The board of Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland is in charge of our operations and co-operation with other non-governmental organisations. The board works voluntarily.
Maailmanvaihto’s board is selected by the general assembly, the highest decision-making body of the organization, which meets twice a year. All members of Maailmanvaihto are allowed to vote in the general assembly. Maailmanvaihto has about seven hundred members.
Chairperson, update of the environmental program
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
I was in Brazil as an exchangee of ICYE in 2005–2006.
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
Everything is possible! If not, we should try anyway 🙂
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
A few years after the exchange, I returned to Brazil, and the ICYE coordinator there had gathered my ICYE friends together at a pizza restaurant for dinner. At the end of the evening, a birthday cake appeared on our table, and everyone started to sing – we suddenly celebrated my birthday half a year before/after the actual day!
MaailmanVaihtoa – Volunteers’ Voices magazine
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
I participated through Maailmanvaito’s European Solidarity Corps volunteering in Austria. I got inspired and wanted to continue to stay active at Maailmanvaihto.
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
One of my favorite quotes is “If you never take a first step, you never go further.”
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
When I was in Austria, I went ice skating after a long time. I hadn’t done that since my primary school years and thought it was not my cup of tea. But with friends, I tried and liked it – and in the end, I did ice skating very many times during my volunteering period. Forget the doubts and be open-minded and try!
Volunteering programs in Finland, pre-departure training and return support for outgoing volunteers
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
I joined Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland in 2023, when I went to Tanzania as a long-term volunteer. The volunteer year was an unforgettable experience, and when I returned to Finland I wanted to continue working with Maailamnvaihto. The values and mission of Maailmanvaihto are in line with my own, which motivated me to apply to join the board.
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
I believe that small actions can have a big impact – one person’s choices and actions can be the first step towards a larger change. When we meet each other with an open mind, we build bridges and increase cross-cultural understanding, which strengthens community and cooperation. Change also requires the courage to step outside our comfort zone, which is why I am open-minded in taking on new challenges. I want to contribute to a world that is more equal, more empathetic, and more united.
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
Palanneiden leiri vapaaehtoisvuoden jälkeen oli upea kokemus – täynnä naurua, oivalluksia ja syvällisiä keskusteluja. Oli inspiroivaa jakaa kokemuksia ja saada vertaistukea muilta vapaaehtoisilta. Viikonlopun tunnelma vaihteli haikeudesta ja kiitollisuudesta innostukseen tulevasta.
Social media
How did you get involved with Maailmanvaihto?
I joined Maailmanvaihto out of an interest in internationality and intercultural learning. I wanted to be part of a community that promotes understanding between people from different backgrounds and builds peace through real human encounters. Joining the board felt like a natural continuation of that interest.
What kind of life philosophy guides you in your board role and in life in general?
I approach both board work and life with openness, curiosity and a willingness to keep learning. I believe meaningful things happen when we truly listen to others and dare to step outside our comfort zone. I don’t know everything – but I’m eager to learn.
Share a fun memory from Maailmanvaihto activities.
One especially warm memory is going out for dinner with the board. It was lovely to spend relaxed time together and talk about things beyond official topics. In that moment, it really felt that Maailmanvaihto is not just an organisation – but a community.
Vice president, development of a new strategy
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
I did a volunteer program in Bolivia and wanted to continue working with ICYE after my program.
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
I’m doing things for happiness and working for meaninful things like Maailmanvaihto makes me happy.
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
At my orientation camp before going volunteering to Bolivia, I saw the best northern lights of my life.
Vice president, development of a new strategy
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
Originally, I joined Maailmanvaihto as a summer trainee in 2022. I enjoyed working with Maailmanvaihto so much that I decided to participate in camp activities and now the board too!
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
With optimism, curiosity and a suitable amount of humor!
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
In Maailmanvaihto activities, there’s always a chance to meet new people!
Social media
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
I volunteered in Vietnam through Maailmanvaihto for seven months after upper secondary school because I couldn’t decide what to study. I liked volunteering and meeting new people, so I joined the voluntary activities of Maailmanvaihto and became a board member.
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
I believe that life takes you where you need to go, so even in difficult situations, I try to stay positive and genuine. Positivity rarely hurts!
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
If Finland loves salty liquorice and malted rye, Vietnam is equally fond of karaoke and posing for pictures. Thanks to my volunteer experience, I know karaoke and can make a heart with my hands in at least ten different ways.
MaailmanVaihtoa – Volunteers’ Voices magaizne
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
I went to Uganda to volunteer in 2023 and since then I have stayed involved, first with MaailmanVaihtoa – Volunteers’ Voices magazine, then by participating in World Village festivals and other events, and now as a board member.
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
With an open mind and curiosity – experiences of all kinds are always an opportunity to learn something new and develop.
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
At the Studia fair, we had the chance to talk to a few other volunteers about volunteering and Maailmanvaihto to students of upper secondary level. This was a great experience for me, as I myself had my first taste of volunteering and started dreaming of volunteering at the same age, even though I didn’t realise this dream until many years later.
Volunteering programs in Finland
[Introduction coming up soon!]
School visit activities
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
I ended up in Maailmanvaihto activities through my university internship. I enjoyed the work so much that I stuck around with other activities after the internship. And even ended up applying for the board.
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
You can try everything once! I want to get out of my comfort zone and experience as much as possible.
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
Going to the sauna and swimming in the lake during the incoming volunteers camp. The sauna was hot and the end-of-summer lake freezing cold, the experience was as new to me as to the volunteers!
Pre-departure training and return support for outgoing volunteers
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
After graduating from upper secondary school I wanted to have a gap year before continuing my studies. On my mother’s recommendation, I decided to go volunteer through Maailmanvaihto in France for ten months. After the volunteering period, I wanted to stay active within the organisation and ended up joining the board this year.
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
Openness is important to me. I want to stay open to new possibilities related to working life and personal life. I think it’s usually unnecessary to get stuck in roles that are not serving you. I approach this upcoming board work with a big interest and an open mind!
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
I have very warm memories from the midterm camp in January. I was one of the camp team members and it was great to get to know the International volunteers in Finland. With them, we got to know to Finnish culture for example through pulla baking and sauna. In addition, I learned some Japanese calligraphy for example. This kind of intercultural exchange and learning is one of the best things in Maailmanvaihto’s work!
Pre-departure training and return support for outgoing volunteers
How did you end up joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
I joined Maailmanvaihto activities after spending a year in Bolivia as a volunteer in a women’s rights organization. Initially participateded in events to tell about Maailmanvaihto, facilitated a language cafe, and interviewed people interested in going volunteering. This year I joined the board for the first time.
With what philosophy of life do you approach your board position and life in general?
I approach the board membership and life in general with curiosity and excitement to learn new and attain new experiences.
Share a nice memory from your time with Maailmanvaihto.
I got to participate in a panel discussion at the Studia-fair, when I was volunteering at the Maailmanvaihto stall. I was nervous, but I like to challenge myself.
