Would you like to:
- broaden your worldview and practice your language skills at home?
- support young people’s international experiences?
- share your everyday life with a young volunteer?
Become a host family!
Maailmanvaihto is looking for a host family in Helsinki or elsewhere in the capital region for a 26-year-old young person named Léa, who will arrive at the end of April to volunteer at Maailmanvaihto’s office in Helsinki. Léa will work as a volunteer at Maailmanvaihto for 11 months.
We are looking for a host family for Lea for 27.4.–31.8.2026 (about 4 months). For the rest of the volunteering period, Léa already has a home.
Hosting is volunteer work that offers a unique opportunity for cultural exchange at home. As a host family, you can practice your language skills in everyday life and see your surroundings from new perspectives. We are searching for a Léa for a host family that can communicate in English or French with her.
A suitable host can be a family or an individual interested in getting to know a new person and sharing their daily life with her. The host family is responsible for providing the volunteer with accommodation and meals outside working hours. If necessary, Maailmanvaihto can reimburse expenses up to €150 per month.
Maailmanvaihto ry – ICYE Finland is a youth exchange organization founded in 1958. Together with our partners, we offer international volunteer placements of 6–12 months in Finland and abroad. “For a more equal world through intercultural learning” is our vision. Our organization is religiously and politically non-affiliated. Léa will participate in volunteering through the European Solidarity Corps programme.
Learn more about the host famliy activities
Léa
”Hello! I’m Léa, a 26-year-old volunteer from France. For 11 months, I will be volunteering with Maailmanvaihto ICYE Finland in Helsinki as part of the European Solidarity Corps. I previously had Erasmus experiences in Norway and Sweden, which sparked my strong interest in Nordic culture and way of life. I see this volunteering year as a life changing experience where I hope to grow both personally and professionally, connect with the local community, and contribute through social media, storytelling, and youth engagement. In my free time, I love photography, dancing, exploring nature, learning about new cultures, and spending time with animals, especially cats.”
How to join?
Apply to become a host by filling out the host family form. Submitting it is the first step, but it does not commit you to anything yet. Once we have received your form, we will contact you – then we can talk more.
>> Apply to become a host family – fill in the form
Questions? Please contact us:
Programme Coordinator Mari Takalo
hosting@maailmanvaihto.fi
+358 44 318 0888
“Based on this two-month experience alone, I can recommend becoming a host to anyone who wants to see, hear, and experience more. Sometimes a leap into the unknown can be the best decision of your life.” – Jaana
“Our volunteer was truly a wonderful new friend who quickly became important to our whole family. It was a privilege to be part of this young person’s life and to support her at the threshold of adulthood, giving her courage for new adventures!” – Salla