Author: minna

DAGTEK SERVICEENHET offers services for people with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder as a part of Western Uusimaa wellbeing services county (Västra Nylands välfärdsområde in Swedish). The activities Dagtek offers are divided into several sections in different areas.

FIXtv is a web-tv channel made by people with intellectual disabilities together with a tutor. The goal is to give people with disabilities positive visibility in society. FIXtv:s programs can be seen on our website, https://fixtv.fi.

Location

Dagtek is located in Ekenäs (Tammisaari in Finnish), which is a small town with about 15 000 inhabitants situated by the sea in Southern Finland. Dagtek is located in the centre of the town. The majority language spoken in Ekenäs is Swedish (81%) and about 17% of the population speaks Finnish. Ekenäs is a part of the Raseborg commune (28 000 inhabitants).

Volunteer’s role and tasks

The volunteer’s role at FIXtv is to support and assist the clients in their daily activities. That means mainly everything that has to do with filmmaking. The volunteer will participate in planning, filming, editing and sharing our programs. One task is also to create content to FIXtv:s social media together with the clients.

The volunteer will also help the clients in their daily activities related to mealtimes, walks outside, as well as helping the clients when they arrive and leave Dagtek.

Volunteers through the European Solidarity Corps program have become an important and highly valued resource in our activities. Through European Solidarity Corps volunteer cooperation, we wish to offer our community members the possibility to build networks and get a wider perspective on the world around us.

At the same time, we hope to have one more person to be present for the clients and assist them in the daily workshop activities, as well as in social and practical situations during the day. Our clients have the opportunity to make their own international contacts and practice their English. Volunteers enrich our community by sharing their skills and being a part of our social community.

The volunteer will also write articles for Dagtek’s own Magazine (Dagtek Chronicles). The work with the magazine is done together with the clients and other staff members.

A couple times a year the volunteers will also plan parties for Dagtek. For example, a disco party or a summer party. This will be planned and arranged together with the staff members.

Volunteer’s profile

We are looking for volunteers interested in working with adults (18–60-year-olds) with different types of intellectual disabilities, autism disorder, or minor learning disabilities. It is important that the volunteer is socially active, flexible, and motivated to participate in community life, meaning being there for the clients and communicating actively with them.

It is also important that the volunteer has open communication with the staff team and shares their ideas and observations with them. The working language of Dagtek is Swedish, so it is important to be motivated to learn Swedish. It is also important to be able to tolerate fast-changing situations.
Volunteering at FIXtv is especially suitable for candidates who have a strong interest in filmmaking. Having filming and editing skills is beneficial, as is knowledge of using the editing program Premiere Pro or a similar one.

Accommodation, food, transportation, and holidays

• The volunteers will live in a shared flat of three volunteers.
• Lunch will be offered at Dagtek. Other meals will be cooked by the volunteer and the volunteer will get a food allowance.
• In July, the volunteers will have holidays for 2 weeks when the workshops are closed.

Training during the volunteering period

The volunteer will have an on-arrival training camp and mid-term evaluation camp organised by the Finnish National Agency of the European Solidarity Corps.
The volunteer will get access to the Online Language Support (OLS) tool of the European Solidarity Corps to support learning Swedish.

Accessibility

The physical environment of Dagtek is also suitable for people with physical or (minor) sensory disabilities, depending on the needs of the person. Wheelchair access is possible and there is an accessible toilet in the building. Since Dagtek works with people with different disabilities, our staff has experience in providing extra support and can sometimes support the volunteer, if needed. However, there are no resources to provide continuous intensive support for the volunteer. If you have a disability, please, feel welcome to contact us for consultation via the coordinating organization Maailmanvaihto: esc@maailmanvaihto.fi.

Themes

Creativity and culture, disabilities – inclusion – equality, health, and wellbeing

How to apply

Further information

If you wish to ask something about the open position for volunteering at Dagtek, please, see answers to frequently asked questions and the 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 Dagtek directly via e-mail, phone, or WhatsApp or other channels.

Please note that you can only apply for the open position through Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland by following the application instructions linked above. (You cannot apply directly through the voluntary workplace.)

DAGTEK SERVICEENHET offers services for people with intellectual disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders as a part of Western Uusimaa wellbeing services county (Västra Nylands välfärdsområde in Swedish). The activities Dagtek offers are divided into several sections in different areas.

Activities in the Art & Crafts workshop DAKOHA include different kinds of textile handicrafts such as weaving, fabric printing, knitting, embroidery, sewing, and felting. Many of the 20 participants in this workshop have education or courses in textile handicraft or art.

We want to take advantage of and develop the skills that our participants have through their education and work experience, and we want to profile our activities with professional textile craftsmanship and products with personal design in good quality.

Our participants have the opportunity to choose which products or craft techniques they want to work with. Some of them have chosen to focus on a particular textile work or product, while others are happy to switch between different jobs and try new things. A big part of our textile products is made in collective processes where it is easy to find individually suitable tasks for everybody. We make for instance rag rugs, kitchen textiles, and bags. Our products are sold in our own DAKOHA shop and we also collaborate on a small scale with local craftsman collectives.

We want to extend our networks in art & crafts, and we have arranged courses and workshops, such as a workshop with art graphics, together with professional artists. Now and then we go on excursions and visit exhibitions in our surroundings.

Location

Dagtek is located in Ekenäs (Tammisaari in Finnish), which is a small town with about 15 000 inhabitants situated by the sea in Southern Finland. Dagtek is located in the centre of the town. The majority language spoken in Ekenäs is Swedish (81%) and about 17% of the population speaks Finnish. Ekenäs is a part of the Raseborg commune (28 000 inhabitants).
Volunteer’s role and tasks

The role of the volunteer is to support the clients of the DAKOHA workshop in their textile crafts work, art activities, and all kinds of daily activities and social situations. According to their skills and interests, the volunteer can also organize activities and teach the clients new skills in fields that connect to arts & crafts. The role of the staff and the volunteer is to coach and guide them in the arts&crafts activities and to support their independence in different everyday situations.

Volunteers through the European Solidarity Corps program have become an important and highly valued resource in our activities. Through European Solidarity Corps volunteer cooperation, we wish to offer our community members the possibility to build networks and get a wider perspective on the world around us.

At the same time, we hope to have one more person to be present for the clients and assist them in the daily workshop activities, as well as in social and practical situations during the day. Our clients have the opportunity to make their own international contacts and practice their English. Volunteers enrich our community by sharing their skills and being a part of our social community.
The volunteer will also write articles for Dagtek’s own Magazine (Dagtek Chronicles). The work with the magazine is done together with the clients and other staff members.
A couple times a year the volunteers will also plan parties for Dagtek. For example, a disco party or a summer party. This will be planned and arranged together with the staff members.

Volunteer’s profile

We are looking for volunteers interested in working with adults (18–60-year-olds) with different types of intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, or minor learning disabilities. It is important that the volunteer is socially active, flexible, and motivated to participate in community life, meaning being there for the clients and communicating actively with them.

It is also important that the volunteer has open communication with the staff team and shares their ideas and observations with them. The working language of Dagtek is Swedish, so it is important to be motivated to learn Swedish. It is also important to be able to tolerate fast-changing situations.

We are looking for a volunteer who is motivated to work in the arts – someone eager to contribute to the field now and perhaps pursue it in the future. Ideally, the volunteer has skills or a strong interest in arts and crafts, such as visual or textile arts, photography, or ceramics. Bringing in someone with artistic knowledge and enthusiasm will enrich the community, while giving the volunteer an opportunity to share their talents and experience. Next year, DAKOHA, together with a few partners, is planning to have a project to expand and develop further art activities for our clients and the wider community. This offers the volunteer a chance to contribute to a growing initiative.

Accommodation, food, transportation, and holidays

• The volunteer will live in a shared flat of three volunteers.
• Lunch will be offered at Dagtek. Other meals will be cooked by the volunteer and the volunteer will get a food allowance.
• In July, the volunteers will have holidays for 2 weeks when the workshops are closed.

Training during the volunteering period

The volunteer will have an on-arrival training camp and mid-term evaluation camp organised by the Finnish National Agency of the European Solidarity Corps.
The volunteer will get access to the Online Language Support (OLS) tool of the European Solidarity Corps to support learning Swedish.

Accessibility

The physical environment of Dagtek is also suitable for people with physical or (minor) sensory disabilities, depending on the needs of the person. Wheelchair access is possible and there is an accessible toilet in the building. Since Dagtek works with people with different disabilities, our staff has experience in providing extra support and can sometimes support the volunteer, if needed. However, there are no resources to provide continuous intensive support for the volunteer. If you have a disability, please, feel welcome to contact us for consultation via the coordinating organization Maailmanvaihto: esc@maailmanvaihto.fi.

Themes

Creativity and culture, disabilities, inclusion – equality, health, and wellbeing

How to apply

Further information

If you wish to ask something about the open position for volunteering at Dagtek, please, see answers to frequently asked questions and the 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 Dagtek directly via e-mail, phone, or WhatsApp or other channels.

Please note that you can only apply for the open position through Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland by following the application instructions linked above. (You cannot apply directly through the voluntary workplace.)

Greetings from Italy, from the small town of Cingoli in the Marche region!

I’m Laura, and I’m currently halfway through my six-month European Solidarity Corps volunteer placement with the Italian Red Cross.

Here in Cingoli, I live with other international volunteers in accommodation provided by the hosting organization. Most of the Red Cross volunteers here are local people of various ages, and the activity level is high. The core areas of work include things like regularly driving elderly people to and from hospitals in larger towns, providing first aid or ambulance support at local events (such as sports events, concerts, and village festivals), and planning and organizing activities for children. I’ve had the chance to take part in all of these activities during my volunteer period.

I’m interested in gaining international work experience. That is the main reason I sought out volunteer opportunities. I ended up in Italy more or less by chance. I connected with the organization through the European Solidarity Corps portal ↗, and Maailmanvaihto ry is my sending organization in Finland. In Italy, both Vicolocorto ↗ and the Croce Rossa di Cingoli ↗ are involved in the program.

I already had some previous experience studying and working abroad. Every environment and culture has taught me something new about people, the world, and myself. Initially, I hoped and expected that my volunteer experience would mainly focus on contributing my efforts and gaining new types of work experience. However, I’ve once again found that a volunteer period offers so many opportunities to learn—not only about the work, but about the new living environment, culture, and about oneself.

I was warmly and openly welcomed in Cingoli and met many nice people here, and I’m truly grateful for that! My limited Italian language skills do create challenges in communicating with people, both at work and in my free time. I often feel I’d like to be able to give more of myself when interacting with clients and coworkers. Fortunately, I’m steadily understanding more and more of what’s being said and what’s going on around me!

The workload varies from day to day—sometimes we’re busy, while on other days there’s more time to tidy the office or study Italian independently, for example. Now in the summer, there are many opportunities to work during evenings and weekends at various events. In August, we’ll be organizing a large event here in Cingoli called Calici dal Balcone, and preparations began weeks ago! I spend most of my free time in Cingoli, as there’s limited public transport to other towns, but this little town is fortunately very pleasant and beautiful. Occasionally I do get the chance to go elsewhere and meet up with friends outside of Cingoli.

I continue to live here with a grateful and happy heart for the months ahead. I hope that by taking part in the organization’s work I can be of use to the local community and individuals, and I believe that the experience I’m gaining during this volunteer period is helping me grow both personally and professionally. I encourage anyone interested in volunteering to take the opportunity if it arises!

Would you like to

• diversify your world view and practice your language skills?
• support international volunteering?
• make a new friend?

Become a host family! We are looking for a host family in Vantaa or other parts of the metropolitan area of Helsinki for Andrea, a 27-year-old volunteer Costa Rican who will arrive in Finland in August. She will volunteer at Lumo upper secondary school in Korso for six months.

For the beginning of the volunteering period we have already found a host family for Andrea, so currently we’re looking for the host family from the 11th of November 2025 to the 11th of February 2026 (for just over 3 months).

Being a host family is a voluntary activity that provides an opportunity for a cultural exchange at home. As a host family, you get to practice your language skills in everyday life and see your surroundings from new perspectives.

Becoming a host family is suitable for a family or individual interested in getting to know a new person and sharing their daily life with them. The host family provides accommodation and food for the volunteer. Families with only one adult, or where one or both adults are unemployed, students, or pensioners, can apply for support money of €150 per month.

Andrea

”I’m Andrea from Costa Rica. Spanish is my native language, but I also speak English. I’m a social worker by profession, so I believe my greatest strengths are empathy and problem-solving. I’m also very interested in topics related to social justice. I really enjoy meeting new people, I consider myself very outgoing and active. I like going to the gym and practicing yoga, and I’m always up for new adventures. Traveling is my biggest passion; I love discovering new places, learning about different cultures, and exploring each country’s natural beauty. I chose Finland for my volunteer work because it’s a country with incredibly impressive nature. I’m also deeply impressed by everything I’ve heard about Finland’s education system and safety. I’d love to immerse myself in the lifestyle there, with the hope of one day being able to replicate some of these great practices in my own country.”

Interested?

Please, contact us for further information!
Program Coordinator Mari Takalo
hosting@maailmanvaihto.fi
+358 44 318 0888

Maailmanvaihto ry – ICYE Finland is a youth exchange organisation founded in 1958. We have opportunities for volunteer exchanges for 6-12 month periods to and from Finland. Our vision: a more equal world through intercultural learning. Our organisation is religiously and politically unaffiliated.

Read more about host family activities here