Become a Host Family

Invite the world into your home! Become a host family for a young volunteer from abroad.

Would you like to

• practice your language skills and broaden your worldviewmake
• new friends and see your hometown with new eyes

Become a host family! Through Maailmanvaihto, around thirty young volunteers from abroad come to Finland for volunteer work annually. Volunteers work in nonprofit organisations & learn about local culture and way of life, and as a host family, you get to know one of them.

Being a host family provides an opportunity to strengthen language skills and communicate with someone who has come to Finland from elsewhere. At the same time, it opens up a chance to see your environment from a new perspective. For volunteers, the time spent with a host family offers a unique opportunity to experience local everyday life in Finland beyond their volunteer work.

Most volunteers work in the fields of education or social work – in schools or workshops for adults with intellectual disabilities, for example. Volunteers are aged at least 18 years and usually between 18 and 30. They come to Finland from partner countries in America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

“If you are interested in becoming a host family, just give it a try! You can start with, let’s say, six months and see how you feel along the way.” – Mari Harju

Who Can Become a Host Family?

We are looking for families and individuals who are interested in getting to know a new person and their cultural background, and sharing their home and daily life with a new family member.

• Those living alone, couples, and families with children are all welcome to participate.
• Volunteers stay in Finland for 6–12 months. We are primarily looking for families that can accommodate a volunteer for the entire duration, but shorter periods, such as four months, are also possible.

About one-third of volunteers need a host family each year; the rest live in accommodation provided by their volunteer placement. Maailmanvaihto provides orientation to host families and supports them throughout the hosting period. Volunteers receive training for their volunteer work and host family life from the sending organization in their home country and from Maailmanvaihto in Finland.

Volunteer as Part of the Family

A host family takes a volunteer as a family member with rights and responsibilities. The volunteer is not a hotel guest but is not a domestic worker or subtenant either. A 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. Having a private room is not a requirement, but the young person should have some own space in the home.

It is important to create a cozy atmosphere and involve the volunteer in family routines, celebrations, and hobbies. Additionally, it is good to openly discuss expectations, schedules, and everyday practices, such as participating in household chores.

Orientation and support for host families

Host families are supported by Maailmanvaihto throughout their homestay period.

Before becoming a host family, Maailmanvaihto’s program coordinator will provide more detailed information about Maailmanvaihto and what it means to be a host family. We can also arrange opportunities to meet other host families.

During the host family stay period, Maailmanvaihto is in regular contact with the host family. In addition, we organise peer meetings for host families and, on occasion, training sessions.

After the host family period, the host family has the opportunity to keep in touch with other host families and participate in Maailmanvaihto’s activities. We also offer the opportunity to host a new volunteer the following year or later.

Homestay hosts are part of the volunteer support network

The support network for young volunteers in Finland consists of host familes and

• people at the volunteer’s voluntary workplace. Volunteers have a mentor at voluntary workplace, a supervisor who guides and supports them in their volunteer tasks and any challenges they may face.
• Maailmanvaihto employees. The Maailanvaihto program coorinator is responsible for volunteer work programs for young people arriving in Finland from abroad and acts as the contact person for host families at Maailmanvaihto.
• Buddy. We strive to arrange a Buddy for each volunteer. A Buddy is a friend to the volunteer and supports them in getting to know and adapting to their new environment.
• other volunteers. Maailmanvaihto welcomes volunteers to Finland through the International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE) program and the European Solidarity Corps. Volunteers meet each other at Maailmanvaihto training camps. Maailmanvaihto organises an on-arrival training camp, a mid-term evaluation camp, and a final evaluation camp for ICYE volunteers during their volunteer year. Volunteers from the European Solidarity Corps are welcome to attend Maailmanvaihto’s arrival training and mid-term evaluation camps.

When and How to Apply?

Most of the volunteers arrive in Finland in August. If you would be interested in becoming a host family for one of them, please contact us in the previous spring. If you are interested and would like to learn more about becoming a host family, please contact us:

Programme Coordinator Mari Takalo
hosting@maailmanvaihto.fi
+358 44 318 0888

“Definitely go for it with an open mind! You’ll get so much more than you give. And if you have any worries, Maailmanvaihto will give you all the support you need.” – Sanna and Simo Siitonen

“Our volunteer was a truly fantastic new friend who quickly became important to the whole family. It was a privilege to be part of this young person’s life and support them on the threshold of adulthood, giving courage for new adventures!” – Salla Finlow-Bates

“I highly recommend becoming a host family. You don’t need special skills or a fancy apartment. Ordinary everyday life was the most rewarding, and even just enjoying together some chocolate gingerbread cookies can serve as a celebration.” – Tiina Arasola