To optimize your volunteering in Norway, consider the major cities, which have more to offer in terms of volunteer opportunities.

Oslo. Oslo is Norway’s capital city on the south-eastern edge of the country, where you will find a large amount of international tourists and numerous tourist attractions. Oslo is a great place for volunteer work in Norway, specifically in the tourism industry. As Norway’s largest city, there are also several opportunities for community involvement, including various volunteer centers throughout the city that you can come in contact with, such as MIRA Ressurssenter, a shelter for women and immigrants as well as the local chapter of the Salvation Army, known as Frelsessarmeen.

Bergen. Known as the gateway to the fjords, Bergen is Norway’s second largest city, located the western edge of the country at the foot of Mount Fløyen. Since it is a major city, there will be plenty of opportunities to volunteer in the tourism industry here too. Like opportunities for volunteering in Oslo, there are plenty of opportunities for civic engagement in Bergen, such as at the Human Rights House, providing services for local NGOs as well as advocating for human rights. HRH is partially supported by the government, but relies largely on the work of local and international volunteers.

Stavanger. Also located in southern Norway, Stavanger is a major industrial city, popular for international and Norwegian travelers alike, because of its proximity to Europe and the United Kingdom. There are farms within close proximity to Stavanger, which provide ample opportunities for those who wish to volunteer on small organic farms and other local agricultural projects, such as park landscape maintenance. In addition, Stavanger is home to the annual Chamber Music Festival, a week-long event that takes place every summer and welcomes volunteers from all over the world, regardless of their level of knowledge in classical music.