minna, Author at Maailmanvaihto ry

For young people living in Finland: circular economy, second-hand shop, children’s aid… … apply now to volunteer in Iceland!

Hey, are you living in Finland, between 18 and 30 years old, and looking for new, meaningful international experiences this fall? Apply to volunteer with the European Solidarity Corps in Iceland!

Volunteer placement: ABC Children’s Aid
Location: Kópavogur, Iceland
Volunteer period: August 3, 2026–August 3, 2027 (12 months)
Accommodation: in a volunteer house which accommodates up to 8 international volunteers
Application deadline: June 20, 2026

ABC Children’s Aid is an Icelandic charity supporting children in disadvantaged situations through education, food, clothing, and medical assistance. It runs a second-hand shop in the capital region, where donated goods are sorted, evaluated, and sold. The organisation also promotes circular economy values and develops initiatives to encourage reuse, awareness, and community engagement.

The volunteer’s task include receiving donations from the local community, sorting, categorising, and evaluating items for sale in the second-hand shop. The volunteer will also learn about circular economy principles and may take part in projects promoting reuse, recycling, and awareness-raising within the local community. Additionally, the volunteer will communicate with customers, assist with the shop’s daily operations and basic administration, and help maintain an organised and welcoming environment.

No prior experience is required – enthusiasm for the tasks is enough!

Learn more about the open position:

ESC Application in Iceland at ABC Children Aid (youth.europa.eu)

The placement is financially support by the EU. Participant’s travel to Iceland (reasonable travel costs), accommodation, food, insurance, pocket money, and training, are covered. Read more about volunteering with the European Solidarity Corps in general.

The volunteer placement is coordinated by our partner organisation, AUS – ICYE Iceland, through which applications are submitted.

How to apply

Please note that we can send for this volunteering position only a person aged 18–30 years who is living in Finland.
Fill in this application form: https://forms.gle/S2pRY8dDm7wHtCMd6.
Send your motivation letter and resume in English to aus@aus.is. Please mention in your application that your sending organisation in Finland is Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland. Send a copy of your application to Maailmanvaihto at maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi.
If the volunteer placement wants to select you as a volunteer, please contact us at Maailmanvaihto so we can get to know you better and discuss cooperation if everything seems suitable for both parties.

For young people living in Finland: Workshops for young people, social media outreach… apply now to volunteer in Italy!

Hey, are you living in Finland, between 18 and 30 years old, and looking for new, meaningful international experiences this fall? Apply to volunteer with the European Solidarity Corps in Italy!

Volunteer placement: ONE Cooperativa Sociale
Location: Crotone, Italy
Volunteer period: September 1, 2026–March 31, 2027 (7 months)
Application deadline: July 31, 2026

Cooperativa Sociale One is an Italian social cooperative that promotes social, cultural, and economic development in its local area. It provides language and working life training, organises workshops for children and young people, and develops initiatives to combat educational inequality. The organisation runs the Casa di Chiara hostel, which serves as a meeting place for travelers and the local community.

The volunteer’s tasks include supporting the planning and facilitation of workshops with young people. They will also introduce visitors to the local area and cultural heritage. Additionally, they will participate in the hostel’s daily operations, manage social media, help organise events, and assist with food aid distribution. No prior experience is required – enthusiasm for the tasks is enough!

Learn more about the open position: Infopack ESC Cooperativa One 25_26 (1)

The volunteer placement is coordinated by our partner organisation, Associazione Joint, through which applications are submitted. The placement is financially support by the EU. Participant’s travel to Italy (reasonable travel costs), accommodation, food, insurance, pocket money, and training, are covered. Read more about volunteering with the European Solidarity Corps in general.

How to apply

Please note that we can send for this volunteering position only a person aged 18–30 years who is living in Finland.
Send your motivation letter and resume in English to apply.esc@associazionejoint.org. Please mention in your application that your sending organisation in Finland is Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland. Send a copy of your application to Maailmanvaihto at maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi.
If the volunteer placement wants to select you as a volunteer, please contact us at Maailmanvaihto so we can get to know you better and discuss cooperation if everything seems suitable for both parties.

Join Maailmanvaihto at the Helsinki Pride Parade and the Pride Picnic on June 27, 2026!

Dear friends, Helsinki Pride is here again! Let’s celebrate diversity, march for human rights and equality at the Helsinki Pride parade and enjoy a park picnic together afterwards.

Date: Saturday 27 June 2026, Helsinki
Time: Starting at 12
Meeting place: We’ll meet in front of the main entrance of the National Library (Unioninkatu 36)

Join us to march for diversity and equality of gender and sexual minority people, and bring along your friends, too! This year’s theme is “Growing with Pride”, underlying the responsibility of adults to create an environment where young people can be proud of themselves, just as they are.

We at Maailmanvaihto, a youth exchange organisation, work to promote intercultural understanding, equality, and peace. We want to continuously improve how we recognise and take into account people’s diversity and work together to create safer spaces where everyone is treated with respect.

What?

Helsinki Pride is the largest human rights and cultural event in Finland. Helsinki Pride week will take place from 22–28 June 2026, with the parade and Kaivopuisto picnic on Saturday, June 27. Read more on the Helsinki Pride Community website: https://pride.fi/en/helsinki-pride-2026

Where and when?

The parade starts from the Senate Square. We will meet on the side of the square, in front of the main entrance of the National Library (Unioninkatu 36) at 12. We will join at the end of the parade. It will take some time for the parade to get going. It’s advisable to consider the weather conditions.

The parade route: Senaatintori > Snellmaninkatu > Aleksanterinkatu > Mannerheimintie > Eteläesplanadi > Kasarmikatu > Neitsytpolku > Kaivopuisto. The route of the parade is about 2,5 km long. On the website of Helsinki Pride, you can find instructions and accessibility information: https://pride.fi/helsinki-pride-2026/helsinki-pride-esteettomyys-ja-aistiesteettomyys-2026/ (in Finnish)

Our picnic will take place in Kaivopuisto park, where the parade ends. There we will settle down after the walk to enjoy snacks together. If you wish, you can bring a small vegan snack or drink to share. We will bring a small blanket, but bringing your own blanket or mat is also recommended.

Join us!

A warm welcome to join us, people of Maailmanvaihto and friends of our organisation! If you would like to join us, we hope you will let us know in advance at programmeassistant@maailmanvaihto.fi so we know who to expect.

If you cannot find us, you can call or text our office volunteer Léa: +358 50 346 0965. Please note, though, that it is expected that many people will join the parade and the picnic in general, due to which the connection and the audibility may be weak.

Maailmanvaihto’s office closed on 14 May

Maailmanvaihto’s office will remain closed on Thursday 14 May 2026.

Meet Maailmanvaihto at Market of Possiblities (Tampere 14.5., Helsinki 16.–17.5., Lahti 17.5.)

See you at the Market of Possiblities events! 🧡 We warmly invite you to come say hello to Maailmanvaihto and learn about current opportunities in our international volunteer programs and other activities!

May 14: Tampere: Market of Possiblities

11 a.m.–4 p.m., Väinö Linnan Square
https://www.tampereensosiaalifoorumi.fi/ohjelma/mahdollisuuksien-tori

May 16–17: Helsinki: Market of Possiblities at the World Village Festival

Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m. & Sun 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Bio Rex
https://maailmakylassa.fi

May 17: Lahti: Market of Possiblities

10 a.m.–3 p.m., Lahti Harbor
https://www.instagram.com/mahdollisuuksientori_lahti

Joy, warmth, creativity, and well-being for families in Czechia

Ahoj! I spent five months volunteering with the European Solidarity Corps. My project took place in Kroměříž, Czechia from September 2025 to February 2026. Starting right from the first contact with Klubíčko the whole experience has been full of joy, warmth and creativity. This volunteering project truly introduced me to a second home!

So, my volunteering project was hosted by Klubíčko Kroměříž which is a non-governmental organization. They aim to help the wellbeing of the families in the community. Klubíčk, for example, hosts an open playroom where parents can come with their children to play or perhaps enjoy a cup of coffee for a small fee. Simultaneously, it is possible for them to meet other parents or the staff of Klubíčko who are there to help with different kinds of problems that the families come across in their everyday lives. In addition, Klubíčko hosts musical play and workshops about, for example, wellbeing during pregnancy or first aid skills needed with children. Recently, they also launched an event where elders from a local nursing home were invited around to meet children!

In addition to all this, Klubíčko also maintains children’s groups for children aged 2 to 6. It is somewhat similar to how kindergartens work. Moreover, in the afternoons Klubíčko offers different kinds of activities for children: there are English language clubs, where the children learn English through games, songs, and arts and crafts, there is Folklor dancing, and there are Montessori activities. They have not forgotten the older children either. Klubíčko organizes theme events and also youth exchanges. So, it is not an easy job to summarize what Klubíčko is but all this (and even more) I got to experience while volunteering with them!

In Folklor dancing, I was introduced to several traditional dances and games. Some of them included playing the claves. In Montessori afternoons we often had a starting activity together, such as numbers, and then the children worked alone with the activities they chose. The picture in the middle is from a hike to the mountain Praděd.

As a volunteer my days consisted of mornings in the children’s groups and afternoons in different activities. In addition, I got to fill my calendar with school visits or other events I wished to organize. Given the opportunity to choose what kinds of tasks I wanted to do not only taught me a lot but also made the whole volunteering experience very fun. Most of the time I helped with the youngest children, aged 2 to 3, so as a counterweight to that I also enjoyed going to schools to talk about both the European Solidarity Corps and Finland to the students. I even held a presentation about early childhood education in Finland and in France together with my French roommate! I was welcomed very warmly in every single place I visited. I hope that my presentations were interesting to the students and that maybe I inspired someone to consider volunteering in the future.

I shared my volunteering project with another volunteer which truly was a great thing. I didn’t learn just about Czech culture while working with the locals but I also learnt about French customs while living with a French person. It was amazing to notice how enthusiastic people were to learn about Finland and it made me see my own experiences and culture from a different point of view. However, I wasn’t just a representative of Finland but people were also interested in getting to know me personally. Of course, it was a bit of a hurdle that I spoke no Czech before moving there. Still, the same routines repeat when working with children and so my vocabulary expanded quite rapidly. I started the autumn with walking around the garden with the children and learning different colours by pointing at different coloured flowers. A great question to pick up in the beginning was “co to je?” or “what is this?”.

We served home made ‘voileipäkakku’, ‘mustikkapiirakka’ and ‘korvapuusti’ during the Finnish Evening. Before Christmas we also organized an event in the library where students got to meet volunteers from different countries and share holiday traditions around Europe together. And of course, the moomins were featured during my volunteering!

The biggest surprise for me was how there were no big surprises. It felt easy and natural to be in Kroměříž. I didn’t expect to experience any huge culture shocks but of course moving to another country and working with new people made me nervous beforehand. However, I got all the support I needed from Klubíčko and the people close to Klubíčko. As a volunteer I was able to meet people from different walks of life, as long as I was open to those meetings. I met wonderful and inspiring people not just in Kroměříž but from around Europe. If I was to give tips to people considering volunteering, I would say to just go for it and say yes to anything that sounds even remotely fun! When you give from yourself to volunteering you also get a lot back!

Děkuji moc,
Maria

The photo on the top: Velké náměstí, or the big square, in the city center. In the background, you can see the castle and the tower. The castle and the surrounding garden are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the winter, we got to enjoy some sub zero temperatures and snow!

Privacy policy: Photos and Videos Register

Applicable legislation: EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, EU 2016/679) and Finnish data protection legislation

Date: 22nd April, 2026

1. Data controller/ Business ID

Name: Maailmanvaihto / Business ID: 0281262-7
Address: Oikokatu 3, 00170 Helsinki, Finland
Telephone: +358 50 346 0965
E-mail: maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi

2. Contact person regarding the register

Name: Communications Officer Minna Räisänen
Address: The address of Maailmanvaihto (see above)
Other contact information: Telephone: +358 50 346 0965
E-mail: tiedottaja@maailmanvaihto.fi

3. The name of the register:

Photos and Videos Register

4. The purpose of processing the data of the register

Photos and videos are processed for the purpose of communicating about the activities of Maailmanvaihto on platforms such as:

websites
social media channels
publications
presentations or other communication materials

Photos and videos are only used in accordance with the consent given by the registered person.

5. Personal data included in the register

The register may contain the following personal data:

Photos and videos in which the registered person appears
Photo and video consent forms, including:
- Name
- E-mail address
- Confirmation of whether the person is at least 18 years old
- Information about the granted consent and its scope
If the person featured in the photos or videos is under 18 years of age, or is an adult who has a legal guardian or other legal representative, the consent form includes:
- Name and e-mail address of the legal guardian or legal representative
- Name of the person featured in the photos
- Confirmation that the consent is given by the legal guardian or legal representative

Only the data necessary for the stated purpose is collected.

6. Regular sources of information

Personal data is obtained directly from the registered persons themselves from the registered persons themselves or, where applicable, from their legal guardians or legal representatives. Consent forms are completed voluntarily.

In cases where a registered person has a legal guardian or legal representative, consent is obtained from that person in accordance with applicable law.

7. Processing data within Maailmanvaihto

Personal data is handled with care and confidentiality.

Access to the register is restricted to Maailmanvaihto staff and board members who need the data to perform their work duties. All persons handling the data are bound by confidentiality obligations.

8. Disclosure and Transfer of Personal Data

Personal data is not regularly disclosed to third parties.

With the consent of the registered person, photos and videos may also be shared with Maailmanvaihto’s partner organisations, such as umbrella organisations, for communication purposes.

With the consent of the registered person, photos and videos may be shared with representatives of the mass media for use in their publications (such as newspapers, magazines, online media, or broadcasts).

Maailmanvaihto uses Google cloud services for storing photos, videos, and consent forms. As a result, personal data may be transferred outside the EU/EEA. Such transfers are carried out in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

9. Data Security

Personal data is stored electronically.

Documents are stored in Maailmanvaihto’s Google Workspace accounts.
Access to accounts is protected with passwords.
Office computers are protected with security software.
Access rights are limited to authorized users only.

10. Storage period and processing principles

Photos, videos, and consent forms are stored for as long as they are needed for the stated purpose or until consent is withdrawn.

Photos and videos are processed only for persons who have given their consent. If consent is not given, photos and videos featuring the person are not used.

If consent is withdrawn, Maailmanvaihto will remove the photos and videos as far as reasonably possible, for example from its own communication channels.

11. Rights of the Registered Person

Under the GDPR, registered persons have the right to:

Access their personal data
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
Request deletion of their personal data
Withdraw their consent at any time
Object to the processing of their personal data
Lodge a complaint with the Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman

Requests related to these rights should be sent to the Communications Officer.

12. Correction and Deletion of Data

If personal data is inaccurate, outdated, or unnecessary, the registered person has the right to request correction or deletion.

Maailmanvaihto will correct or delete personal data on its own initiative or upon request, in accordance with applicable legislation.

The registered person is responsible for ensuring that the information they provide is correct and for informing Maailmanvaihto of any changes.

13. Changes to the privacy policy practices

This privacy policy may be updated if legislation changes or if Maailmanvaihto’s data processing practices change.

The latest version will always be available upon request or on Maailmanvaihto’s website.

Apply for Rooted & Rising – Training for Youth Workers, August 20–27, 2026 (Germany)

If you are living in Finland and interested in sustainability and climate justice, apply for the training “Rooted & Rising”!

August 20–27, 2026 (includes travel days)
youth meeting and leisure center situated in the Darmstadt Forest, Germany

In this Erasmus+ training, you’ll have the opportunity to explore climate justice with an international group, share your feelings, and channel them into action. Together, we’ll learn about vulnerability in a changing climate and climate justice movements, and explore different forms of activism.

The training is organized by Maailmanvaihto’s partner organisation ICJA. You can learn more about the training and the participant profile on their website (icja.de).

We are looking for a participant from Finland who is at least 18 years old and wants to share the lessons learned from the training with Maailmanvaihto – someone who is already involved in our activities or is otherwise interested in our organization’s work.

The training is EU-funded. The participant is required to pay a €50 participation fee. The participant will be provided with accommodation and meals and will receive a reimbursement of travel costs; see the following documents for more details:

Application

Apply as soon as possible with a free-form letter of motivation explaining why you want to participate in the training. Send your application to Maailmanvaihto at maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi. You can also contact the same address for further information (e.g., regarding the accessibility of the training). The position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

Join us in creating the MaailmanVaihtoa – Volunteers’ Voices 2/2026 magazine! Brainstorming meeting Wed 15 April

The magazine’s second issue of the year explores the concept of home. How are volunteers accommodated? What kinds of new connections and bonds are formed when living under the same roof? How does spending time volunteering abroad shape our ideas about home?

We’re holding a brainstorming session for this issue on Wednesday, April 15, from 5:30–7:00 PM at the Maailmanvaihto office (Oikokatu 3, Helsinki) and on Zoom (we’ll send the link to those who sign up). Join us to brainstorm topics for articles! Sign up by emailing us at maailmanvaihtoalehti@maailmanvaihto.fi.

At the meeting, you can also sign up for other magazine tasks: writing an article, taking photographs, creating illustrations, or proofreading stories.

You can browse past issues of the magazine the magazine archive and find information about accessibility at our office on the contact information page.

In the braingtorming meeting, we will follow the Safer Space Guidelines of Maailmanvaihto.

Join Maailmanvaihto’s hiking event in Nuuksio Sat 25 April

Would you like to explore the beautiful forests and waters of Nuuksio and get to know Maailmanvaihto people? Join Maailmanvaihto for a spring hike!

📅 Sat 25/04/2026
⏰ approx. 10–16 o’clock

This is a great opportunity to meet new people and enjoy nature in Finland together. Everyone is welcome to participate, and the event is free of charge.

We’ll walk together a moderately difficult route that is suitable for people comfortable walking 5–10 km. We can have in the group maximum of 20 participants.

We’ll communicate in our group in English and we’ll follow Maailmanvaihto’s Guidelines for Safer Spaces.

Sign up! We’ll send to the registered participants all the detailed information, such as the arrival instructions, the route, tips for clothing, and instructions on safety.

Got questions? Write us at intern@maailmanvaihto.fi.

We’re looking forward to meeting you! 😊

How to apply

Read also

For young people living in Finland: Workshops for young people, social media outreach… apply now to volunteer in Italy!

Become a camp leader for the on-arrival camp of young volunteers 21.–27.8.2023

Maailmanvaihto’s Spring Meeting 27th March

How to apply

Read also

For young people living in Finland: circular economy, second-hand shop, children’s aid… … apply now to volunteer in Iceland!

Read also

Practice languages in Maailmanvaihto’s Language Café

For young people living in Finland: circular economy, second-hand shop, children’s aid… … apply now to volunteer in Iceland!

For young people living in Finland: Workshops for young people, social media outreach… apply now to volunteer in Italy!

Maailmanvaihto’s office closed on 14 May

Read also

Practice languages in Maailmanvaihto’s Language Café

For young people living in Finland: circular economy, second-hand shop, children’s aid… … apply now to volunteer in Iceland!

For young people living in Finland: Workshops for young people, social media outreach… apply now to volunteer in Italy!

Join Maailmanvaihto at the Helsinki Pride Parade and the Pride Picnic on June 27, 2026!

Read also

Practice languages in Maailmanvaihto’s Language Café

For young people living in Finland: circular economy, second-hand shop, children’s aid… … apply now to volunteer in Iceland!

For young people living in Finland: Workshops for young people, social media outreach… apply now to volunteer in Italy!

Join Maailmanvaihto at the Helsinki Pride Parade and the Pride Picnic on June 27, 2026!

Read also

Practice languages in Maailmanvaihto’s Language Café

For young people living in Finland: circular economy, second-hand shop, children’s aid… … apply now to volunteer in Iceland!

For young people living in Finland: Workshops for young people, social media outreach… apply now to volunteer in Italy!

Join Maailmanvaihto at the Helsinki Pride Parade and the Pride Picnic on June 27, 2026!

1. Data controller/ Business ID

2. Contact person regarding the register

3. The name of the register:

4. The purpose of processing the data of the register

5. Personal data included in the register

6. Regular sources of information

7. Processing data within Maailmanvaihto

8. Disclosure and Transfer of Personal Data

9. Data Security

10. Storage period and processing principles

11. Rights of the Registered Person

12. Correction and Deletion of Data

13. Changes to the privacy policy practices

Read also

Practice languages in Maailmanvaihto’s Language Café

For young people living in Finland: circular economy, second-hand shop, children’s aid… … apply now to volunteer in Iceland!

For young people living in Finland: Workshops for young people, social media outreach… apply now to volunteer in Italy!

Join Maailmanvaihto at the Helsinki Pride Parade and the Pride Picnic on June 27, 2026!

Application

Read also

Practice languages in Maailmanvaihto’s Language Café

For young people living in Finland: circular economy, second-hand shop, children’s aid… … apply now to volunteer in Iceland!

For young people living in Finland: Workshops for young people, social media outreach… apply now to volunteer in Italy!

Join Maailmanvaihto at the Helsinki Pride Parade and the Pride Picnic on June 27, 2026!

Read also

Maailmanvaihto’s office closed from April 3 to 6

Capital region: Become a host family in April for a young volunteer from France with Maailmanvaihto

Join the kitchen Team for the Pre-Departure and Final Evaluation Camp, 7–10 May 2026

Read also

Practice languages in Maailmanvaihto’s Language Café

For young people living in Finland: circular economy, second-hand shop, children’s aid… … apply now to volunteer in Iceland!

For young people living in Finland: Workshops for young people, social media outreach… apply now to volunteer in Italy!

Join Maailmanvaihto at the Helsinki Pride Parade and the Pride Picnic on June 27, 2026!