Unforgettable memories are what our volunteers are bringing back from Iceland, where they took part in a European Solidarity Corps project hosted by WF Iceland.
What did they work on? How did they spend their free time? What moved them the most?
You can find out by reading their story.
Góðan daginn! Throughout July 2026, our team was part of a European Solidarity Corps project in which we helped the maintenance of forests in Siglufjörður and Ólafsfjörður.
In Siglufjörður, we had several different tasks. Some of them included cutting dead branches of trees to help them grow more efficiently, fixing fences that surrounded the forest to protect the trees from sheep and other animals that could damage them, cutting grass to improve the circulation on the already existing paths and doing invasive species management, namely with lupines (Lupinus nootkatensis). We frequently removed them in order to protect the endemic flora.
In Ólafsfjörður, we helped plant 7000 trees to support reforestation in the area. We also cut grass, removed lupines, and cleared out paths to allow a better circulation.
It should be noted that all of this work was carried out with the help of the local communities, notably Rut Viðarsdóttir, Kristrún Halldórsdóttir and Óli (Ólafur Baldursson) in Siglufjörður, and Anna María (Anna María Guðlaugsdóttir) in Ólafsfjörður.
During the project, we had the opportunity to learn about Iceland’s ecosystems and why our work made so much sense. The island used to be covered with forests, but back in the Viking Age, trees were cut down for boats, houses, and other needs. Today, only about 2% of the country is still forested. This lack of trees makes the soil much more vulnerable to erosion which can make streams dry up more quickly, the soil easily washing away, and climate becoming warmer and drier.
Creating forests in previously unforested areas can bring various advantages, namely, preventing landslides and avalanches. Both of these phenomena have reaped several lives in Iceland.
Besides the work conducted outside and together with the local communities, there was work inside too. Some of the tasks included making bread, cooking meals for everyone and contributing to the house maintenance. Living in a space with so many people inevitably involves sharing tasks, respecting each other’s boundaries and learning to behave in a way that is beneficial to the group dynamic and spirit. So, co-living turned out to be an adventure itself!
However, this month spent on the island included much more than just work inside and outside the house. During our stay we had a chance to visit a few local events — folk music and dance festival, fishing festival or Sterkasti maður Íslands (Strength athletics in Iceland). We discovered a major part of Siglufjörður’s history — the Herring Era — through workshops and visiting the museum. The project also gave us an opportunity to learn a lot about different cultures, customs, traditions, languages and cuisines. Besides the Icelandic experience, we also hosted two cultural workshops — Polish and Iberian. They both turned out to be fun and educational, while also bringing the entire group together as we prepared and enjoyed food from Poland, Spain and Portugal.
During our free time we always aimed to connect with the locals, spend time in nature while hiking or try water sports such as kayaking. There was always something to do, whether it involved taking part in activities or simply respecting each other’s need to relax and stay indoors whenever we felt like it. Yet, our team shared a deep understanding of the unique charm of the region. It awakened in us a desire to explore and experience as much as possible during our month of co-living in this truly magical place.
The whole experience was unforgettable, not only because of Iceland and its beautiful nature, but also because of the wonderful people with whom we shared it. Either everyone who was part of the project was incredibly easy to live with, or somehow we were simply lucky enough to become a wonderful little community where everything seemed to fall into place. Shared dinners and late-night conversations, board games, listening to music and, of course, dancing became an essential part of our everyday life together. The energy between the people and the laughter that could be heard wherever you looked made this month even more special and beautiful. These are the moments and memories that we will carry with us long after the project is over.
