Volunteering at the feet of Eyjafjallajökull

WORK/PROJECT: For the fifth year, SEEDS volunteers will be working at a farm in the South of Iceland, at the feet of the famous Eyjafjallajökull, which last erupted in 2010.

The tasks will mainly be focused on the lambing season. Volunteers main task will be to watch over the sheep and assist them during these two weeks of the lambing season.

The working plan will be flexible and it will depend on the needs of our hosts as well as weather conditions. Volunteers will likely be divided into smaller groups that will take turn on shifts. Volunteers will do some nightshifts as well as dayshifts. The work will be physical and very demanding.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to live and work with an Icelandic family, participating in the diverse tasks of their daily lives. This is a unique opportunity to experience first-hand how a family in the countryside lives. The farm is big, with sheep, cows and horses. The owners have their own production which volunteers will have the opportunity to learn about.

ACCOMMODATION: In this camp volunteers will be hosted in a partly renovated farmhouse, sleeping together in one big room on mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag. The house is a fully equipped home, with access to a kitchen, bathroom and washing machine.

Volunteers will share the different duties of cooking and cleaning. Please remember to bring some traditional or typical food from your home country for the international evening.

LOCATION: The work camp is located in a farm in the beautiful south lowlands of Iceland. Volunteers will be able to explore and enjoy the surroundings, the land is mostly made out of sand and rock sediments delivered by the river Þjórsá during the last centuries. The land is covered by green grass and the closeness of the ocean can be felt in the air. Small earthquakes that can rarely be felt are very common in the area since the mid-Atlantic ridge goes across Iceland and the southern lowland is situated between the two largest tectonic plates in the world, the Eurasian and North American plate.

The south of Iceland is one of the most popular destinations for travellers as the landscape offers diverse and breathtaking nature. Rivers and waterfalls, mountains, glaciers and long beaches form a contrast and offer a wide range of experiences. In this area you will find some of Iceland's most beautiful places, like Þórsmörk, Tindfjöll, Eyjafjallajökull, Skógarfoss, Seljalandsfoss (a waterfall you can walk behind) and Paradísarhellir (Paradise Cave) in addition to finding unique natural and geological heritage sites and relics of a centuries-old forest. Furthermore, the ferry to the Westman-islands is very close. The islands are beautiful and offer a great opportunity to see the aftermath of a volcanic eruption, as a third of the town was buried under lava in the year 1973.

LANGUAGE: English will be the language in 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 special shared transport from Reykjavík to the camp which includes the Golden circle excursion. This excursion will be organised on the first day of the camp and it is included in the fee of the project. Departure time will be at 9:00 in the morning.

Apart from being cheaper than regular public services or tour operators, it also 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 250 (Euros). Please note that these fees are to be paid to SEEDS on arrival in either Euros or Icelandic krónas.

Volunteers need to be motivated to work outdoors and be willing to take part in all the diverse tasks included in the project. The work is very physical. Please bring warm clothes.

This is a place of extremely beautiful natural surroundings with countless opportunities to hike and discover it by foot. Volunteers will have the opportunity to go horse-back riding during the project.

Age: 18+