds of Iceland's inhabitants live here. Reykjavík 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 hours of sunlight are few and 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.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language of the camp; high proficiency is not required.

TERMINAL: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

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

Participants are required to bring warm clothes. SEEDS will provide volunteers with passes to access free of charge the city's seven geothermal swimming pools and thermal-water beach. Tours and excursions will be arranged for SEEDS volunteers at discount fares.

AGE: 16+