During the past 6 months, more than 380 international volunteers from 42 different countries came to Iceland to join SEEDS activities and support diverse types of projects, ranging from environmental and nature-protection to cultural, festivals and sports gatherings.

 

Together with local communities and Icelandic associations, a total of 30 projects, lasting for 2 weeks at the time and with sizes between 8 and 22 participants, took place in every corner of the Icelandic map, from Sandgerði and Garður to Kópasker and Raufarhöfn; from the Djúpavík and Selárdalur areas to Þórsmörk and Hvammstangi, from Reykjavík and Viðey to Þórshöfn and the Langanes Peninsula, including more locations as Bíldudalur, the Bláfjöll mountain range, the new Vatnajökull National Park, Landmanalaugar, Keflavík, Suðureyri and Tálknafjörður.

 

Next Saturday we will see a great evening with an exhibition opening with a difference! Led by SEEDS EVS and long term volunteers, we will put on display the entries for “the Beauty and the beast competition”, a contest for groups of volunteers throughout Europe to show that waste can be re-used (and be beautiful).

 

The artwork produced by the camps will be presented at a reception on Saturday October 18th at 16:00 in the Gallerí Tukt at Hitt Húsið, which will be opened by SEEDS volunteers and members. Snacks and drinks will be served and the reception is open to the public.

 

The artwork will find a new home at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. What used to be local garbage will become international art -alongside artworks from similar projects. The project is a part of UNESCO's Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (www.unesco.org). The project is organised by SEEDS, which cooperates with CCIVS, the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service at UNESCO (www.unesco.org/ccivs).

 

Supporting festivals, cultural and sports gatherings in Iceland such as the Dynjandi Gallery openings in Arnarfjörður in May and August, the Culture Night, Gay Pride and Marathon in Reykjavík, the Youth Arts Festival in Hvammstangi and the Viðey summer festival in August along with the RIFF – Reykjavík International Film Festival in September and October show the strong participation, contribution and geographic presence of our volunteers in Iceland during 2008.

 

The running of SEEDS’ own projects and Youth Exchanges such as the Reykjavík Photo Marathon and July’s "GREEN LOOPS" Renewable Energy exchange in Reykjanesbær also contributed to raising environmental awareness in Iceland this year.

 

This is part of SEEDS' work through volunteer exchanges to preserve the environment, promote cultural activities in Iceland and create peace and mutual understanding at a global scale.

 

For more information please visit http://www.seedsiceland.org