Faroe Islands temporarily close down for maintenance

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

In the North Atlantic, there’s a remote group of volcanic islands known for their rugged beauty. Increasingly favoured by tourists, the Faroe Islands announced this year that they are temporarily closing down parts of the country.

The first thing you discover about these islands, lying halfway between Norway and Iceland, is the weather.

Strong gusts of wind welcome planes as they wobble in to land at picturesque Vagar airport. The power of the wind can almost knock you off your feet.

“Closed for maintenance, open for voluntourism,” the archipelago authorities’ video said.
From thousands of applications, 100 people have been selected. Aged between 18 and 75, they have come from 25 countries, including as far as Australia.

These “voluntourists” agreed to pay for their own flights and work for two days on selected sites. In return, they get food and lodging without charge.

On arrival, they are split into colour-coded groups to work with the locals across the 18 islands.

Although, it’s a lot of hard work for the volunteers, but for many, there is also a feeling of deep satisfaction and a sense of belonging.

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