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PARTNER

This is the nineteenth year (since 2008) that SEEDS organises a series of International Photography projects. In 2010 we also began offering these camps for teenagers. Throughout the year, participants from all over the world come to Iceland for an immersive photography-focused learning camp. SEEDS coordinators help participants to develop their unique photographic skills through workshops and feedback sessions on technical settings, compositional considerations, and creating conceptual frameworks that highlight each participants individual style.

WORK

Note that this is a learning/sharing camp and not a regular workcamp; this project has a smaller volunteer work part and emphasises the personal learning process over the community impact. We may be able to organise some outdoor voluntary work, but it depends on our partners and the weather conditions. Participants will have time to put the theory about photography into practice, exploring the city. At the end of the camp, the best photographs from each participant will be selected for an online exhibition on SEEDS social media. Participants should bring their own digital cameras, lenses, tripods, and laptops, if possible. While learning about photography, the participants have the opportunity to explore Icelandic culture through active participation: capturing it, engaging with it, and showcasing their work throughout the camp. One of our goals is to empower young people to use photography to highlight environmental and cultural subjects and issues.Participants should be ready to spend time outdoors walking medium to long distances during activities and working within a flexible schedule. Participants will be photographing in their free time outside of workshop hours with images to be discussed at group feedback sessions.This camp is open to participants aged 16 to 20. During their stay, SEEDS organises a programme that combines learning, sharing, getting to know Iceland and its culture, and having fun while exploring the city and some of the most stunning natural attractions in the Golden Circle and the Hot River hike excursions.

ACCOMODATION AND FOOD

SEEDS participants will stay in a house in Reykjavík. The facilities are basic with an equipped kitchen, dining and living room, bathrooms, showers and a washing machine. As participants sleep in shared rooms with up to 6 people, everyone is expected to behave considerately. Please bring your own towel. Participants will receive food supplies and be in charge of the cooking and cleaning activities. Note the food SEEDS provides will be vegetarian. Do not forget to bring some traditional/typical food, drinks, recipes, music or games from your country for the intercultural evening. Be aware some items or ingredients may be expensive in Iceland and you will need to buy them yourselves or bring them from your country.

LOCATION & LEISURE ACTIVITY

Reykjavík is a dynamic, modern city which lives in harmony with nature, using renewable energy sources. The worlds northernmost capital bridges the Atlantic, between Europe and North America. Reykjavík is spread across a peninsula with a panoramic view of the mountains and the Atlantic. It is an international city with a lively cosmopolitan cultural scene surrounded by beautiful nature.Additional excursions (eg. the South Shore or Reykjanes Peninsula) can be arranged at discount fares depending on time availability, weather conditions, and the number of participants interested in joining them. Be prepared for cold or rainy weather and bring warm and/or waterproof clothing.

REQUIREMENTS

Participation fee EUR 550 (Euros), which needs to be transferred to SEEDS the latest one month before the camp starts to confirm the placement. It includes food, accommodation, transportation from the meeting point to the camp (on the first day), the Golden Circle and Hot river hike excursions. We will visit spectacular waterfalls, geysers, impressive coastline, a volcano crater, the Thingvellir National Park and much more.

Host organization

SEEDS Iceland

About SEEDS SEEDS Iceland was founded in 2005 as a non-governmental, non-profit volunteer organisation with international scope. Our main activities relate to the promotion of environmental protection and awareness, intercultural understanding and peace, through voluntary work on social, cultural and environmental projects in Iceland. We aim to empower, inform and expand the horizons of people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds, to inform and share with them about the world in which we live and to take an active role in its future development. SEEDS provides opportunities to live, learn, understand and experience, while sharing and cooperating with others from different cultures and backgrounds. SEEDS Projects & Activities SEEDS works closely with local communities, local authorities and other Icelandic associations both to develop projects in partnership, aimed at fulfilling an identified need, and to give vital assistance to established initiatives. Projects are designed to be mutually beneficial to all involved: the volunteers and participants, the local hosting communities and Iceland as a whole. By having a diverse array of projects and bringing together people from different backgrounds, creating more opportunities; we try to fulfil our vision and build on our founding ideas. Activities developed by SEEDS include: Voluntary service, International learning camps and exchanges, Internships and lifelong learning programmes, Awareness-raising initiatives and campaigns, Seminars and training sessions Cultural, artistic and educational exhibitions Our projects in Iceland are funded and supported by: Contributions from volunteers and participants in the projects The Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission Engagement of our long-term volunteers and interns Additional non-financial contributions in kind from the local hosts of the projects We are members of the Icelandic National Youth Council (LÆF), the Icelandic Environment Association (LANDVERND), the Senior European Volunteers Exchange Network (SEVEN) and work actively as partner organisation of the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations (The Alliance) and Service Civil International (SCI). During 2025 we organised 82 different projects located in every corner of Iceland; we hosted around 1000 International volunteers from more than 40 different countries! Volunteers performed different types of tasks. For instance, ecological research, removing invasive plant growth, building hiking trails, cleaning up the coastline, reforestation and erosion control work as well as construction or renovation of buildings, monuments and artistic heritage. In cultural, festival and sports related projects, SEEDS came into action by helping in the organisation of the events and also by taking an active part in them. SEEDS also works to promote sustainable tourism in local communities, supporting the local economy and helping to keep small and remote towns alive. SEEDS’ Philosophy We bring together volunteers and hosts from different nationalities and backgrounds, aiming at building up intercultural understanding and encouraging peace, while working for an identified need within a community. We enable our participants and volunteers to get to know Iceland from a different perspective, to meet the locals and have an insight into Icelandic culture, learn new skills, gain intercultural understanding, make new friends all over the world, and give something back to the environment. Through our Environmentally Aware programme, SEEDS shares environmental messages with the international and local participants in our projects. The rewards for the volunteers, participants, communities and ecosystems are massive, while interacting with local and foreign individuals, they learn about various cultures, have the opportunity to build friendships and develop new skills working in challenging and unfamiliar surroundings.