Volunteering in Finland

What is voluntary work?Myllylähde

The basic idea of volunteering is that working without a salary can be rewarding and meaningful. Instead of monetary compensation, volunteers will receive an intercultural learning experience. Work done by volunteers is important and valuable, which probably otherwise would be left undone. The aim of volunteering is to create grass-root level contacts and understanding among people belonging to different cultures and religions. The principle of the work is the pursuit of justice and responsibility at an individual as well as an international level.

Maailmanvaihto voluntary work place must be a non-profit community or organisation able to offer meaningful activities and guidance to volunteers. Voluntary work placements are for example day care centres, schools, civic organisations, foster homes for disabled or the elderly, schools and workshops for people with special needs, cultural centres, youth centres, eco-centres, etc. New communities are warmly welcomed to join our programme.

Besides an extra pair of hands, the volunteer brings stimulation and fresh views to the everyday working life of his/her volunteer work community. Both the volunteer and the work community have a great change for intercultural learning and language exercise. Maailmanvaihto volunteers have given many disabled people the chance to experience international contacts which otherwise would not have been possible.

For further information about voluntary work possibilities in Finland, please contact Maailmanvaihto office:

tel. +358-(0)9-774 1101, e-mail hosting(a)maailmanvaihto.fi.

Volunteer workers

Maailmanvaihto coordinates two different voluntary work programmes in Finland: ICYE and EVS. The differences between the ICYE and the EVS volunteer programme are the volunteers’ countries of origin and the funding of the programme. Maailmanvaihto’s own ICYE programme is meant for volunteers coming from outside Europe and the volunteers take care of the programme costs themselves. On the other hand the EVS voluntary service is meant for young Europeans and is funded by the EU.

Please note that most of the volunteers working in Finland will be accommodated in a host family. Some projects might also have more independent living arrangements.

Links of interest:

CIMO.fi: Finnish Centre for International Mobility promotes international cooperation and mobility with specific emphasis on education, training, employment and young people

Youth in Action: Youth In Action is a partnership between youth, adults, and community where young people are at the forefront of creating positive social change.

Finnish Immigration Service: Site gives you information on immigration principles and practices applied in Finland.

INFOPANKKI: Information about Finland for immigrants. Available in 15 languages, for example español and chinese.

Helsingin Aikuislukio: Learn finnish in Helsinki high school for adults.

Supisuomea: Learn basics of finnish over the internet, videomaterial incl.

Ilmonet: Adult Education Institutes offer various language courses, check the listings in Ilmonet for the institutes in capital region.