minna, Author at Maailmanvaihto ry

Privacy Policy: Reports of harassment in Maailmanvaihto’s activities

1. The keeper of the register
Name: Maailmanvaihto ry
Business ID: 0281262-7
Address: Oikokatu 3, 00170 Helsinki
Other contact information:
Phone number: 050 452 5660
E-mail: maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi

2. Contact person for matters concerning the register
Name: Secretary General Anni Koskela
Address: Address of Maailmanvaihto ry (above)
Phone number: 050 452 5660
E-mail address: maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi

3. Name of the register
Reports of harassment in the activities of Maailmanvaihto

4. The purpose of processing personal data
Processing of harassment incidents reported in the context of Maailmanvaihto

5. The content of the register
1) The information submitted by the reporter,
– where the harassment occurred
– when the harassment occurred
– who harassed
– what happened and who was present
2) The name and email address and telephone number of the reporting party
3) Any other additional information provided by the reporting party
4) The reporting party’s request as to whether they want to be contacted
5) Information on the handling of the case by Maailmanvaihto

6. Normal sources of information
The information is obtained from the person who filed the harassment report through an electronic form or other means.

7. The processing of data within Maailmanvaihto

Access to documents is limited within Maailmanvaihto.
The information as such is handled confidentially by Maailmanvaihto office staff and the board of Maailmanvaihto. The reports of harassment will be forwarded via the electronic form available on Maailmanvaihto homepage to the email of the Secretary General. In his/her absence, the reports will be received by another member of the office staff.
The recipient will inform of the harassment report to the harassment contact person and the president of the Maailmanvaihto Board.

If the contact details of the reporter are included in the contact form, the person who receives the harassment report will contact the reporter and ask about the wishes of the person experiencing the harassment concerning the handling of the case. The matter will be taken up only with the consent of the person who has experienced the harassment. Once consent has been obtained, the report will be handled by the harassment contact person and the employee responsible for the activity where the harassment took place. If an employee or board member has been involved in the harassment situation, that person will not be involved in the handling of the harassment report.

8. Normal disclosures of data
The data will not be disclosed to parties outside Maailmanvaihto.

9. The transfer of data outside the EU or EEA
Personal data is stored in Google Cloud, which is located outside the EU/EEA, but is committed to complying with the requirements of the EU Data Protection Regulation.

10. The principles and retention periods for the protection of the register
IT processed data
The data in the register will be handled with care and appropriate data security protection. The electronic form on the Maailmanvaihto website sends data to the Secretary General’s account in the cloud. The data is anonymised immediately after the case is processed. All parties involved in the case will be informed once the handling of the case has ended. The time period for storing the anonymised data is unlimited.

11. Inspection rights
Data subjects have the right to inspect their data recorded in the register. The request should be made to the Secretary General of Maailmanvaihto in person or at the office address. Personal Data Act §24, EU Data Protection Regulation.

12. Right to request the correction of data
Everyone has the right to request the correction of inaccurate information contained in the register. The request for the correction of inaccurate information should be addressed to the Secretary General of Maailmanvaihto.

13. Other rights related to the processing of personal data

Connecting with the world and volunteers in Čadca

In this series, we learn about volunteering opportunities within the ICYE network all over the world. This time it’s Sloavakia’s turn to be in the spotlight. Read what Miriam Petríková from ICYE Slovakia, KERIC, tells about volunteering with KERIC.

Interview & photo: Minna Räisänen

Miriam Petriková from the youth organization KERIC welcomes new volunteers to their team: “If you would like to be part of KERIC community, experience life in Slovakia, and like working with children, we are the right place for you.”

Could you please introduce KERIC?

KERIC is a non-profit, non-governmental youth organization that works with children and young people aged 7–30 years, and also with adults from the Kysuce region. We offer various activities with an international dimension, which develop the personality of children and young people and vary according to the needs of individuals and groups. We are trying to connect our Kysuce region with Europe and gradually with the whole world.

Dozens of young people take the opportunity to travel abroad and have unique experiences in countries around the world. Every year, volunteers visit us in Čadca to share their culture, customs, and languages through fun activities.

We send groups of young people from 13 to 30 years of age to the world for international youth exchanges. The aim is to meet young people from other countries, spend some time together, cooperate during activities and communicate together in a foreign language. In this informal way, young people gain new experiences, knowledge, and contacts.

We have been cooperating with primary and secondary schools in Kysuce for a long time. Throughout the school year, once or twice a week, volunteers from abroad attend schools and help motivate pupils and students, especially in foreign language classes.

In addition, we organize regular educational activities for local youth, such as workshops on engaging topics, webinars with guests, creative workshops for school clubs, and language courses for different age groups. We also host summer camps for children aged from 7 to 16. All of this allows young people to get to know themselves better and develop their potential.

What is the most rewarding and challenging aspect of your work?

We enjoy everything we do. We are constantly learning and adapting to new conditions. We try to supplement what is missing in society, and help people meet their needs. We create space for young people to express themselves and realize their ideas. We also discuss topics that are not much talked about in a creative and open way. Every obstacle brings us forward and so we grow together.

When it comes to forming connections via international volunteering, what kinds of connections has Keric gained through the European Solidarity Corps?

We have worked in the field of volunteering for almost twenty years. During this period we have established a lot of good partnerships and we try to maintain them. We had a strategy to visit the majority of the projects where we send volunteers and to have a personal experience with the host organization, people there and activities. Another strategy was to invite our project partners for study visits or seminars so that they could get to know our project personally.

The third way of staying in contact with our partners was created during the pandemic. We organize live streams with our partners through which they can introduce their projects. These interviews are recorded and candidates for the European Solidarity Corps projects can then watch them during the preparation period.

What kind of tasks do you offer for European Solidarity Corps volunteers? How has the cooperation with long-term ESC volunteers contributed to your work community?

The tasks of our volunteers are very diverse. Firstly, the volunteers help to run communication courses for children. They prepare and run the lessons together with a young Slovak teacher. The aim of the courses is to motivate children to speak English, experience the culture of the volunteer, and have fun while speaking English. The volunteers do not have to know English very well. Their role is to motivate the kids to speak a foreign language.

Secondly, the volunteers cooperate with one or two schools in Cadca or nearby villages. The aim of the cooperation is to add an international dimension to the schools. The volunteers help teachers during their lessons, using non-formal education tools. It can be language lessons but also sports, art, IT, science, math, etc. The volunteers organize games and creative activities with the students or support the teacher in any way needed. In some classes, the volunteer might help students who need special support due to a disability or other reason.

The volunteers are motivated to get involved in the school life – to take part in school trips, special events, sports tournaments, etc. The volunteers also hold classes for students to let them experience the culture, country, and the language of the volunteer, through methods of non formal education. The volunteers prepare their activities alone or with the support of the KERIC staff.

Thirdly, once a week, the volunteers help in running the KERIC office. This task involves everyday office tasks, paperwork, preparing leaflets about our activities, updating the KERIC website and Facebook, cleaning and taking care of the facilities in KERIC, or other little tasks depending on the needs of the organization.

The volunteers are part of the KERIC team. Their personalities, experiences and needs influence activities that we offer to our local community. They bring new international dimensions to our organization and the life of our community. During the first weeks, the volunteers are actively involved mainly in teaching. Later on, they may want to get more involved in other activities, such as sports, or social work. The volunteers can also take part in a language course of their own choice.

How has Keric adapted to the COVID-19 situation? How do you see the future of international volunteering in your organization, post-COVID-19?

The COVID-19 period was hard, but the challenges we faced developed our activities in positive ways. The pandemic affected three groups of our volunteers. The first group was affected on the second half of their project. We did our best to support the group’s team spirit. We created many new modules of education, started to apply distance learning, and did a lot of hiking in our region. We took it as a challenge and we were enthusiastic to study new tools and transfer our typical activities into an online space. We did many live streams and funny challenges online. I consider this period both challenging and inspiring.

When we started to host a new group of volunteers in September 2020, we tried to put our learning experiences from spring 2020 into use to develop further our educational activities. We created methodologies for online meetings, and planned how to educate our volunteers on using IT technologies to fulfill our aims in education. It was important to focus on the mental health of our volunteers and team members, so we continued with outdoor team building activities.

Now, we are hosting the third group of volunteers and I have a feeling that the pandemic is a part of our work, plans and life.

Your greetings to those interested in volunteering in Slovakia?

We really like our KERIC community. The challenges connected with hosting young people from different countries and with different skills, knowledge and experience lead our community to unexpected positive discoveries. If you would like to be part of this community, experience life in Slovakia, and like working with children, we are the right place for you.

This article has been extracted from Maailmanvaihto’s magazine Volunteers’ Voices 1/2022 edition with the theme of connections via international volunteering. You can find the full magazine and previous releases here.

Making connections beyond a shared language

Dasha, a European Solidarity Corps volunteer from Russia, shares what it’s like to build connections with people when there’s a language barrier present.

Text: Daria Aleksandrovna Panarina
Photo: Kisälli-Harjulanmäki

Volunteer Dasha Panarina (left) is preparing a board with Maslenitsa characters for the masks at Kisälli. In the photo, Daria is working together with Heidi Lohtander, and Aleksander Kämärä is working in the background.

Hi! My name is Dasha Panarina. I’m 22 years old and come from the region of Tatarstan, Russia. I have been volunteering in Finland for five months now. I am working in an arts and crafts workshop at Kisälli-Harjulanmäki in Vihti where I assist people with mental disabilities with different handicrafts, for example, weaving carpets and making bags, and in their daily activities.

Learning to communicate through gestures and sounds

My mother tongues are Russian and Tatar but in the volunteering project, in order to communicate with my colleagues, I use English. The students at Kisälli speak Finnish, but they also know a few phrases in Swedish, Russian, Spanish and other languages. Since I know only a little bit of Finnish and the students — just very few phrases in Russian, I feel like I am communicating as if I was a child again, trying to express everything with gestures and sounds. This is the well-forgotten way to communicate. In the beginning, it was difficult to explain to the students that I didn’t understand them. Later on, I learned the Finnish phrase ‘Minä en ymmärrä’ (‘I don’t understand’) and picked up some other frequently used phrases in Finnish, which made it easier to communicate.

The arts and crafts that we do with the students take time. During this process, there is constant communication, because I need to monitor the process. In one way or another, we need to communicate. While doing their work, some students like to share something from their lives, for example, about their dogs and nephews. That way, a dialogue is started. Art is also a very associative thing. To explain something, students need to use familiar concepts. For example, in order to make a circle on a sheet, some students may refer to a ball to explain what they want to do.

“While doing their work, some students like to share something from their lives, for example, about their dogs and nephews. That way, a dialogue is started.”

Finding new ways of self expression

Right now, I have started creating my own personal project. My project is based on the celebration of Maslenitsa, a Slavic festival dedicated to the farewell of winter and the welcoming of spring. In Finland, winters are as long as in Russia, and I thought that it would be nice to share this cultural tradition of my country. The idea is to make papier-mache masks of Maslenitsa characters together with the students and celebrate this holiday with them. I hope that the time spent together preparing for this celebration will allow me to build closer connections with the students.

Creating my personal project was also a new way to express myself and participate at work. Before arriving in Finland, I was an environmental student. That was not related to creativity at all. I can probably say that the whole expression of myself was constrained to writing reports and reading academic literature. This personal project at Kisälli provided me an opportunity to express myself creatively.

“Now I have found ways to communicate with the students, know some Finnish and I can roughly understand what they are talking about.”

Connecting through sharing

For me, in general, it is difficult to establish deep connections as I am an introvert. But with the students we connect by laughing together at jokes, sharing the same songs or something else we’re both familiar with. Recently, we talked about a disco sauna on wheels from Kirovsk, Russia. Sometimes, someone sings Russian songs like Pugacheva’s ‘Millions of scarlet roses’ and so on. I can’t say that we share the same things all the time but finding these few things we both have in common has allowed us to connect.

At the beginning of the project, I didn’t know Finnish at all and although I had an idea about people with mental disabilities, I didn’t know exactly what to expect from them. I can say that everything turned out better than I thought. Now I have found ways to communicate with the students, know some Finnish and I can roughly understand what they are talking about. Working with people with mental disabilities has definitely taught me to be more patient.

Apply for European Solidarity Corps Volunteering at Vanhamäki!

Are you aged 18–30 years? Would you like to develop your know-how and language skills & learn about organic farming? Are you interested in international co-operation?

Apply for European Solidarity Corps volunteering at Vanhamäki! Vanhamäki is an activity center and an organic farm located in Suonenjoki in central Finland. The center produces berries and vegetables, offers activities for its visitors, and organizes activities for people who have fallen out of the job market.

Vanhamäki is looking for a young person for a volunteering period at Vanhamäki 1.4.–31.10.2022, when 2–3 other European Solidarity Corps volunteers from different sides of Europe will volunteer at Vanhamäki, too.

Apply if you are interested in organic farming and international co-operation! You will get to work and live with other young European Solidarity Corps volunteers from different countries. You will have a chance to learn new skills, practice your language skills and advance intercultural understanding through everyday co-operation.

During your volunteering period, you will get to do different kinds of tasks outdoors and indoors. From spring to autumn, the tasks will concentrate on organic farming, from planting to harvesting. In addition, you will get to assist in making organic products, in social media tasks, and in maintenance work of the park area of Vanhamäki. You can also, according to your skills, help in planning and carrying out events, in office work and in kitchen work. You can also assist in organizing activities for unemployed people.

What is the European Solidarity Corps?

European Solidarity Corps is an EU-funded program that supports the international volunteering of young people. In the European Solidarity Corps, young people participate in projects which strengthen solidarity and social cohesion. Welcome to join in are all those 18–30-year old young people and organizations which want to work for a more solidary society.

For whom?

The position is meant for an 18–30-year-old person who lives is in one of the program countries or partner countries of the European Solidarity Corps. You can see the countries on the program information page. NB! Due to the tight schedule, the position is meant for a person who doesn’t need a residence permit to Finland.

The position can fit you well if you recognize yourself from these:

I am interested in organic farming and nature.
I enjoy practical tasks and teamwork.
I am ready to work outdoors during different seasons.
I can communicate in English in practical situations.

It is important that the volunteers enjoy both practical and social work tasks and are ready to work outdoors in different seasons. It is good to have an interest in organic farming and nature.

You don’t need to have any prior education or work background, and if you wish, you can receive support for learning Finnish during your volunteering period.

Accommodation and other practical arrangements

You will be accommodated in your own room in a building in Vanhamäki. You will have access to a shared kitchen and bathroom. Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) will be partly offered in the restaurant of Vanhamäki, and partly you will cook meals out of ingredients offered by Vanhamäki.

In addition to accommodation and meals, you will get pocket money 5 euros in a day (150–155 € / month) as well as insurance for the duration of your volunteering period. Vanhamäki is located about three kilometers away from the center of Suonenjoki. If you wish, you can borrow a bicycle from Vanhamäki for your journeys to the center.

Accessibility

The volunteering tasks related to organic farming are mostly physical, and the buildings of Vanhamäki are not completely accessible, for example. If you are an applicant with a physical or sensory disability, please contact us prior to applying for consultation if the volunteering environment and tasks would be suitable for you and if the support needed could be arranged.

Vanhamäki’s website and social media channels

Website: vanhamaki.fi
The volunteers of Vanhamäki in Instagram
Vanhamäki in Instagram
The volunteers of Vanhamäki in Facebook
Vanhamäki in Facebook

Get to know also the experiences of Vanhamäki’s volunteers, on Maailmanvaihto’s website.

How to apply?

Read the general information on European Solidarity Corps volunteering and visit then this page to read the applying instructions and to download the application form. Apply as soon as possible! The position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

Further information

Would you like to ask something about the open position for European Solidarity Corps volunteering? Please, contact us – we will be happy to answer! You can reach us at hosting@maailmanvaihto, and +358 (0)44 318 0888.

Greetings from abroad: From Finland to Iceland and from Egypt to FInland

Each year Maailmanvaihto sends and receives young people for long-term volunteering. Fia Dahlström and Nabil Sleem share their experiences of volunteering with the European Solidarity Corps.

Interviews: Minna Räisänen & Laura Rudzevičiūtė
Photos: Fia Dahlström, Rene Sinisalo & the home album of Nabil Sleem

Nabil: from Egypt to Finland

“The photo was taken by another volunteer at Atjärvi and makes me remember how I was adapting to a new environment.”

I went because…

I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and learn more about other cultures. By volunteering abroad, I have been able to gain many new skills which I never would have gotten if I had stayed in my comfort zone. This time which I have spent volunteering in Finland has also helped me to get to know myself better.

To Finland!

I chose Finland for a variety of reasons. Finland is advanced in many fields, like education, and health care, and ranks as the happiest country in the world. This is what interested me and I wanted to learn more about Finland’s systems. After having spent a little more than five months here in Finland, I would say that my expectations have been met.

My project

I volunteer at Tapola Camphill Village Community where I assist people with mental disabilities in various workshops. I also help in outdoor activities like cutting trees and preparing the firewood.

Expectations and surprises

I was expecting that I would face some problems with connecting with new people and adapting to a new culture but all of this was not true. The people whom I’ve met are very nice, helpful and polite. I really like them and don’t feel like a foreigner here.

“Try to notice what motivates you, to see what’s good in the things that happen to you and to form close relationships with people.”

An unexpected thing was the weather. I had read about the cold in Finland but had never experienced it. It’s extremely dark and cold in Finland and one needs time to get used to it. But now after adapting to the cold, I don’t know how I will be able to live in a warm country like Egypt again.

Greetings to future volunteers

I would like to advise new volunteers, from my own experience of living and adapting in the countryside, to be patient and always try to find ways to support yourself — try to notice what motivates you, to see what’s good in the things that happen to you and to form close relationships with people.

I feel lucky to be part of this project and I know that this time will give me new skills and knowledge. I also want to thank the people I work with for their support and love. Keep going and achieve your dreams!

>> The article continues in the Finnish version of our website: Ida Dahlström sends greetings from volunteering in Iceland (in Finnish)

The article has been published in the magazine MaailmanVaihtoa – Volunteers’ Voices 1/2022.

Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland’s strategy 2022–2027

1. What is Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland?

Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland is a religiously and politically non-affiliated organisation that sends young adults abroad to do volunteer work for extended periods of time (6 to 12 months) and receives volunteers from abroad to Finland. The volunteers work in common-good organisations. The long-lasting volunteering builds intercultural understanding, offering the participants the opportunity for challenging learning experiences and personal growth.

Established in 1958, Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland is a part of the International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE) federation, which is an international cooperation network of 39 organisations. The values of ICYE highlight the building of peace and understanding between cultures. In addition to the ICYE volunteer programme, ICYE Finland receives and sends volunteers through the EU-funded European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme. A few volunteers also arrive yearly from Germany through the Internationaler Jugendfreiwilligendienst (IJFD) programme.

Three permanent employees manage the daily operations of Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland. These members of staff are assisted by a changing number of trainees and office volunteers. The board is in charge of the decision making within the organisation. Furthermore, volunteers take part in the execution of events, in communication tasks, in the interviewing of the volunteering candidates, and in school visits and camp activities.

2. The operational environment of Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland*

The operation of Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland is based on internationality, and hence all global trends affect indirectly and directly also the operational environment of ICYE Finland. In recent years, especially the acceleration of climate change, pandemics, the increase in inequality, and political instability have all had an impact also on the field of volunteer work. Unstable conditions affect both organisational and individual financial resources: the increasing inequality in the financial opportunities of the young people who are interested in volunteer work is even more palpable than before, and organisations need to consider sustainable solutions for the continuation of their operations themselves.

Likewise, working life is globally marked by insecurity and instability: alongside the diversification of work and learning, education is marked by the pressure to generate workforce at a fast speed. This results in pupils and students having to make future-defining decisions earlier and earlier. On the other hand, in the development of one’s learning, for example meta-skills are highlighted (especially the ability to learn). Related to this, the international volunteering programmes of ICYE Finland can be presented as a way of developing diverse know-how and skills required in working life. The long-term experiences provided by ICYE Finland can stand out in today’s fragmented society.

The rapid development of communications and telecommunications technology has affected especially the growing media transmission of individuals and the society. This is also an environment, to which ICYE Finland should pay particular attention to when developing its operations. The use of technology allows not only more close knit international cooperation, but also the reaching of a wider domestic audience with a receptive value base. While utilising the digital tools available, attention should also be paid to the quality and reach of local activities, so that the organisational operations on the one hand reach an increasingly diverse range of participants, and on the other, engage the coworkers to long-term activity within the organisation. Value based transnational cooperation between organisations and individuals is an opportunity for ICYE Finland to expand its sphere of influence and perhaps even a prerequisite for the continuation of its own operation in the fields of organisational and civil activism.

3. The vision of Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland

“For a more equal world through intercultural learning”

4. The mission statement and values of Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland

“Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland organises intercultural learning experiences for young adults and promotes their social growth and personal development. Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland promotes intercultural understanding, equality and peace in the world.”
The activities of ICYE Finland are based on the following values:

Global responsibility. Participating in an international volunteer programme, international youth work and the activities of a youth organisation promotes the awareness and agency of young adults in development, equality, and environmental matters as well as their active role in the society.
Intercultural learning. A long-term volunteer programme offers young adults an intercultural learning experience which contributes to their individual growth and provides them with new perspectives. Intercultural learning promotes equality and cooperation across cultural borders as well as supports questioning and deconstructing prejudices and stereotypes.
Equality. Equality is promoted in all activities of ICYE Finland. Our activities advance cooperation between people with different backgrounds and deconstructs discriminatory thinking and structures. Our activities are inclusive and as accessible as possible for different groups regardless of any reasons related to their person.

In addition to these basic values, the work of ICYE Finland is defined by a set of operational values which are principles permeating the activities of the organisation:

Caring and inclusivity. We acknowledge the individual needs of the participants in our work and offer them individual support. We enable people from different backgrounds and life situations to participate in the activities of ICYE Finland.
Reliability and responsibility. The quality of ICYE Finland’s operations and the expertise of the organisation as the organiser of international volunteering are based on long experience and long-term cooperation networks. Monitoring the quality and ethicality of the activities is an ongoing process at the organisation. The quality and ethicality are monitored, for example, through the feedback collected regularly from the stakeholders.
Transparence. Transparence in communications and decision-making increase the reliability and quality of our operations.

5. Strategic objectives of Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland

During the last strategic period (2016–2021), ICYE Finland focused in particular on improving the quality of volunteering programmes both within the organization and within the ICYE network, developing the recognition of volunteers’ competencies, and increasing the number of participants in the European Solidarity Corps volunteering programme. During the previous strategy period, an advocacy strategy was also drawn up and the organisation’s operations were evaluated for how well equality is achieved in them.

The objectives set in the strategy were largely achieved and all the objectives set in the strategy were taken forward. For example, the development of communications, the preparation of quality descriptions and describing quality processes for our different programmes, and the quality development work of the ICYE federation succeeded remarkably. However, some of the objectives were left partially unmet and/or left in progress. The new strategy continues to develop many of the objectives of the previous strategic period, but also includes a number of new priorities.

In the new strategic period (2022–2027), ICYE Finland aims to increase the inclusivity of its activities, in particular, and work on ways to facilitate the participation of people of various backgrounds and life situations in the organisation’s activities and volunteering programmes. In addition to strengthening the organisation’s inclusivity, ICYE Finland will continue to strengthen skills related to the themes of the previous years’ Standing Together Against Racism in Europe (STAR E) project and expertise in anti-racism activity.

Recent years have shown the important role that coworkers of our NGO and volunteers play in ICYE Finland. Committed and motivated volunteers are one of the most important resources of the organisation, which is why efforts will be made to develop the activities of ICYE Finland’s actives during the next strategic period. Recruiting new coworkers, developing the board’s self-directedness and group dynamics, and highlighting volunteers’ competencies are key ways to ensure that ICYE Finland remains a vibrant and engaging organisation for all.

The strategic objectives and special objectives (A, B, C, D) for the next strategy period are as follows:

(A) Increasing inclusivity: During the next strategic period, ICYE Finland will promote the inclusivity of its activities so that young people with special needs and/or disadvantaged backgrounds have better opportunities to participate in the activities of our organisation. The number of volunteer work placements that cater to special needs and the requirements of inclusivity will be increased within the youth exchange programmes (ICYE and the European Solidarity Corps). Employees and board members of the organisation will be offered opportunities to participate in training on inclusivity.

We will increase understanding within the organisation about inclusivity in volunteer programmes through training and networking. In addition, we will map out our practices in relation to inclusivity, and scan for opportunities to collaborate around the theme within our ICYE and ESC networks.
We will create opportunities to participate in ICYE and ESC networks with the aim to better facilitate the participation of young people with special needs – such as those with sensory and physical disabilities – and other disadvantaged people, in international volunteering.
We will develop the inclusivity of the European Solidarity Corps volunteer selection process so that we can select more young people with special needs and other people with disadvantaged backgrounds as ESC volunteers. We will increase the number of inclusive volunteer placements in Finland that meet the needs of special support, and we will develop support practices in cooperation with experts.
We will scope out the possibilities of organizing European Solidarity Corps volunteer programme co-operation within Finland (in-country) in order to involve volunteers in Finland with refugee and immigrant backgrounds. We will participate in training on the topic, and discuss with other organisations their experiences, exchange information and organize an ideation session around the topic.
Using surveys and studies, we will map out how well ICYE Finland reaches and provides opportunities for people with special needs, such as those with sensory and physical disabilities, and how well we offer them opportunities to participate in our activities. Based on this investigation, we will develop our communication channels and methods.
We will map out what kind of personal backgrounds are represented in our communications’ channels and how we portray them. We will diversify the portrayals of our volunteers and other ICYE Finland actors. We will develop practices to measure and evaluate our success.
We will develop the accessibility of our communication channels, especially keeping in mind the visually and hearing impaired. We will use clear and easily understandable language. In addition to Finnish, we will communicate extensively in English as well, so that those with fewer Finnish skills can participate in our activities.

(B) Developing the antiracist competence of the organisation: We will continue developing the themes of the STAR-E project of the previous years as well as the antiracist competence in the activities of the organisation. On the organisational level, the established practices of ICYE Finland will be evaluated and the antiracist competence of the organisation improved through trainings (e.g. Peace Education Institute).

(C) Developing the activities of ICYE Finland’s board and actives: We will develop the group bonding of the ICYE Finland board and invest in the recruiting of new board members for example by organising introductory events. We will allocate funds in the budget to the group activities of the board.

We will promote the ownership and self-management of the board and consider how its resources could be increased to develop its activities.
We will create the role of the person responsible for group bonding who is in charge of developing the sense of community in the board, planning freetime activities for board members and improving the board’s well-being.
We will invite a representative of the incoming volunteers to the board meetings regularly.
We will consider ways to diversify the group of coworkers of ICYE Finland.

In addition, we will continue advancing the following goals in the present strategic period:

(D) Recognising the skills of the volunteers: We will continue the work started in the previous strategic period in advancing the recognition of the skills acquired through international volunteering and launch tools of identifying the skills acquired through volunteering activities. We will increasingly highlight the experiences of previous volunteers of the development of their skills in recruiting, communications and training activities.

We will continue using the map of know-how (recognising the skills form) especially in the trainings and the return camp.
We will highlight ICYE Finland as a facilitator of non-formal learning in communications and other activities.
The goal is to increase the appreciation and visibility of non-formal learning and long-term volunteering activities.

(E) Developing the quality work of volunteering programmes: We will continue to develop the quality indicators and processes launched in the last strategic period.

We will establish quality process descriptions for the programme of incoming volunteers, host family and volunteer placement activities and management processes.
We will develop consistency in evaluation activities and in the use of evaluations. Evaluation and the use of evaluations has worked well for individual training, but evaluation of wider activities is inconsistent. In the coming strategic period, we will focus on broader evaluation of activities.

(F) Reaching a diverse group in Finland and developing remote and regional accessibility: a survey of the previous years’ outgoing volunteers will be carried out, and ideas will be developed on how ICYE Finland can better reach people from different backgrounds and life situations in the future. We will continue to organise the well-functioning remote activities (info evenings, language café) that were introduced during the corona epidemic. We will work to improve regional accessibility, in particular through diversified remote activities.

(G) Participation in the cooperation of the ICYE network: We will continue developing the quality of the programmes at ICYE federation level, as well as the promotion of ethicality. We will actively participate in the discussion of the expansion of programmes and activities offered for volunteers in the Global South. We will disclose in the ICYE network good practices that have emerged from the development of ICYE Finland’s quality work and promote their adoption at the Federation level.

*Oerational environment analysis 2021 (pdf)

MaailmanVaihtoa – Volunteers’ Voices 1/2022: Connections via International Volunteering

In this magazine

Read the pdf version of the magazine

4 Pääkirjoitus (on the Finnish site) | 5 Editorial
6 Kutsu kevätkokoukseen / Invitation to Spring Meeting
7 Kuulumisten vaihtoa / News from Maailmanvaihto
10 Tule mukaan toimintaan!
11 Tavoitteena ymmärrys (on the Finnish site)
12 Join our activities!
13 Greetings from abroad: From Finland to Iceland and from Egypt to Finland (on the Finnish site)
17 Connecting with the world and volunteers in Čadca
31 Tulevat tapahtumat / Upcoming events

Theme articles

20 Making connections beyond a shared language
22 Polkuja Treloar Trustiin
26 Dialogi ja avoimuus – avaimet onnistuneeseen vuorovaikutukseen (on the Finnish site)
28 Mi casa su casa (on the Finnish site)

Editorial: Dangerous Endeavours

Caution, volunteering abroad is a dangerous endeavour. During any single day of your volunteer period you might meet a person of whom you will come to think of fondly for years to come. You might even become lifelong friends. For some years now, I have been following from afar how my former pupils and volunteering colleagues have gone through various stages of their lives. At regular intervals I also receive email messages from the people I met during my volunteer period, and in the midst of exchanging news, we reminisce on shared moments and the various everyday adventures we encountered together. It is through these types of connections and ties that the links to your host country, its people, and culture often become permanent.

Above all, the volunteer work period consists of living a daily life in a wholly different environment. Intercultural encounters and living that different everyday life becomes a part of your personality in a way that leaves it almost impossible to distinguish what came before and what came after the experience. Life goes on after the volunteer period, but you keep on going back to those feelings, sometimes for years to come. Often the only antidote for chronic nostalgia is to seek out other people who have gone through the same experience. This is why many continue to pursue the path of internationalization and remain involved in organizations such as ICYE Finland, or even head out abroad again. Once you’ve lived a different everyday life and routine, it sticks with you and you crave for more.

A few years ago, I did my first internship – in the Department for Development Policy… of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs… yikes! Luckily my impression of the place formed into a positive one already in the interview, as after the interview I ended up chatting with the interviewers about the photo exhibition in the lobby. The photographs in the exhibition reminded me of my volunteering experience in the countryside of India. We ended up sharing some of our personal experiences, and I left the situation thinking to myself that these people are actually pretty similar globetrotters as I am, only a bit more experienced. It was great to see how my volunteering experience turned out to be the common factor that helped me succeed in the job interview.

I no longer even stop to wonder when connections linking back to my volunteer period pop up during the day in the most peculiar situations. My experiences from those days have simply become part of me. This is the reason why I believe volunteering abroad is dangerous business – you end up living with it for years to come.

Sasu Katajamäki
Board member

In-country volunteering: Apply for European Solidarity Corps Volunteering at Vanhamäki!

Are you aged 18–30 years? Would you like to develop your know-how and language skills & learn about organic farming? Are you interested in international co-operation?

Apply for European Solidarity Corps volunteering at Vanhamäki! Vanhamäki is an activity center and an organic farm located in Suonenjoki in Northern Savonia. The center produces berries and vegetables, offers activities for its visitors, and organizes activities for people who have fallen out of the job market.

Vanhamäki is looking for a young person for a volunteering period at Vanhamäki, primarily 1.5.–31.10.2022, when three other European Solidarity Corps volunteers from different sides of Europe will volunteer at Vanhamäki, too. Nevertheless, the starting time and the length (4–6 months) can be flexibly agreed upon with the participant.