Hveragerði – health and environment
Code: WF01
Date: 07.06 - 21.06
Type: ENVI / MANU
10 volunteers
Project and location:
Hveragerði is a small town of about 1,700 inhabitants that lies some 45 km east of Reykjavík. This friendly little community sits on top of a highly active geothermal field which provides heat for hundreds of greenhouses where fruit, flowers and vegetables are produced throughout the year. Even bananas grow in these greenhouses! The name Hveragerði means ‘hot springs garden.’ Geothermal energy is Hveragerði’s lifeblood, and you probably won’t find such a natural wonder in the middle of a populated area anywhere else in the world. A very interesting site is Gufudalur, the lovely ‘Steam Valley’ behind the town. The whole valley explodes with hot springs, geysers, mud pots, fumaroles and steaming vents.
Our host is the Rehabilitation and Health Clinic which is a part of the Nature Health Association of Iceland located in Hveragerdi. The Clinic is a place of choice for all those who are in need of rehabilitation, regaining their strength or simply in need to rest. It has earned a solid reputation, both in Iceland and internationally, since its foundation in 1955 for personal and effective care of patients. It is the oldest sanatorium in Iceland and, one of the two most important rehabilitation clinics in Iceland. Every year approximately 2,000 patients and other guests enjoy the diverse rehabilitation programs.
The Clinic does its best to meet the needs of all guests by enhancing their physical as well as mental well being. The basic philosophy is to build up clients’ health and improve their quality of life and well being. The approach builds self-confidence and individual awareness of the fact that only he or she is responsible for his/her own health.
Mud baths, herbal baths, therapeutic massage and lymphatic drainage massage are some of the special therapies used in combination with other treatments. The association has a horticultural and environmental department with forestry and greenhouses. The volunteers will mainly work in that field.
Work: The work will mostly be focused on forestry, gardening and greenhouse work. We will also pick some herbs for making tea
The amount and type of work will depends largely on weather conditions, therefore we have to be flexible. You should be prepared for unfriendly weather, even though, hopefully, it will be nice most of the time.
Leisure time: Free access to the local swimming pool.
Accommodation & Food: We will be staying in a very nice fully equipped flat. Participants are asked to bring a sleeping bag.
All meals will be provided and cooked by our hosts. The food in the project will mainly be vegetarian food, but two times a week we will have delicious Icelandic fish. The food in this place is very well known here in Iceland for the high standard of quality.
Language: The language of the work camp is English.
Extra info: There is an extra participation fee of 120 Euros for this work camp.
Terminal: Intl. Airport: Keflavík (KEF), Reykjavík. WF Iceland will organize a minibus to the project site for a fair prize.