Volunteering for SEEDS Iceland: A Talk with Hella and Michał
Becoming a volunteer is a great opportunity to give back to the community, create a vision based on intercultural understanding and exchange, and have fun while doing it. SEEDS Iceland was founded in 2005 and is a non-profit NGO, a non-governmental organization, that relies on volunteers from all around the world. Its main focus is to promote and raise awareness of environmental, social, and cultural projects in Iceland. SEEDS coordinates a network of volunteers and other crucial partners, including local authorities, communities, and other associations. In addition, some of their long-term projects are supported by the Youth in Action and Lifelong Learning programs of the European Commission.
According to their website, in 2015, SEEDS organized about 140 projects located in every corner of Iceland. They hosted over 1200 international volunteers from 50 different countries, performing over 75,000 hours of valuable volunteer work. Since 2010, SEEDS has also sent over 100 Icelanders to help with projects around the world. I had the opportunity of mentoring two SEEDS volunteers for the year 2020-2021, Hella Wagner and Michał Grabowski, who agreed to speak with me about their experiences in Iceland.
Photo / Szymon Podubny Photos
Photo / Fekete Emese
Why did you choose to volunteer for SEEDS Iceland?
MG. I liked the idea of being a world camp leader. A world camp is a sort of small project we hold when other volunteers arrive [that involves] sessions about the environment and some activities such as trash hunting and beach cleaning and also organizing some excursions around the country. I also considered the topic of the environment important, since I had already taken part in a few workshops about it. I have been leading some of the projects here.
HW. My decision was a bit random. I wanted to do something useful after finishing university before jumping into a real-life job, so I was looking for opportunities like this. The reason I chose SEEDS is that Iceland seemed an interesting, almost exotic place to visit and live. Also, one of my friends was a volunteer for SEEDS and she recommended it to me.
What were your main tasks as volunteers?
MG. Sharing knowledge, mostly through online camps.
HW. The few times we organized physical camps we also participated in beach clean-ups with the Blue Army. In autumn, we also went to plant trees with the forest association. We did trash hunting after New Year’s Eve, collecting [debris from] the fireworks. We helped out with the Red Cross, selling clothes in their shops and also sorting clothes in the warehouse.
MG. We [also] get bread and pastries from bakeries that they did not sell throughout the day. Basically dumpster diving, without the diving.
Is there any sustainable life-hack that you learned during your time with SEEDS?
HW. We learned how to plant trees, which might come in handy some day. I think I know more about how to separate trash now. I did it back at home before, but I was less aware of how to do it correctly. I just realize now after all these eco-friendly workshops that I had been throwing some things in the wrong bins. I also learned some DIY cosmetics recipes from fellow volunteers. We had our own little plants on the windows here. We were trying to grow some herbs like parsley, and we actually ended up growing up a small carrot accidentally [laughs].
MG. We acquired more skills and knowledge by listening to other volunteers’ presentations and doing research for our presentations. I don’t really have any particular life-hack, I just learned more about the topic itself.
What are the best memories you have from this experience?
MG. The best moments are when you are so close to the other volunteers that you sit all together comfortably in silence and without any worries. You don’t feel the pressure to do anything. Sometimes we are just watching a fireplace video and everyone feels safe and at ease.
HW. There’s hardly anything I could add about it. These small things are hard to pinpoint and frame. Of course, sometimes we went on excursions and I saw a beautiful view I thought I would remember forever. But the simple hanging-out moments have been the best. The social part of volunteering has been very present during our time here.
Do you have anything to add?
MG. Getting involved with SEEDS and working towards sustainability equals meeting loads of amazing people, which I strongly recommend!
HW. I stand behind that. Since I am leaving very soon, I have said my last goodbyes today. I am very grateful for this opportunity, and I feel like it has been a good chance to grow as a person.