Most of us are nostalgic. Good reminders of the past give inner peace, at least for me. I love to visit old quarters, and thanks to a group of volunteers in Halsa, Norway, I could also do that here.
Luckily, many Norwegians still have a Viking spirit when it comes to helping society become more livable. I experienced this in Halsa when I visited the old harbor, Otnes, once a vital center in the community. People and goods were transported by sea, and all things of vital interest surrounded the ports.
The first time I visited, it rained a lot, so I decided to return when the weather became sunny. The old buildings embraced me with their charm. Volunteers maintain them, and they are now used as gathering places for birthdays, weddings, and other events. There is also a café open on summer weekends. The surroundings invite reflection, and I’m sure that this initiative helps people here become better prepared for the challenges of the future.
Volunteerism is a vital tradition in Norwegian society. A combination of enthusiasts, voluntary work, and goodwill from the authorities produce results. Without it, cultural life in Norway would have only been an upper-class phenomenon and cultural heritage would have been lost forever.
