Eyrarbakki - Stepping back in time

WORK/PROJECT:  This project gives SEEDS volunteers the opportunity to work in cultural and festival related tasks in Eyrarbakki, a village in the South of Iceland which is very rich in culture and history.

We will have the unique opportunity to take part in an annual village festival dedicated to the spirit of 1900.  We will work together with the locals preparing the village for and running the festival Aldamótahátíð (Turn of the century festival). We will help preparing the town for hosting hundreds of visitors and assisting in various tasks in the village. Residents and visitors dress up in the spirit of 1900. Volunteers with artistic skills or just enthusiasm to perform are welcome to develop their ideas and the local hosts will try to include them in the schedule.

We will be involved in preparing, participating and then taking down the festival. The area will be prepared for the events, after them we will help to get the area in its former shape.

As many events and happenings will be going on at the same time during the festival, we may work in teams in different stations at different times. Furthermore SEEDS volunteers may help our hosts in his activates as a tour operator in one of the most beautiful part of Iceland.

SEEDS volunteers may help cleaning up the coastline to maintain its wild untouched appearance.

ACCOMMODATION: SEEDS volunteers will be lodged in a community house in sleeping bag accommodation, sharing rooms. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

Volunteers will receive food and be in charge of cooking and cleaning activities. Please do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The project takes place in Eyrarbakki, a small village in South Iceland. The town played an important role in trading; the towns’ prime time was from middle of the 18th century to the early 19th century. During that time the town life flourished and expanded around the houses of the Danish trading area. The population grew fast and at its peak, the inhabitants were around 1000 at 1920, but decreased to 530 - 550 during the last decades.

The historical importance of the town is directly linked to the port, which was an entrance to the country in international trade, churches and bishops in the country had their goods and material for building delivered through Eyrarbakki. In the 18^th century Danish merchants were permitted to live in Iceland, which led them to start building and importing houses and settle down in the town.

The town is renowned for its charming old houses and one of oldest house of Iceland, from 1765 is located in the town. Other old houses are there and locals have put effort and energy in maintaining and renovating them, so the town holds more to its original outlook.

Few kilometres out of town is the Flói Nature Reserve, a paradise for wetland birds, with a marked circular hiking trail through the marshes. The surroundings are amazing, open sea, beautiful coastline; nearby you will find places such as Gullfoss, Geysir, Skálholt, Þórsmörk, Skógarfoss, as the very well known and notorious Eyjafjallajökull.  The distance from the capital is about 70 km.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language of the camp; basic conversational skills are needed.

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

SEEDS organises a “minibus option”, a shared transport from Reykjavík to the camps and back. Apart from being cheap and convenient, it allows volunteers to meet fellow campers and have a relaxed trip, while stopping on the way for interesting sites.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 200 (Euros).

Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

The camp is located in a place of stunningly beautiful surroundings with countless walking and hiking opportunities. 

Age: 20+