After his volunteering period in Finland Sergio has attended several Maailmanvaihto camps as a kitchen team member, preparing delicious food for all the camp participants.
Hello! Who are you? How did you get involved with Maailmanvaihto?
Hello! My name is Sergio Pérez and I come from Spain. I got involved with Maailmanvaihto during my volunteering program through the European Solidarity Corps. I moved to Finland in December 2022 to spend a year as a volunteer in the Tapola Camphill community.
How have you been involved with Maailmanvaihto’s activities after your volunteering period?
After my volunteering period I joined the kitchen team for various camps and participated in get-together activities. I really enjoy meeting new volunteers and exchanging experiences with them. As a foreigner in Finland, it is a great opportunity to get to know more people that are also new in the country and build support together.
How did you end up in the camp kitchen team?
I always had great experiences in the camps and it was a lot of fun, so joining the kitchen team allowed me to keep enjoying them. I like cooking so it was an easy choice to help in the kitchen and have fun with the kitchen team while still participating in the camps and getting to know new people.
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How has the experience in the camps been? What has been the best part and what did you learn?
The experience in the camps has been amazing! The best part has definitely been meeting so many people and having fun together over meals. I’ve learned how important it is to work as a team and to be flexible. Every camp has taught me something new about working together and connecting with others from different cultures.
What greetings would you give to someone considering joining the activities of Maailmanvaihto?
I’d say go for it! If you’re thinking about joining Maailmanvaihto activities, just dive in! It’s a great chance to help out, learn some cool things, and meet awesome people from all over the world.
Interview: Tuuli-Maria Mäki
Photos: Maailmanvaihto’s album
The interview has been published in the magazine MaailmanVaihtoa – Volunteers’ Voices 1/2026: peace through international volunteering.