KRÝSUVÍK RENOVATION

Veraldarvinir has been engaged for a long time, and has made an agreement with Hafnarfjarðarbær for the use of the residential building and greenhouses damaged for many years, the reconstruction work has begun. It will take time to put everything in place, but with good will and hard work, it will succeed.

Veraldarvinir and GFF will continue to cover the sparse areas of Krýsuvíkurland with vegetation.

During the reclamation process, the use of horse manure and other organic materials will be favored to bring the land to life.

Young trees will be planted over an area of approximately 300 hectares.

At the same time, the space will serve as a teaching space and research platform for students.

The plastic will be collected from the beaches, after sorted and recycled.

Mould and seeds collected will be placed in trays and cuttings will be grown in the Krýsuvík greenhouses.

The circular economy will flourish, Krýsuvík will live up to its name.

Everyone is welcome to visit this wonderful place.

Allir velkomnir

The house is located around thirty minutes from Reykjavik and at the same time surrounded by beautiful Icelandic nature. When we go there the first time, we will really amazed by the incredible landscape. From the house you have a view on the ocean and lot of mountains it surrounded by Lakes, natural hot springs and old lava fields. In the breaks we found out that it is a perfect place to go hiking.

In the first days at the house we looked around and thought about where is the best to start and realized how many possibilities there are. Because the house is very large and has three floors with many rooms.

In addition there were countless pieces of furniture and many personal items from the family which has lived in the house 20 years ago.

So in the beginning we had to separate all staff in the things we can reuse and trash. After this we had days of moving many furnitures to other places that we could start to renovate somewhere. In between we sometimes had other tasks like remove the wood from the windows, to have more light or removing old floors.

Than we already could start to when you way the kitchen one batroom and remove old paint from doors.

By Hanna and Guillermo

LET ME PRESENT YOU LENKA FROM SLOVAKIA, FRANCESCO FROM ITALY AND LOIC FROM FRANCE

Francesco : Today I'm working as a nurse in a medical center, but I'll try to keep in mind sustainability by using less paper and using the recycling containers for the things that are thrown away.

Lenka : I've been working for a telecommunication company since I returned from Iceland and it really isn't related to sustainability.

Loic : I'm a filmmaker, making documentaries about wildlife, travels and adventures. It's not really related to sustainability, I came with WF to help in the RIFF (Reykjavik International Film Festival) and I am still trying to work in the movie industry today.

2.

Francesco : We mostly cooperated with the community in Eskifjordur doing some manteinance jobs for the place in green areas, but we also want collecting rubbish from the seashore once.

Lenka : I was a workcamp leader in 5 workcamps. We were planting trees, cleaning beaches, marking hiking trails, we did some volunteering work for local communities.

Loic : As I said, I came to volunteer for the RIFF, where I was responsible of the drivers schedule. But I also lead several workcamps before the RIFF mission started, like helping cleaning nature in Vik or Eskifjourdfur, but also some cultural workcamps in Reykjavik or in the East.

3. HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE IN ICELAND INFLUENCED YOUR WAY OF LIVING ?

Francesco : We were a multicultural group coming from all over the world. Helped me improve my English, knowing myself better, getting to know other cultures and food, opening my mind for further trips, and understanding that we are all a family in this world, with common problems and same search for love.

Loic : It had a huge influence on me, especially through the people that I met there, from all over the world, and some became such good friends. It also gave me the motivation to start traveling by myself to keep discover more.

Lenka : If there is an opportunity, I go volunteering. I learnt how to live with different people with different needs. I know how to crochet, thanks ladies. I don't mind sleeping in challenging accommodation and I know how to make shopping for 40 people :)

Francesco : I remember when we went swimming in the fjord but it was terrible because the fish factory there dumped the wasted straight into the sea and we were smelling like fish, but also the parties together and when my Japanese friend Yuki left and I cried because we became really close after only 2 weeks of work camp.

Lenka : First of all, I will remember my 10 friends that were my family for 7 months. Swimming pools, parties, beer, rain, wind, 25C and sunburn in the north, broken thumb, hiking the famous Landmannalaugar - Þórsmörk hike, and I could go on... . I had a great workcamp in the east of Iceland, Neskaupstaður. We had a great time as a group, we helped the local community and they invited us to their home. My co-leader Gerald was great "partner in crime". Recently I found out that he passed away and that make me think how precious our lives are wherever you are.

Loic : I will never forget my first weeks there, when I discover all the people that I will live with during 8 months, lots of trainings, games and expeditions all together. It was maybe the first time I was experiencing something so liberating. And I never also forget the day I left, I never cried so much (like for real!).

Francesco : Unfortunately not so much even though I still follow some of them on Facebook.

Loic : Of course! I met again lots of them in other places in the world. And now, after 10 years, we are organizing a reunion to meet again in Iceland and reminisce about good all times. We'll be back there in May 2023.

Lenka : Yes, with some. One girl lives in the same city so we meet from time to time. I can see some people on social medias. And I can't forget my Icelandic father Toti who I managed to visit last year.

Francesco : Enjoy every moment of the journey and open your hearts and minds to new people and nature, it will make you truly wealthy!

Lenka : Just enjoy every single moment of it! Enjoy living with other people from different countries. It's a lifetime opportunity to live like this. Do volunteering, go hiking, swim a lot and learn some icelandic, jæja.

Loic : I don't have much of an advice to give, just enjoy Iceland and the company of others as best as you can, because it's a unique experience that most of people on the planet doesn't have the opportunity to live.

By Jorina, Maja, Sara and