minna, Author at Maailmanvaihto ry

Supplementary application round: next autumn to ICYE volunteering

Do you live in Finland? Are your plans for the next autumn open? Are you interested in volunteering? Would you like to widen your worldview by familiarizing yourself with new themes, ways of acting, and new points of views? Apply to the International Cultural Youth Exchange program!

There are open positions (6 or 12 months) for the departure in August–September 2023 to Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica (only 6 months), Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines (only 6 months), Taiwan (only 6 months), Tanzania, and Vietnam (only 6 months).

There are possibilities in many fields of work. The organisations of the program work for protecting the environment, offering early childhood education and education, and supporting human rights.

You will get training for your volunteering experience before your departure in Finland and in the destination country. There is a participation fee for the program. With the fee, you will get, besides training, accommodation and daily meals, insurance, and a language course, for example.

Learn more about the program and once you find opportunities that interest you, send us your application! We will fill the positions as soon as suitable candidates are found. We can receive applications until the end of 20.3.2023. If you have questions, please, contact us – we will gladly answer.

Program information and a search engine for the voluntary workplaces
Application instructions and the application form

Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland is a youth exchange organisation established in 1958. We offer volunteering programs of 6–12 months abroad and in Finland. For a more equal world through intercultural learning is our vision. Our NGO is religiously and politically nonaligned.

Join the Online Workshop: Embodied Social Justice (Sat 25th March)

Trainer Sauli Kahkonen offers an online workshop “Embodied Social Justice”. The workshop is open for all the participants of Maailmanvaihto’s activities and others interested in the topic. Join in!

On Saturday 25th March at 11–14
Zoom (please, sign up to get the link to the meeting)

Welcome to embodied social justice workshop! This training will demonstrate how incorporating the body can create impactful and meaningful change in our work towards a more equitable society. This training will help you cultivate a deeper sense of your own body and its role in anti-oppression work, empowering you to create real change and become a more effective ally.

Unlike traditional approaches that focus on changing our thoughts and behaviours, this training recognizes the powerful role of the body in our experiences of oppression and marginalization. By exploring this role, we can develop a more embodied understanding of how social justice operates.

During the course, you will

Have an introduction to embodied social justice work.
Gain a brief understanding of how systemic oppression impacts our bodies and relationships with others.
Learn some basic tools of mindfulness, movement, and breath work to create a more resilient and healing response to systemic oppression.
Learn some basic tools to prevent oppression.

To fully participate in this transformative workshop, all you need is a calm and spacious area to move around. It is highly recommended that you sit on a comfortable cushion, blanket, or yoga mat, and ensure that you have a dependable internet connection to access our online format. You don’t need any prior knowledge or skills related to the topic, your curiosity towards the topic is enough. Furthermore, feel free to prepare a notebook and pen to capture any noteworthy moments or inspiring thoughts that may arise during the workshop.

The creator and trainer of the workshop Sauli Kahkonen is a dedicated practitioner of yoga and meditation with over 15 years of experience in the field. Sauli holds an MSc in International Studies and is a certified Somatic yoga instructor with 200 hours of training. He has also volunteered extensively in Lebanon, Bolivia, and Iceland, gaining valuable cross-cultural experience and contributing to various causes. Currently, he is pursuing his studies to become a psychotherapist with a focus on somatic movement and community engagement. Through his passion for somatic movement, Sauli hopes to effect positive change in society by promoting holistic well-being and empowering individuals to take control of their bodies and minds.

On Saturday 25th March, Sauli will hold the workshop Embodied Social Justice for the first time. Try it out and give your valuable feedback afterward!

The workshop will be held in English. The workshop is free of charge.

How to join?

Please, sign up for the workshop on 20th March 2023 at the latest to Maailmanavaihto: e-mail maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi, WhatsApp +358 44 235 1196.

Accessibility and further information

Accessibility information of Zoom is available at https://explore.zoom.us/en/accessibility.

If you have any questions, please, contact Maailmanvaihto at maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi. Your questions to the trainer will be forwarded to him from Maailmanvaihto.

Aitoo Vocational College

Would you like to learn through everyday encounters while supporting young people with disabilities? At Aitoo Vocational College, you’ll gain hands-on experience in education, build meaningful relationships, and live close to nature in the Finnish countryside.

About Aitoo Vocaltional College

Aitoo Vocational College (Aitoon koulutuskeskus) is a vocational institution that offers education for students with disabilities. The students need additional support in learning and studying regularly due to learning difficulties, disabilities, illness, or other reasons. We offer education and training for students with the most severe disabilities or chronic illnesses.

The fields of study are household and cleaning services, janitorial services, catering services, and crafts and design. We also offer pre-vocational programmes, such as preparatory instruction and guidance for those who do not yet have a clear idea of their career choice.

We aim at ensuring education and training for and empowerment of young people with disabilities. We want to provide together with different actors, such as social and health care services, for young people with the best possible tools to work and manage their lives after their studies.

Our main campus is located in Aitoo, Pälkäne, and we have a smaller teaching unit in Tampere. The total number of students is about 120. The students’ age varies from 16 to 20+ years. The students live on the school premises during the study week. We employ over 70 people.

Location

Our main campus is located in the countryside in Aitoo, Pälkäne. It’s situated approximately 50 kilometers southeast from the city of Tampere. Pälkäne is a small municipality with 6 800 inhabitants and it consists of smaller villages, such as Aitoo. Our campus is located about 10 kilometers away from the village center of Aitoo. Public transport connections are poor, so having a driver’s licence is beneficial. It is important that the volunteer is motivated to live in the countryside and enjoys having peaceful nature around.

What will you do?

As a volunteer at Aitoo, you will assist the students and the staff at the vocational college and at the student dormitory in Aitoo. The tasks will include assisting in guiding the students and spending time, discussing, and having cultural exchange with them. You will also facilitate activities, such as hobbies and games, and assist the students in moving around. You can also help with practical tasks at the college. You can volunteer in the day or evening shift. The tasks will be planned more in detail based on your interests and skills. Please tell us in your application what kind of tasks you are interested in and what kind of skills you have.

At Aitoo Vocational College, you will get a chance to take part in meaningful volunteering among students who need additional support and build international contacts at the grass root level. For the students, the interaction with the volunteer will offer a good way to gain international know-how. These tasks will support participation, diversity, and normalisation – both from the point of view of the volunteer and the host organisation.

Who we’re looking for

Volunteering at Aitoo could suit you well if you are interested in working with young people (with disabilities). You also need to have an open-minded attitude towards differences and be flexible, towards changes in the planned daily routines, for example. When selecting the volunteer, priority will be given to candidates with fewer opportunities.

Practical arrangements

Accmmodation: The volunteers will live in their own rooms in the main building of the main campus.
Food: The volunteers will be offered daily meals in the student restaurant of the campus.
Transportation: From the campus, there is a bus connection to the nearby cities on Fridays and back on Mondays. Otherwise, there are no public transport connections.
Free time:
- 2 days off per week. The volunteers can stay overnight on campus during the weekend. In this case, they prepare their own meals.
- 2 vacation days a month.

Training during the activity

The volunteers will have an on-arrival training camp and mid-term evaluation camp organised by the Finnish National Agency of the European Solidarity Corps. In addition, they will be invited to the on-arrival training camp and mid-term evaluation camp of the coordinating organisation Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland.

The volunteers will get access to the Online Language Support (OLS) tool of the European Solidarity Corps to help them learn Finnish.

Accessibility

The working spaces and sanitary facilities of the campus are mainly accessible for people with physical disabilities, but the environment (yard) can be challenging for persons with reduced mobility.

If you need additional support due to a disability, a long-term illness, or other reason and would like to discuss if volunteering at Aitoo could suit you, please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information via Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland at esc@maailmanvaihto.fi. We’ll be happy to tell you more!

Activity topics

Inclusion of marginalized young people, disabilities, European identity, citizenship, and values

How to apply?

See the application instructions

Further information

If you wish to ask something, please, see answers to frequently asked questions and European Solidarity Corps program page.
If you don’t find an answer to your question, please contact us at Maailmanvaihto at esc@maailmanvaihto.fi. Do not contact the voluntary workplace directly.
Please note that you can only apply for the open position by following the application instructions linked above.

Maailmanvaihto’s Spring Meeting 27th March

Members of Maailmanvaihto and participants of our activities: a warm welcome to Maailmanvaihto’s Spring Meeting!

Time: Monday 27th March at 17:15

Place: The meeting will be held at the office of Maailmanvaihto, at the address Oikokatu 3, Helsinki. You are also welcome to participate online via Zoom, but online participants are not allowed vote in the meeting.

Registration: We wish for registrations to the meeting on 24th March 2023 at the latest to maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi. Please, let us know in your message if you wish to participate the meeting online.

Agenda:

Approval of the annual report and financial statement of 2022
Updated budget for 2023

In the Spring Meeting, you will also hear the latest news of Maailmanvaihto.

Welcome!

On behalf of the board of Maailmanvaihto
Anni Koskela
Secretary General

The meeting will be held in Finnish. In the meeting, we will follow Maailmanvaihto’s guidelines for safer spaces. Inside Maailmanvaihto’s office it is possible to move around with a wheelchair, but the office space is not completely wheelchair accessible: there is an approximately 7 cm doorstep at the entrance, and the toilet is not big enough for a wheelchair. Assistance dogs are welcome. The accessibility information of the platform Zoom is available at explore.zoom.us/en/accessibility. If you have any questions, please, contact us at tiedottaja@maailmanvaihto.fi.

Urgent: in March to Denmark for European Solidarity Corps volunteering

Hertha Levefællesskab is a living community of people with and without disabilities in a village called Herskind in Denmark. Now, the community is looking for a young person for European Solidarity Corps volunteering. Maybe you?

Hertha is looking for an 18–30-year-old person for European Solidarity Corps volunteering for the period 1st March 2023 – 28th February 2024 (12 months). It’s also possible to begin the volunteering year earlier if it suits the volunteer.

The main activity for the volunteer will be to support the residents in the workshops, according to their interests and specific knowledge and experiences.

You can learn more about Hertha and the role and tasks of the volunteer on the website of the coordinating organization of the project, Dansk ICYE. Due to the tight schedule, the position is for a volunteer who doesn’t need a visa to travel to Denmark.

European Solidarity Corps Volunteering

European Solidarity Corps volunteering is meant for 18–30-year-old young adults. The volunteering periods are financially supported by the European Union. With the support, the following costs will be covered for the volunteer:

travels to the destination country (the participant may have to pay only a small part of the traveling costs)
support and communication of the sending organization
in the destination county an on-arrival training and a mid-term camp
accommodation and daily meals at the destination country
a pocket money
daily work travel costs to the voluntary workplace
a health and accident insurance as well as liability insurance
possible visa costs
support for learning the local language

Read more about the European Solidarity Corps volunteering in general.

How to apply?

Apply on 12th February 2023 at the latest. Download and fill in the application form of Dansk ICYE Send your application form to esc.incoming@icye.dk. You you are applying from Finland and would like us at Maailmanvaihto to act as your sending organisation, please mention us as the sending organisation in your application form and send your application message as a copy to us at Maailmanvaihto at maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi.

Our information for the application form:

Name: Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland
Address: Oikokatu 3, 00170 Helsinki
Phone: +358 50 452 5660
OID: E10126971
Email: maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi
Skype: –
Contact person: Secretary General Anni Koskela

If Hertha wants to receive you as a volunteer, let’s set up a meeting to get to know each other a bit more, and if everything seems suitable for you and for us in the suggested co-operation, let’s agree that we’ll support your experience as the sending organisation.

Accessibility

If you would like to learn about the accessibility of the open position, please, contact Dansk ICYE: esc.incoming@icye.dk.

ICYE volunteering abroad, departure in Aug–Sept 2023 – apply on 31st Jan 2023 at the latest

Are you interested in international volunteering? Would you like to volunteer for half a year or a year? Apply for the program International Cultural Youth Exchange!

The application period for periods that begin in August–September 2023 continues until the end of January 2023. You can apply to volunteer in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, or the Untited States.

There are possibilities available in many fields of work. You can volunteer for the youth work, work with the elderly, kindergarten or school activities, human rights work, environmental protection, or work with the people with disabiltiies, for example.

As an ICYE volunteer, you will work in assisting tasks. You don’t need to have any educational or work background in order to participate in the program. If you on the other hand are a student or a professional of the health care, social or educational field, for example, you might get to volunteer on your own field.

ICYE volunteering is for you who are motivated to work as a volunteer, interested in intercultural interaction, and know English. The minimum age for participating is 18 years. The upper age limit is flexible in many countries.

Through volunteering you will gain deeper views into the world than just the news headings. Challenge your ideas and join in building a more equal world through intercultural learning! Abroad, your thinking will broaden, new faces will become friends, and you will gain international know-how.

There is a participation fee to the ICYE program. The fee varies according to the duration of volunteering period and the destinational country, from 3 500 € to 5 500 €. The fee includes e.g. accommodation and daily meals in the destination country, an insurance, a pre -departure and on-arrival training and evaluation meetings, a language course, and the support of the ICYE offices. The paricipant must also pay for the flights and visa costs.

We at the youth exchange organization Maailmanvaihto (Finland’s ICYE organization) organize volunteering exchange with experiences of decades. We work for advancing intercultural understanding, equality, and peace.

Learn about the ICYE program
Application instructions and the application form

“It was definitively one of my best decisions to apply for the ICYE program. In a year, you have time to start living your daily life abroad, you have time to settle in. You have time to learn to understand why things are done in certain ways in the environment in question, you get deep enough.” – Aura

Volunteer at the camp kitchen team of the mid-term camp 26–29 January

📢 Calling for three cooking lovers to volunteer in our kitchen team! 🥗🍝🍉😍

Are you looking for voluntary activities? Would you like to make use of and develop further your cooking and teamwork skills? Would you like to meet people from various countries and get international experiences? Join the kitchen team of Maailmanvaihto’s camp!

The training and evaluation camps of Maailmanvaihto are an important part of our volunteering programmes. These camps would not be successful without our magnificent kitchen teams which provide nutritious and delicious vegetarian food.

Next, we will arrange a midterm camp between 26–29 January 2023 at Metsäpirtti in Tuusula and we are now searching for volunteers for the camp kitchen team.

The kitchen team´s duties include preparing meals with the kitchen team leader for midterm camp participants. They also take care of the cleanliness of the kitchen. We’ll have bus transportation to the camp center from Helsinki. For those camp team members, who join from other locations, we’ll cover either public transportation tickets or gas expenses of a car journey according to a kilometer allowance.

We will follow at the camp Maailmanvaihto’s guidelines for Safer Spaces.

How to join in?

If you got interested, please, contact us soon at hosting@maailmanvaihto.fi with a message in which you introduce yourself and tell us about your motivation to join the camp kitchen team. 😊 You can also read more about being a member of the camp kitchen team. We will gather the team as soon as suitable volunteers are found.

Accessibility

If needed, you are welcome to ask for the accessibility information of the camp center at hosting@maailmanvaihto.fi.

Apply for European Solidarity Corps volunteering in Finland (DL 30th Jan)

Interested in volunteering in Finland? Are you aged 18–30 years? Do you enjoy spending time with elderly people? Have a look below and make this year your year of volunteering!

The European Solidarity Corps Volunteering offers a great way to participate in creating grass-root level contacts and understanding among people with different kinds of backgrounds. You will also get a chance to learn new skills.

We are now searching for two volunteers for Valona Elderly Services and STEP Education (Kirkkopalvelut ry). You can learn about the open position below. If you get interested in applying, please, learn also about the European Solidarity Corps volunteering in General, and read through the application instructions. The application form you can download on the page of the application instructions.

Valona Elderly Services and STEP Education (Kirkkopalvelut ry)

KIRKKOPALVELUT is a Christian church related national co-operation and service organisation, which aims at building a just society, organises education and care services, and promotes the wellness of people. It is the background organisation of STEP Education and Valona Elderly Services, where the volunteering activities will take place.

VALONA ELDERLY SERVICES provides 24/7 care and support for elderly people. The aim of Valona Elderly Services is to provide good everyday life for elderly people by providing them with services planned according to their needs and wishes. Valona provides supported accommodation, health care, meals, and recreational activities for their elderly customers.

STEP EDUCATION (STEP-koulutus in Finnish) is a private educational learning institution, which offers different professional education, study programs – and also preparatory training, and short courses for people with special needs. Although being a mainstream vocational college, STEP Education offers and develops educational services also for immigrants and people with special needs caused by learning problems, mental disabilities, etc.

Activity topics

elderly people, health, education and training, disabilities, inclusion

Number of volunteers

Volunteering period

1.4.–31.10.2023 (7 months)

Application deadline

30th January 2023 (extended)