Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have hosted a reception at their home, the Skaugum Estate, for those helping others in their communities. A total of 62 guests were present, from all parts of Norway. They all had in common that for a long period of time they have worked voluntarily and for free with various projects in their local areas.
Before the guests sat down for lunch, they also heard a short lecture by the general secretary of the association for Norwegian volunteering before they saw three short films from the digital museum of volunteering. Some of the guests also talked about their projects and why they work for free as volunteers.
On arrival, Crown Princess Mette-Marit gave a speech to welcome everyone. Then the Crown Princess said: “We have been looking forward for several months to being together with you, who have come here to Skaugum as travellers from all over the country today to celebrate volunteering. Celebrate what it means to us as people and as a society. The Crown Prince and I want to celebrate you with this invitation.”
The reception was arranged as a buffet, in the dining room at Skaugum where the guests could help themselves. After dinner, there was a cultural and musical entertainment in Crown Princess Märtha’s salon.
The Crown Prince also spoke, saying: “Many of you are not fully aware of how important your work is. How important you are. You are a part of the identity, of the life breath, of Norway. Thank you very much for all the important things you are and do.”
The reception was held to mark Norway declaring 2022 as the year of volunteering. The year of volunteering 2022 will celebrate Norway’s most important teamwork. All groups, associations, volunteering centres, municipalities and other partners are invited to make volunteering visible to increase awareness and recognition and to get more people involved to work as voluntary. Crown Prince Haakon is patron for the Year of Volunteering 2022.
