There have been shouts of warning for the Norwegian volunteer effort several times in recent years. The threats have come in the form of both the corona pandemic and various splicing solutions. But most Norwegians still take it for granted. A brand new outdoor pool in Skånevik in Sunnhordland is the extreme example of that. The village has just under 550 inhabitants. Too small for a pool to emerge by itself. But after several thousand hours of service, it is clear. The Sjøkanten Trivsel outdoor pool in Skånevik is located close to the center and the ferry and speedboat quay. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Working 20 hours for free a week – I have never been safe in the water myself. That’s why I want the young people today to have a proper place for sewing training, says pensioner Jan Ulrik Langhelle. At least three times a week, he meets to volunteer at the outdoor pool. Lately, he and several others have been working around 20 hours a week to get it ready for opening at the end of June. Ole Funderud and Jan Ulrik Langhelle are working on setting up the children’s pool. They work at least 20 hours per week. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news The young people who test the pool this day go to Skånevik school nearby. The nearest pool has been in the municipal center Etne, 28 kilometers away on narrow and winding roads. – Many have strong memories of the combination of chlorine and vomit on the bus from Etne. So now they are happy about the pool here, laughs Sjøkanten Trivsel chairman Heidi Wannberg. The price tag on the pool is still NOK 17 million. According to Wannberg, it would have been at least 10 million more without the voluntary efforts and all monetary gifts from businesses and private individuals. – I once counted 6,000 service hours, but that was quite a long time ago. The aim is to keep the heated pool open between Easter and the autumn holidays each year, for both permanent residents and visitors. The volunteer group highlights the social aspect as a strong driving force for working so hard. Here, Leif Idar Matre, Ole Funderud and chairman Heidi Wannberg have a coffee break in what will be a yoga room. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Gloomy predictions put to shame The corona pandemic led to a small drop in voluntary activity, but it has stabilized again at a high level. 62.7 percent volunteered in 2023, according to figures from Statistics Norway (SSB), which are used by the Center for Research on Civil Society and the Voluntary Sector to find out how much of an impact the pandemic had. In 2017, the number was 63, and in 2014, 61 per cent reported volunteering. – The total effort in Norway is large and would have been completely impossible to replace with paid labour, says researcher Audun Fladmoe. The sum of voluntary efforts in 2020 corresponded to 142,000 paid man-years, according to the latest figures from Statistics Norway. This amounts to value creation of NOK 78 billion. It is perhaps not surprising then that diligence has been chosen as Norway’s national word. There are hardly any residents in the small village who have not contributed to getting the pool in place. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Greater effort the smaller the village The smaller the local community, the larger the proportion of residents who participated in voluntary work. – One reason may be that the public service offer is smaller there. In less central municipalities, people know each other better, and they will feel more obliged to participate. In larger places, one can live a more anonymous life, believes Audun Fladmoe. – My impression is that an incredible number of villages and local communities have a great deal of willingness to help. And that the aim is to make the local community a good place to live in, says Marit Mellingen, who is director of the District Centre. She is impressed by the willingness to mobilize, both in Skånevik and elsewhere. – We know that what makes people become residents is often the social interaction and feeling included in a community. The pensioners by the pool in Skånevik cannot count how many hours they have worked for free. – No, I don’t know that. But it’s great fun and social, says Arvid Svendsen. Malvin Hereide and Bianca Gordon are among many pupils at Skånevik school who will benefit from the pool in the future. Photo: Eli Bjelland / news Published 14.06.2024, at 11.16
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The “whole” village works for free for the pool
