Author: minna

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’re currently looking for a host family i n the metropolitan area of Helsinki for Dondericks, a 24-year-old ICYE-volunteer from Nigeria. Dondericks is volunteering at Pukinmäki artschool in Helsinki. We are looking for a host family primarily from the end of July for a period of 6 months, from August 2025 to January 2026, but a shorter stay (e.g. 1-3 months) is also possible.

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.

Dondericks

My name is Ikennadozie Dondericks N. I’m 24 years old, from Nigeria,  I speak very good English and my native language (Igbo). I came to Finland to experience a new way of living,  new foods and new cultures  and lifestyle and snow. I’m a fashion designer, and I love art and clothing.

Interested?

Please, contact us for further information!
Programme Coordinator Mari Takalo
hosting@maailmanvaihto.fi
+358 44 318 0888 (WhatsApp works too)

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

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.

• Saturday 28 June 2025, Helsinki
• We’ll meet at 12 in front of the main entrance of the National Library (Unioninkatu 36)

Join us to march for diversity and equality of LGBTQIA+ people, and bring along your friends, too! This year’s theme is “Pride without Borders” underlining that everyone must have the right to freedom, pride and self-determination, no matter where they’re from.

In Maailmanvaihto’s international volunteering programmes, young people from all over the world interact with new people, cultures, and societies. As part of this, they – as well as other actors in the international volunteering field – face and perhaps live the reality of LGBTQIA+ people in different parts of the world, including the challenges they face.

We want to promote global responsibility, peace, and a more equal world through intercultural learning. As part of this, we want to be increasingly sensitive to gender and sexual diversity and the challenges faced by gender and sexual minorities in Finland and elsewhere in the world.

What?

Helsinki Pride is the largest human rights and cultural event in Finland. June is the official Pride month, culminating in Helsinki Pride week from 23–29 June 2025, with the traditional parade and Kaivopuisto picnic on Saturday June 28. Read more on the Helsinki Pride Community website: https://pride.fi/en/.

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. Most probably, it will take some time for the parade to get going, so it is advisable to consider the weather conditions!

The parade route: Senate Square > Aleksanterinkatu > Mannerheimintie > Pohjois- Esplanadi > Fabianinkatu > Eteläinen Makasiinikatu > Kasarminkatu > Neitsytpolku > Kaivopuisto Park. The route of the parade is about 2,8 km long. On the website of Helsinki Pride, you can find instructions and accessibility information.

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 dish or drink to share. We will bring a small blanket, but bringing your own blanket or mat is also recommended.

Join us!

Welcome people of Maailmanvaihto and friends of our organization! If you would like to join us, we hope you will let us know in advance at harjoittelija@maailmanvaihto.fi so we know who to expect.

If you cannot find us, you can call or text our office intern Nicole: +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.

Would you like to

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

Become a host family! In August of 2025, Letitia, an 18-year-old volunteer from Germany will arrive in Kotka. Letitia will be volunteering at Kotka English kindergarden for 12 months, from August 2025 to August 2026. The hosting period would begin on the 19th of August, and a shorter stay (of 3 months, for example) is also possible.

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.

Laetitia

Laetitia comes from a village near Heidelberg in Germany. She plays the piano and cello, and has participated in her school’s orchestra. She also enjoys table tennis, reading, and spending time with her friends. In Finland, Laetitia is exited about learning about a new culture and getting to know new people. She’s also looking forward to new experiences and adventures.

Interested?

Please, contact us for further information!
Programme 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.

Find out more about host family activities

Have you ever wanted to live in the countryside, enjoying the company of nature and animals? Would you be interested in volunteering for adults with special needs?

You should think to take part in our European Solidarity Corps project at Myllylähde Community! This community is located in the Finnish countryside. At Myllylähde, you as a Volunteer Volunteer you would work with people with special needs while enjoying the nature and the cycle of the seasons.

You will socialize and co-work with the people with special needs and support them in the community’s daily functions and practical tasks like cooking and cleaning. You can also introduce your cultural background and language(s) to the members of the community.

Your role and task would change with the seasons from planting and following the growth of pumpkins, beans, beets, carrots, and apples to indoor tasks, such as helping out in the workshops of the community.

• Volunteering period:  12.8.2025–11.8.2026 (12 months)
• Positions available:  2

Got interested? >> Read more and apply as soon as possible!

Would you like to

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

Become a host family! In August, a 34-year-old Japanese volunteer called Eri will arrive in Alavus to volunteer at Kirkkomännikkö school for six months. Maailmanvaihto is now looking for a host family for her.

In Japan, Eri works as a teacher. She’ll volunteer at Kirkkomännikkö school from August 2025 to January 2026. We’re primarily looking for a home for the entire volunteering period, but a shorter stay of 3 months for example, is also possible.

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.

Eri

”Hi! My name is Eri and I’m from Japan. I work as a junior high school teacher and love supporting children as they grow and learn. I’m curious, open-minded, and enjoy cultural exchange, nature, and working with others. I’m joining this volunteer program because I admire the Finnish education system and want to learn from it.”

Interested?

Please, contact us for further information!
Programme 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.

Find out more about host family activities

Would you like to

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

Become a host family! In August, Tzu Han, an 18-year-old young woman from Taiwan, is arriving in Kirkkonummi to volunteer at Kantvik school. Maailmanvaihto is now looking for a host family for her.

Tzu Han will volunteer at Kantvik school for a year, and we’re primarily looking for a host family for the entire duration of her volunteering. However, a short period of hosting is possible too, 3-4 months long for example.

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.

Tzu Han

”I’m an easygoing and considerate person with a love for music and literature. During my volunteer period in Finland, I’m looking forward to learning more about the culture and language, and gaining new perspectives through everyday experiences.”

Interested?

Please, contact us for further information!
Programme 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

In September, two young volunteers from Türkiye will arrive in Finland, Nisa and Anil, and Maailmanvaihto is looking for a home from them in the metropolitan area of Helsinki!

Nisa will be volunteering in an organisation called Nicehearts (nicehearts.com) in Espoo for 10 months, and Anil at Maailmavaihto in Helsinki for a year. Both are participating as volunteers through European Solidarity Corps.

We’re looking for a joint home for Nisa and Anil from the metropolitan area, for example, a room or rooms to let, or a shared flat. Both Nisa and Anil are youth workers in Türkiye. Below you can find a short introduction of each of them.

If your interest arises, please contact us, and we can have a chat!

Anil

”My name is Anıl. As a youth worker, I decided to join the European Solidarity Corps in Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland to experience the programme from a different perspective. As someone who is always looking for ways to improve myself, I aim to contribute to the personal and professional development of young people while also strengthening my skills in international project coordination.”

Nisa

”I am Nisa and 26 years old. I’ve been working as a youth worker for 2.5 years and now that I decided to take a gap year and take advantage of ESC projects. I’ll volunteer in Nicehearts ry for 10 months and I’m looking forward to this opportunity.”

Interested?

Please contact us for further information!
Programme 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