Minä lähden Pohjois-Eurooppaan…

How it all began

I would like to start this off by looking back about one year from when I am writing down these words: It is June 2017, I am finished with all my graduation exams, I am looking forward to finally getting my graduation diploma and there are no classes left to attend nor any homework left to do. I have all the free time in the world, I am travelling and meeting friends, to make it short: life is nice. But besides all that, there is something else on my mind that gets me the most excited: in about two months’ time, mid-august 2017, I will be headed into quite an adventure. For one year, 12 months, 365 days or however you want to put it I will be living abroad; about 1.600km apart in “the country of thousand lakes” as we like to call it in German. One year later I know at least one thing: A thousand lakes is an unheard-of understatement when talking about Finland.

But how did I end up in this situation? Why is one year younger me looking forward to sheer coldness, depressing darkness and more grammatical cases than even Chuck Norris could ever manage? Well, it went down like this: already about 9 months before my graduation I knew that directly going to university was not an option for me. On the other hand, I also did not want to spend a year doing nothing, so I began looking for different options. My online research led me to the homepage of ICJA, ICYE’s committee in Germany. It did not take long before I fell for the idea of joining one of ICYE’s 12 month volunteering programs. I could easily identify with their values and goals and it seemed like the perfect way to take a break from school while still learning new things and gaining valuable experiences.

“It did not take long before I fell for the idea of joining one of ICYE’s 12 month volunteering programs. I could easily identify with their values and goals and it seemed like the perfect way to take a break from school while still learning new things and gaining valuable experiences.”

No sooner said than done I found myself filling in the online application which made me face an important decision: where exactly was I going to become a volunteer? Decision making is an exhausting process anyways and it does not necessarily become easier, if basically the whole world would be up for grabs. However, I’d be lying if I said that it was a particularly hard case for me. I knew pretty quickly that I did not want to melt in the brutal heat of Australia, India or the Philippines, which are among the most common destinations for young Germans to go to for volunteering. No, I was a lot more fascinated by the perspective of quiet lakes, lonesome forests and the realest of winters that the north has to offer. In addition, being a hopeless freak for languages, I got interested in the challenge that is trying to learn Finnish immediately.

Luckily, things ended up working out perfectly for me: not only did I get a place as a volunteer, I also got it for Finland. Jumping back forward in time just a little more than a year to June 2018, I can now say that I am still very happy with how things developed. Instead of two months until my departure to Finland, now it is only two months more until my return to Germany. I have a lot of tales and thoughts to tell from the past ten months and I would like to share them here. I hope you will enjoy reading about my experiences, whether you are yourself pondering to become a volunteer or just interested for some other reason. So, let’s jump right into it!

What has my work here been like?

Since I am writing this while being at my working place, I guess it makes sense to dive right into describing my project. Practically, it has already ended recently, since the last day of May was also the last day of school for the students that I had been with for the time of my volunteering period. At the moment, I am taking part in the school’s vacation program. It consists of a lot of being outside, doing sports and all kind of other fun things like karaoke. That makes it a very nice way for me to spend my last working days for this place.

“Basically, the goal is that the students get to have a say in the planning of their future rather than only being directed by others.”

The name of the school that I have been volunteering at is Keskuspuiston ammattopisto. It is a vocational school for people with disabilities. Its aim is to prepare the students for independent living and help them to find a transition to work life. For that purpose, the lessons on one hand contain tasks like cooking, cleaning or math to the students’ abilities. On the other hand lessons like itsetuntemus (knowing yourself) are supposed to help the students get to know their feelings and make them able to express how they are feeling or what their opinion on something is. In addition, the school organizes short internships at working places like supermarkets or fast food restaurants to give the students the possibility of experiencing different kinds of work areas. Basically, the goal is that the students get to have a say in the planning of their future rather than only being directed by others. Finally, the program also holds quite a lot of physical education or excursions to similar institutions or places like youth houses.


Exploring the Finnish summer with a friend

Personally, I have mostly been working with two groups of students, one consisting of ten students, the other of six. My tasks as a volunteer included helping in lessons for example with math exercises, motivating and helping them during PE lessons and just generally talking to them and trying to get to know them. To break it down, the role of volunteer is rather a social one instead of being an actual teacher. That is something that I wish I had prepared myself better for before I started working here. In the beginning it was quite a challenge for me, since I had to figure out my position and also overcome the language barrier, since almost all of the students did not speak English. With time, as my Finnish progressed pretty quickly and I started figuring out how I had to behave in certain situations, it got a lot better and I began to feel a lot more confident in the social aspect of my role as a volunteer. I also spoke with the head secretary of our host organization and together we found ways to incorporate my skills better into the project, for example I began to assist in language classes outside of those two groups. That is certainly I something I would strongly advice: if you are not completely satisfied with something as a volunteer, communicate it!

What was my living situation like?

Next to my work as a volunteer, Keskuspuisto also provided me with my accommodation. I have been living in one of the dormitory buildings for the students. In those dorm rooms, they can practice living on their own and having to organize their own household. It also works as some kind of boarding school for some of them. As a volunteer for Keskuspuisto, I was also allowed to live in one of those dorm rooms. It was a really nice flat, I have to say. I had my own bathroom, living room with beds, kitchen and even a small balcony that was perfect for warm and bright summer nights. I really enjoyed staying on my own instead of in a host family like most other volunteers. I had never lived alone before and therefore got the chance to practice that. It was nice to figure out a rhythm for cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping etc.; that is definitely something I learned for life.

“I had never lived alone before and therefore got the chance to practice that. It was nice to figure out a rhythm for cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping etc.; that is definitely something I learned for life.”

Also the location where the dormitory is situated came in really handy for me. Keskuspuisto has different offices and school areas all around Helsinki and its surroundings. I worked in the one in Espoo, a town directly in the west of Helsinki, but living in one of the places in Helsinki. From there it takes about 25 minutes to get to the center which made exploring Finland’s capital quite accessible for me.

I used that possibility a lot to go and wander around Helsinki. For that reason, I have gotten to know the city quite well and after having experienced all the seasons here, I can say that I have overall enjoyed living in this city. I have often been asked, by foreigners as well as Finns, what I like or do not like about Helsinki. This is how after ten months I am answering people:

I like the city, since it offers a lot of parks, nature venues and possibilities to be outside, whether just hanging out with friends or doing some sports. It is one of the greenest bigger cities that I have been to which I really appreciate. I also enjoy the city’s atmosphere. Helsinki is not a place of busy, rushing, hectic people. It has something very calm and relaxed about it, it invites you to walk around and maybe sit down somewhere instead of forcing you to run from place to place. Of course, other people might tell different stories about the city and it is as fascinating as funny how strongly those can diverge. I have heard from some people that the city is a bit too quiet for their taste, that there is too little buzz from full cafés or people on the streets. On the other hand – and this relates mostly to Finns who are not living in Helsinki or its surroundings – people have called out the city for its grey skies, muddy winters and its anonymity between all the people of different origins who are only focusing on themselves. Now this is kind of a typical image that people from more rural areas have of their capital city that can bee seen all over the world. And yes, it is not only pretty and peaceful: construction sides, pale apartment blocks and filthy bars sometimes disrupt the cityscape. However, in the case of Helsinki I definitely do not agree with those people. What prevails for me is that I like the city for its diversity, open-mindedness, friendliness and all the beautiful new spots that I keep on discovering all the time.

What will remain from this?

So what do I make of this experience? One year in Finland – what will I take home with me? Besides more winter clothing than any bag in this world could carry, I mean. Well, first of all I found a country that I enjoy for its wide forests and dreamy lakes, for its friendly people, for its difficult and tongue-breaking language, for its cold winters and bright summer nights, for its absurdities and quirks. I have also been asked quite a few times, if my view on Finland has changed while living here. In regard to that I have to admit that my image of Finland before did not reach any further than “Well, Europe.” That, of course, is not untrue. It has been a pleasure though to dig a little deeper and get to know the country better than that. Yet, I would not dare to say that I have gotten to fully know this country, if that even is something that is possible for any country. There is still a lot more to discover: places that I have not been to yet, traditional food that I have not tasted yet or winter sports that I want to able to exercise at least to an extend that is above total failure. I have also found quite a lot of Finnish music that I like. I am mentioning this, since this article’s title is a tribute to a Finnish classic. There it says “Minä lähden Pohjois-Karjalaan”, in English: I am leaving to North Karelia. Karelia is a region in Finland that I am yet to visit but that I adore anyways for its great pasty. The meaning of “Minä lähden Pohjois-Eurooppaan” should not be hard to guess now. By the way, I also would like have one of those student overalls for my own at some point, because they are damn cool in my opinion. Long story short: Finland is definitely a place that I will be returning to in the future to see even more of it than I already explored and catch up with the people I have gotten to know here.

“Even though I might not work in this field in the future, I for sure can transfer a lot of skills that I have acquired here to all kinds of other working places.”

Secondly, there is a couple of things that I learned from my voluntary work at Keskuspuisto and living in one of the school’s dorm rooms. I gained a lot of independence in the past ten months and got a lot braver in showing initiative and including my own ideas. I also learned that it is important to openly speak with others about what is on your mind that might be hindering you from feeling better. I also was forced to train myself in mental flexibility and allowing myself to not have to do everything perfectly. For example, when I prepared a lesson for the students, that lesson did not always go exactly as planned. But I learned to improvise in those situations and change my plans accordingly – and it always worked, at least kind of sort of. One of the most precious learning experiences is probably the thing as a whole: working in an environment that is probably far from what I will ever be doing in my future life. I did not have a lot of experience in with working with people with disabilities before, so in ten months I learned a lot about this kind of work, the nice sides as well as the difficulties. It was interesting to talk to teachers and also hear their praise as well as worries about this kind of job. Even though I might not work in this field in the future, I for sure can transfer a lot of skills that I have acquired here to all kinds of other working places. Overall, I have gotten a glance into work life and collected valuable experiences in this work field which I am very thankful for.

Lastly, I learned a lot from interacting with the other international volunteers and also Finnish people – intercultural learning is the term here. I can think back to a lot of deep and interesting conversations that often showed me a new perspective I had never thought of before. That is why it is great to have quite an international and open-minded environment: people coming from different countries or even continents have a lot of thoughts and experiences to share, be it weird food traditions, costume festivals or political issues. In a group of people with as much various backgrounds as there our in our volunteer community, there is a lot to talk about and exchange which I really enjoyed. In relation to that, we maybe also gave the Finnish people we have interacted with some new ideas and made them look at themselves and their home country in a new way. Although keeping these kind of international relationships alive is not an easy thing to do, I hope that I can stay in touch with at least some of the international friends I have found here.

Coming to an end

I could go on for a lot of pages more writing about my volunteer experiences but I feel like this is a nice note to find an end on. I hope this was as enjoyable to read as it was for me to write. I had a great time going back in time in my head and recalling all those memories and experiences I got to collect in the past ten months. Hopefully I was able to give a profound insight into my life as an international voluntary worker in Finland and give some answers, if you reading this yourself are considering to apply for such a program. I can with all certainty say: it is worth it! I personally was able to take a lot out of my volunteering period and would without a doubt recommend becoming a volunteer.

To finish this, I would like to thank you for reading this if you have made it until here. I hope I could give you some food for thought on the way. If you are going to apply for a volunteering period yourself, I wish you all the best for your own journey! I still have two months of my own journey left, which I am really excited for.

Now there is only on thing left so for me: kiitos tästä ja moi moi!

Christoph Scheike
ICYE volunteer in Finland in the season 2017–18

In the photo at the top: Our group of international volunteers

Christoph participated in Finland in the International Cultural Youth Exchange program in which the participants volunteer for 6 or 12 months. Would you be interested in ICYE volunteering? Read more about the program and apply!

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My special opportunity

Everyone asks me, why Finland? We have always dreamed of being in paradise, in some remote place, full of palm trees, white sand beaches, and crystal clear waters. But there is a paradise much closer and with a totally different landscape!

This is Finland, a magical country that has two faces: depending on the time of the year, its landscape changes radically, that makes it special. In the winter everything is covered by snow, the lakes are completely frozen and the cold takes over the environment, the skis are your best friend. In the summer, it becomes a landscape full of forests where the strong green of the trees contrasts with the brown of its trunks, where the lakes emanate large amounts of water and the light takes over the country.

Arts & crafts at Kisälli

During this year, I have worked in Vihti municipality in an organization called Kisälli-Harjulanmäki with people with special educational needs – who I call people with a different gift. The solitary talks and the silence together make this place of work special, we all form a small-big family.

“Volunteering is the best choice I have made. I stepped out of the comfort zone, the life crossed my way with this choice, and I decided to say yes.”

This family is formed by ten creative people who do their best in arts & crafts and four supporters. Even though they are the ones that I have to support, many times they are the ones supporting me. Sometimes they think outside the box and it makes them unique, for example when they combine two completely opposite colors and the result is crazy and funny. In Kisälli there is a daily routine, but at the same time we have freedom to change the way we do it. The creative people of Kisälli know their tasks and they are happy and confident because of that.

Kisälli is not only a workplace, we do a multitude of activities together (going to museums, galleries, and forest excursions, having picnics, meeting together) with a single purpose, being part and parcel of society.

Each one of the people in Kisälli-Harjulanmäki gives me a reason to smile in different situations. They give me much more than I could have imagined, and that is when I start thinking about how lucky I am to have them in my day to day life. They are the ones who have made this year an unforgettable one, during which I have learned many things.

Out of the comfort zone

Volunteering is the best choice I have made. I stepped out of the comfort zone, the life crossed my way with this choice, and I decided to say yes. In the beginning I was a little bit afraid to go to an unknown dark-cold-wet-place far far away, or that is the stereotype of Finland… but after living here for a year, I have gotten used to what Finland gives me, and sometimes the stereotype does not apply. I encourage everyone to be brave and not waste the opportunities life offers you, because the big risks give you bigger satisfaction.

“During this year in every place I have stepped in, I have found something unique. I think this is because my perspective on life has changed. I see the world with eyes of another culture.”

I feel, that this experience has changed me a lot, but at the same time I feel that I have stayed the same I always was. I am one of those restless people. During this year in every place I have stepped in, I have found something unique. I think this is because my perspective on life has changed. I see the world with eyes of another culture. One sees it, if one puts behind ones fears. This special way to see the world can only take place when you are out of your comfort zone and you start to write your own story.

This is my place and for the moment I stay, in a country in which you are amazed by the immensity of the landscapes, where the seas are not waves but trees, where the sand is changed by snow and where the seasons are completely unique.

Carmen Cobos
EVS volunteer in Kisälli-Harjulanmäki in the season 2017–18

Carmen participated in Finland in the European Voluntary Service (EVS). Maailmanvaihto receives EVS (nowaways Erasmus+ Volunteering Activities) volunteers for volunteer periods of 6–12 months. Would you be interested in participating? Read more and apply!

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English lessons and club activities at a primary school

In April, Max Schodry was looking forward to volunteering for the last month at a Finnish primary school and experiencing the summer in Finland with his host family and friends.

1. Hi Max! What kind of tasks has did you have in April?

I volunteer in a primary school. In April, my main task was, like all the other months, to assist my mentor in her English lessons. In these lessons, I usually help the children with their exercises. Especially children who have problems in English I try to support. Moreover, I do little tasks to help my mentor prepare her lessons.

A few hours a week, I have little supportive English lessons on my own with 2–5 children. Most of the time we are just rehearsing grammar and words they already know, but because I plan these classes myself I can integrate own ideas. In addition, we have different club activities at our school, and I have a few clubs on my own e.g. a sport club and a Minecraft club. Those are the most fun tasks, because I am free to decide what to do and how to it. Of course, if I ever need help I can ask my mentor or other teachers.

2. What are your expectations for the rest of your volunteering period as well as the year?

The Finnish school year ends in the end of May, and I expect that my last month at the school will be as good as all the months before. Besides my work, I look forward to having an awesome time with my host family and my friends. Especially my host families made my year here to what it is. Furthermore, I want to travel more and get to know new people. After my voluntary work year I will go back to Germany and start vocational education there.

3. Maailmanvaihto is working to advance intercultural understanding. What do you think is the volunteers’ role in this?

In my opinion, it is rather simple. On the one hand, because I live in Finland I learn about the Finnish culture through my host family, my friends etc. On the other hand, they learn about the German culture through me. Because I live for a year here, I have better possibilities to learn about this country than someone who stays for a few months, for instance. I can get the whole amount of Finland.

4. How would you like to see Maailmanvaihto’s activities evolve in the future?

All the training camps and events I participated in were nicely organized and a lot of fun. I would not know how to improve the activities, but for me there was another problem: I missed most of the other activities besides the camps because they were organized in Helsinki – it was hard and expensive to take part in them because I live around five hours away. I would suggest organizing some activities in other bigger cities, too.

5. What is your own experience of intercultural learning in Maailmanvaihto’s activities?

An example is not hard to find, because all the time when you are at a camp or an event of Maailmanvaihto, you are in contact with people from all over the world and you talk, play games and go to sauna together. Through this, I learned so much about other countries – about the food, music and living circumstances in general, for instance.

6. Three reasons to join Maailmanvaihto’s activities?

My first reason is that you get to know people from all over the world and make friends with them. This leads directly to my second reason. You get new viewpoints on different topics and you learn that stereotypes are not always right. My last reason, and maybe the most important one for me, is that the activities are just so much fun to participate in. There are not many places in Finland where you find Indians, Mexicans, Finns, Germans etc. sitting together and playing cards.

Finally, your greetings to the 60-year-old Maailmanvaihto?

You are doing are great job with all the events and the organization. Keep it that way!


In the photo Max is with his host family. From the left: Tanja, Markku, Max, Terhi, Tiina, Tuja and Kirsti.

The article series My anniversary year presents once a month during Maailmanvaihto’s 60th anniversary year what’s going on in the lives of people connected with the organization. The anniversary year is filled with different kinds of activities and people!

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Happiness in daily life in South Korea

Last August Jussi Poikkeus left for South Korea to volunteer for a year. Now, around the midpoint of his volunteering period he feels he has learned a lot about the world as well as himself.

 1. Hi Jussi! What kind of tasks has did you have in March?

From the beginning of the project, my work tasks have been very structured; each day of the week follows its own agenda. For example on Mondays I work in a library and in a restaurant for retired people, but on Wednesdays I spend my day in a kindergarten. On top of these tasks, my week includes supporting children with disabilities and teaching English to seniors. March hasn’t differed much from the previous months in regard to work tasks; still, I’ve noticed that I’ve gotten more responsibility.

2. What are your expectations for the rest of your volunteering period as well as the year?

Now that’s a tricky question! Of course I’m hoping to develop my skills in Korean even more, but I wouldn’t dare set the bar too high anymore. My priority is to create more lasting friendships with locals. When I get back home in autumn, I’m planning to continue my studies at the university, including the Korean language.

3. Maailmanvaihto is working to advance intercultural understanding. What do you think is the volunteers’ role in this?

Maailmanvaihto’s activities have their base in volunteering, so the role of the volunteers in building intercultural understanding is substantial. The volunteer is often perceived as a representative of their home country and culture, which is why their acts and behavior are viewed in relation to the conception locals have of those things. However, this doesn’t mean that we as volunteers should carefully plan our every step, but rather bring forward our cultural attributes as we see fit.

Volunteering opens the door to the so-called grass-roots level of daily life, which for example an ordinary tourist can’t access. Working with local people offers a glimpse below the surface, which helps to understand the traditions, cultures and beliefs of the destination country better than tourist attractions.

4. How would you like to see Maailmanvaihto’s activities evolve in the future?

I think Maailmanvaihto is already a very nicely functioning organization. I guess I’m a bit lame for not coming up with anything to improve. Maybe that’s a good sign. Still, if I have to say something, I hope that Maailmanvaihto remains a small organization. For us volunteers it’s comforting to know that we are looked after in our home country!

5. What is your own experience of intercultural learning in Maailmanvaihto’s activities?

It’s hard to describe how much the past six months have taught me. For my part, intercultural learning has covered more than just Finland and South Korea, as I spend a great deal of my time with other volunteers, especially with my French flatmate. The local cultural environment shares many common features with Finland, but it also has its differences. I think here respect and being considerate towards others is something else entirely. For example, even though the metros are often crammed, people make room for everyone who wants to get in.

6. Three reasons to join Maailmanvaihto’s activities?

Three amongst a multitude, right. Well, internationality, expanding your worldview and finding yourself. Before participating in the volunteering project I used to dream about living abroad; because of the project I finally had a chance to do that. It is still impossible to say how much my understanding of the world has changed during my stay, I believe I’ll notice that better after I have returned to Finland. I would say the same thing about myself; I’ve learned to read my mind and find new aspects of my personality, but the process will be brought to an end in Finland. Happiness is found in the daily life, small acts matter and you learn from your mistakes. I don’t regret coming here a bit, thank you Maailmanvaihto.

Finally, your greetings to the 60-year-old Maailmanvaihto?

Let’s continue in the same way and not let the fire die down despite the old age. Congratulations Maailmanvaihto 60 years!

Photo: Jussi enjoying the weekend off with his colleague’s firstborn son. 

The article series My anniversary year presents once a month during Maailmanvaihto’s 60th anniversary year what’s going on in the lives of people connected with the organization. The anniversary year is filled with different kinds of activities and people!

Jussi participates in International Cultural Youth Exchange program (ICYE), where volunteers work for 6 or 12 months in Asia, Africa, Latin America or Oceania. As an ICYE-volunteer you get to see the world and build intercultural understanding on a grass-roots level. Read more about ICYE!

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Tackling racism requires common acts

Racism can only be combated by unity, that is the idea behind United for Intercultural Action (UNITED), the European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants, refugees and minorities. We asked Ana López Carlassare from UNITED to share thoughts about Europe’s situation from UNITED’s point of view.

In 1945, Europe thought to have defeated fascism, but nationalist, fascist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic ideologies still remain alive in today’s political rhetoric. Although the way fascism is voiced has drastically changed, the basic characteristics of fascism and the methods for gaining support from the wider public remain the same: populism is a virus. And in the whole continent this plague has reappeared, changing its colors depending on the context and has reached a strong presence even in countries with strong democratic traditions.

Fascist ideas gain support among different social groups especially in times of political and economical crisis, destroy democratic liberties and discriminate members of specific minorities and people with different views. People are looking for someone to blame. Hate not only leads to violence, discrimination and exclusion, but is a dangerous threat to democracy and peace as well.

Opinions are hardening in the public discussion

All over Europe, there are politicians who find numerous threats against their respective societies, and these threats are almost always ‘foreign’, from outside the dominant social group. According to these politicians and leaders, they are the only ones that are capable of finding appropriate ‘solutions’ to the problems in society; and they offer a solution which rejects all that is different. The hardening opinions in the field of politics make it clear, that Europe today is facing many different forms of racism, xenophobia, anti-migrant and anti-minority attitudes resulting in exclusion, hate speech, and in extreme cases in hate crimes.

Fallout from the on-going economic and fiscal crisis, coupled with the heightened threat of terrorism, and the high number of refugees and migrants arriving on Europe’s shores, have combined to create an atmosphere in which racist rhetoric and far-right extremism are thriving. As multiple crises engulf Europe, many people are questioning their commitment to the shared European values of democracy, human rights and tolerance that have been at the heart of the European project since the end of the Second World War. Meanwhile, a record number of people trying to reach Europe for safer life continue to see their human rights violated.

Attitudes can be deeply rooted in the culture

Furthermore, racism and discrimination are also found in commonly used cultural expressions. Racism is not just an isolated act, but part of a collective, continuing system of social relations. It is not always easy to see; sometimes we need each other to point discrimination out to us.

“We can change the way society looks at differences.“

People in a rapidly changing society have the tendency to become protective of what is known and fearful for what is unknown. Dividing and categorising “others” into over-generalised groups as well as only selecting “the similar” in the core group is deeply embedded in our societies and everyday activities. Racism and exclusion can take the form of a negative look in the subway, or crossing the street to avoid someone, or portraying people with certain words, images, etc. based on prejudices instead of individual capacities. We should rethink why we give voice to these prejudices and perceive others as lesser beings.

We can change the way society looks at differences. Effective anti-racism is a joint effort; we start by opening up our own minds and then encourage those around us to see another future. It takes courage to speak out against exclusion, discrimination, hate and racism wherever we see it: in our streets, at our schools, on the Internet, in the media, or within our institutions and governments. It takes an open mind to rethink discriminative tendencies in society and to change people’s view.

Taking common stand against hate of all kinds

Such a complex situation in Europe presents unprecedented challenges for the anti-racist movement. Across Europe there is a great need for individuals and organisations to challenge the ideas and warn about the dangers of the far-right, present a positive message about diversity and migration, and provide on-the-ground support for newly-arrived migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Linked through UNITED, more than 560 organisations from a wide variety of backgrounds, fields of experience, ranging from local grassroots associations to national and international NGOs work together on a voluntary basis to take a common stand against hate of all kinds. UNITED coordinates campaigns, organises conferences, takes part in projects, produces publications and undertakes advocacy work to protest against discrimination and promote our shared vision for a diverse and inclusive society.

Though in numbers there are not many fascists throughout Europe, however, the constant voicing of xenophobic messages in media and politics causes ‘normalisation’ and leads to ‘acceptance’ of hate. Society keeps silent. People become bystanders to their own fate and to the fate of the whole European society. So, what can we do about this? We can Think. See. Listen. Speak. Protest. Resist. We can remember and make sure the past is not forgotten. Diversity is more than just living our lives next to each other. Intercultural understanding and cooperation are the goals.

UNITED is an European-wide organization founded in 1992 that coordinates, supports and strengthens a network of over 560 organisations from 46 European countries to improve intercultural communication, diversity and human rights.

Text: Ana López Carlassare

The article has been published in the magazine MaailmanVaihtoa – Volunteers’ Voices 1/2018.

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Greetings from abroad: From Finland to Austria and from Taiwan to Finland

Each year Maailmanvaihto sends and receives young people for long-term...

Towards Meaningful Meetings in Volunteering

In international volunteering the participants learn through daily co-operation. At...

My volunteer work in Finland

Hi, I am Po-Hsien from Taiwan. Now I am doing volunteer work in a primary school and a folk high school in Karstula. I just come to here this January and will stay until next January. I would like to share my experience in this blog.

>> Read the blog of Po-Hsien (in Chinese)

The blog is from the season 2017–18. Po-Hsien participates in the International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE) program. Maailmanvaihto receives ICYE volunteers for volunteer periods of 6–12 months. Would you be interested in participating? Read more about the ICYE program and apply!

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Photo contest: fellowship in international volunteering

Has a memory of a significant meeting during an international volunteering period stuck with you? Enter the photography contest to win movie tickets!

Maailmanvaihto has its 60th anniversary this year. Over the course of years we have worked for advancing intercultural understanding. When we nowadays send and receive young adults for international volunteering periods, the core aims in our activities are still promoting meaningful meetings and co-operation that help to create a deeper understanding between people.

To celebrate the anniversary, we are organizing a photography contest featuring significant meetings during international volunteering. You are welcome to enter the contest if you have participated in international volunteering activities as a volunteer, a host family or a support person for a volunteer or a member of a work community which received a volunteer.

Participate by April 15, 2018 by posting a photo by you on the theme on Instagram with #volunteeringfellowship and tagging @maailmanvaihto in it (NB! your account must be public). You can participate with a picture of a joint activity or some other nice shared moment with someone. Let’s come together to make visible the connections and co-operation!

Attach a short text describing the photo. You can also send the photo to us at harjoittelija@maailmanvaihto.fi. Two randomly selected participants will win 2 movie tickets!

Also, remember to follow Maailmanvaihto on Instagram!

Contest rules

The entry period begins on March 23 and ends on April 15, 2018. The theme of the contest is significant meetings in international volunteering. The picture has to be appropriate to enter the contest; distasteful and inappropriate pictures will be disqualified. Any identifiable people featured in the photo must be asked for a permission before publishing (in case of minors a permission must be asked also from their guardian). Permission must also be asked when mentioning someone by name in the description. A participant may enter the contest only once with one picture.

You can enter the contest by posting a photo you have taken on the theme with hashtag #volunteeringfellowship and tagging @maailmanvaihto in it. Please note that your account has to be public for your entry to be eligible to the contest. You can also send the photo to us via e-mail at harjoittelija@maailmanvaihto.fi. Please also include a short text describing the photo.

Any natural person currently living in Finland is eligible to enter the contest, if they have participated in international volunteering as a volunteer, a host family, a support person or a representative of a voluntary workplace. Maailmanvaihto’s employees cannot enter the contest. Minors must have a permission from their guardian to enter. Participants entering via Instagram must be over 13 years old.

Two randomly selected participants will win movie ticket packages including 2 Finnkino’s printable vouchers (valid until Sept 2018). The winners will be selected during seven days following the end of the entry period. The winners will be notified in person via Direct Message on Instagram or via e-mail at the address they sent their entry from. The vouchers will be sent via e-mail at the addresses the winners provide. If the winner cannot be reached in 7 days, a new winner will be selected.

The participants’ names, usernames or contact information will not be published, stored or used in direct marketing. The winning pictures may be published in Maailmanvaihto’s communication channels but without the winners’ names or usernames.

The contest is organized by Maailmanvaihto. The organizer can disqualify a participant if they do not comply to the rules. Instagram and Facebook do not sponsor, recommend or administer the contest. Maailmanvaihto releases Instagram and Facebook from all responsibility regarding the contest.

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Intercultural Learning and Pristine Beaches

In this series we catch up with members of the International Cultural Youth Exchange offices around the world. This time we chat with David Baires from ICYE Honduras.

Hey! Could you introduce yourself and your job in ICYE Honduras?

My name is David Baires, I am the Excutive Director of ICYE Honduras. I have been working with ICYE since 2003 – after my wonderful experience as a volunteer on 1998–1999 in UK. I am responsible for overall management of all the programmes and organisational aspects in ICYE Honduras.

What is the most rewarding about your job?

Being a volunteer is a very rewarding action, which helps people with special needs and gives meaning to one’s life. It is very special to see the changes that ICYE’s experience makes on young people, making them mature, global
citizens who care about others. Being ICYEer means a lot to me and I am sure that our work is a contribution of a grain of sand to achieve a better world.

‘‘Being ICYEer means a lot to me and I am sure that our work is a contribution of a grain of sand to achieve a better world.’’

ICYE Honduras recently received a Finnish volunteer Jonna to work in Honduras as a long-term volunteer. Could you tell us about her project?

Our long-term Finnish volunteer Jonna will be doing a voluntary service during ten months in a non-profit organisation with the main aim of providing entrepreneurial consultancy to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, with the purpose of generating an economic impact and improving the dynamics of business in the region of Lempa, where Lencas, one of the biggest ethnic-indigenous groups of Honduras, live.

In what kind of projects will the other foreign volunteers be volunteering?

The other long-term international volunteers from Austria, Ecuador, Slovakia and Switzerland will be doing voluntary services in different projects that work with various vulnerable populations and social causes of Honduras. They will be in non-profit organisations working, for example, for conservation of the environment, provision of education to the indigenous youth and children with special needs and provision of free cancer treatment to children from low economic resource families.

How big a role does food play in Honduras, for example when visiting a Honduran family?

Food plays a big role in Honduras as it is intrinsic in our culture. Honduran cuisine is very much varied as it contains elements that come from our indigenous ancestors, Spanish traditions brought during Colonial times, creole customs, and African-descendant cooking styles. When visiting a Honduran family, you’ll most likely be invited to eat something and most likely the dish will be served with fresh tortillas, as well as enjoying a good cup of coffee.

Your greetings to a person who is planning to volunteer in Honduras?

Come and have a unique and authentic intercultural learning and volunteering experience in the heart of Central America! Honduras is a thriving nation with captivating characteristics such as ethnic diversity, tropical nature and pristine beaches, several national parks and historical monuments. Discover the greatness of this nation with welcoming people, and experience various ways of being and living in its different regions embracing diversity!

Text: Kaisa Rahko, photo: from album of David Baires

Juttu on julkaistu MaailmanVaihtoa 2/2017 -lehdessä.

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A glimpse of a host family’s new ordinary

Last August Salla Jarkkola, Tuukka Kosola and their children became a host family to Marija, a volunteer from Latvia. Now they talk about their February as a part of Maailmanvaihto’s activities.

1. Hi Tuukka and Salla! What kind of tasks did you have in February?

February went by quite ordinarily; we said hello and caught up with Marija whenever we happened to be home and awake at the same time. Our son James likes to take Marija upstairs to play with cars or trains. In addition, Marija looked after the house when the rest of the family was on winter vacation. In the beginning of March we celebrated Marija’s birthday by eating together. Chris, Marija’s volunteer friend from German was also with us.

2. What are your expectations for this year?

We hope that our easy-going coexistence continues. We also hope that we will get to share more trips and attend various events with Marija.

3. Maailmanvaihto is working to advance intercultural understanding. What do you think is the role of the host families in this?

Thanks to the host families, young people can come to Finland, get acquainted with the country’s cultural environment and local people as well as share their own cultural background others. In families with children, also the kids get to meet someone who speaks a different language and has grown up in a different environment, and learn to communicate with them.

4. How would you like to see Maailmanvaihto’s activities evolve in the future?

We have been quite happy with Maailmanvaihto’s activities as they are.

5. What is your own experience of intercultural learning in Maailmanvaihto’s activities?

Although Marija is a so-called modern youth, she appreciates old Latvian traditions, such as songs, dances and dishes. To our delight, we have got acquainted with these a bit through Marija.

6. Three reasons to join Maailmanvaihto’s activities?

1. Because you can. 2. Getting to know new people 3. Improving your language skills

Finally, your greetings to the 60-year-old Maailmanvaihto?

Keep up the good work!

Photo: The host family celebrating Marija’s birthday. From left to right: Marija, Chris, Tuukka, Justiina and James.

The article series My anniversary year presents once a month during Maailmanvaihto’s 60th anniversary year what’s going on in the lives of people connected with the organization. The anniversary year is filled with different kinds of activities and people!

Maailmanvaihto receives annually about thirty young foreigners to volunteer in Finland for 6 to 12 months.  The host families present the volunteers with a unique opportunity to get familiar with the local way of living. The families that open their doors to a volunteer get a new friend and a chance to see their own neighborhood from a new perspective. Read more and apply to become a host family!

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Volunteers’ Voices 1/2018: 60 years of making a difference

Editorial: 60 years of experiences

The 6th of August in 1958 was special for at least two Finnish young people. On that particular day two students, Kaija-Liisa Käyhty and Markku Pohjola, took step on an inter-Atlantic ship. An exchange year in the United States awaited on the other side of the ocean. Kaija-Liisa and Markku were the first students that Maailmanvaihto (then International Christian Youth Exchange) ever sent out to the world.

After their return the pair had a lot to tell as in the 50s gaining information on foreign countries was somewhat challenging: The Finnish Broadcasting company (YLE) had only recently started regular television broadcasting and the internet was only discussed behind the closed doors of the Pentagon. Holidays on the Canary Islands or Spain were a rare treat. In addition to all this, the walls of the cold war had risen to cast a shade on the world and made it hard to see what life somewhere else could actually look like.

But let’s fast-forward six decades further, until 2014 to be exact. The 6th of August is once again a special day for at least one Finnish young person: me. This time though there was no boat trip or school year across the seas waiting, but a morning flight towards Asia to start a volunteering period in Nepal. Unlike Kaija-Liisa and Markku, I had plenty of resources to help me prepare for my trip. I followed local media on Twitter, TripAdvisor gave me tips on the best tourist attractions, WikiTravel instructed on local etiquette and a handful of online articles described the main plot line of religion and politics in Nepal. I got to know my host family in advance on Facebook and snooped around my volunteering project through the satellite cameras or Google Maps. One could easily imagine that I knew everything there was to know even before my travel. Nevertheless, in 2015 I returned a hundred times wiser.
Nothing beats the authentic experience.

Maailmanvaihto is turning 60 years old this year. This magazine is an ode to those six decades of making a difference. I wish you enjoyable reading moments!

Roosa Kontiokari
The chair of Maailmanvaihto

In the issue

2: Pääkirjoitus 60 vuotta kokemuksia – Roosa Kontiokari
6 Kutsu kevätkokoukseen – Kokous pidetään 22. maaliskuuta.
7 Ajankohtaiset uutiset – Kesällä valmennusleirille ohjaajaksi tai keittiötyöntekijäksi!
TEEMA: 60 vuotta vaikuttavuutta
THEME: 60 years of making a difference
— 12 Maailmanvaihdon historiaa – Pikakelaus 40-luvun lopulta tähän päivään.
— 14 40 vuotta Maailmanvaihdon matkassa – Outi Pesola kertoo vuosistaan ICYE:n mukana.
— 16 Mitä jäi käteen? – Maailmanvaihdon toimintaan viime vuosikymmenillä osallistuneet kertovat.
19 Tackling racism requires common acts – Ana López Carlassare
22 Vapaaehtoistyö ja rasisminvastaisuuden edistäminen? – Alma Smolander
24 Reittejä maailmalle – Kaksi vapaaehtoista kertoo arjen vaihtamisesta.
26 Feeling young in a youth organization – Haastattelussa ICYE Ugandan Semakula Stuart George.
28 Tule mukaan toimintaan – Tutustu mahdollisuuksiin Suomessa ja ulkomailla!
29 Arkea ja juhlaa tukiperheenä – Tukiperhe tukee auringonpaisteessa ja tuulisilla säillä.
34 Näkökulma: Kisälli ja Euroopan kokoinen ystäväpiiri – Mauri Pajunen
35 Tapahtumakalenteri – 60-vuotiasta Maailmavaihtoa juhlitaan elokuussa.

ISSN 2342-2629 (Printed)
ISSN 2342-2637 (Online publication)

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