My Two Grandfathers and Men in Sheds in Kjarnaskógur

My two grandfathers are incredible guys. They are both well past eighty and in pretty top shape, given their age and their previous work. They are both hardworking and know nothing but work — working, working, and working some more. One is a former farmer and carpenter, and the other an entrepreneur who worked in various fields, most notably as manager of Hlíðarfjall for 30 years, where there was never a dull moment.

Now that they have retired from conventional work, they naturally want to have something to do, as they have done all their lives. Grandfather the entrepreneur goes to Boginn every weekday morning and walks nearly three kilometres there with his companions. Grandfather the farmer has access to a workshop where he lives and tinkers away endlessly alongside other craftsmen, producing one beautiful piece after another.

In Akureyri, there is a variety of leisure activities available for older citizens, for example through the health promotion project Virk efri ár (Active Senior Years), which offers strength training, archery, badminton, dancing, yoga, hiking, and more, with participation growing year on year. The community centres Birta and Sölva also have vibrant and varied activities for everyone aged 18 and over.

As wonderful as it is for older people and others who wish to use Boginn in the mornings for a health-promoting walk, I would wish that these people could start their day with a morning walk in a more appealing setting, connected to nature and in daylight. The development of a quality of life hub for older people with a heated indoor garden where exercise can be done in a comfortable indoor environment is among the things Akureyrarlistinn wants to implement.

In addition, we are very interested in further enriching the variety of leisure activities and working with the Red Cross and the Eyjafirðir Forestry Association to bring the Men in Sheds project to Kjarnaskógur for craftsmen like Grandfather the farmer. Men in Sheds is a community project that began in Australia around 1980 and has since spread widely around the world; several sheds are already operating in Iceland thanks to the Red Cross. The idea is simple: to create an informal space where men — often older or socially isolated — can meet and chat, work on crafts and other interests. Men in Sheds in Kjarnaskógur could also lend the Forestry Association a helping hand with various projects.

Very positive effects of the project have been demonstrated, including that it can reduce social isolation among men and increase activity, which in turn has positive effects on both mental and physical health. The project does not need to cost much, but we believe the benefits can be considerable.

Karen Sigurbjörnsdóttir