- Number of open positions: 1
- Volunteering period: 10.1.–9.7.2025 (6 months)
- Location: Pieksämäki, Finland
- Application deadline: 28th October 2024
Kirkkopalvelut is a church-related national co-operation and service organisation, which aims to build a just society, organises education and care services and promote wellness of people. It is the background organisation of STEP Education and Valona Elderly Services, where the volunteering activities will take place.
VALONA Elderly Services provides 24/7 care and support for elderly people. The aim of Valona Elderly Services is to provide good everyday life for the elderly people by providing them services planned according to their needs and wishes. Valona provides supported accommodation, health care, meals and recreational activities for their elderly customers.
STEP Education is a private educational learning institution, which offers different professional education, study programs – and also preparatory training and short courses for people with special needs. Although being a mainstream vocational college, STEP-koulutus offers and develops educational services also for immigrants and people with special needs caused by learning problems, mental disability, etc.
Location
The volunteer will mainly work at the STEP Education centre, but also participate in the activities of Valona Elderly Services one day a week. The places are both located at the campus area of STEP Education in Pieksämäki, which is a small town in Eastern Finland. STEP-koulutus is located 1,5 km away from Pieksämäki town centre. Nearby there is a forest and a park, a lake and a small beach, so the location is great for a person who enjoys nature and peacefulness.
Volunteer’s role and tasks
Volunteer will participate in the activities of STEP Education activities during 4 days a week.
The aim of the studies is to support student’s personal growth and communication and team work skills. Volunteers will assist the teachers and instructors with organising educational activities and providing support for students. During the summer time STEP Education also organises courses and trainings for different groups of people, where volunteers can also participate and assist.
Volunteer will work one day a week at the Valona Elderly Services supporting and organising activities for the elderly people living at Valona centre. Volunteers will support the staff in organising recreational activities for the elderly people, for example related to arts&crafts or music or going out for a walk. Volunteers also support the elderly during meal times and with beauty&wellness activities related to hair, hands or feet. Volunteers’ can introduce their skills and interests to bring joy to the every day life of the elderly people. Volunteers will NOT have responsibility on any health-related issues (like medication or physiotherapy) and will always work in cooperation with the permanent staff members.
The role of the volunteer is to bring intercultural aspects to the everyday life of the Pieksämäki campus community, especially the elderly people and international students, providing them a possibility for language practice and intercultural learning.
Volunteer’s profile
We are looking for a volunteer who is motivated to work with people and has a positive and social attitude towards cooperating with people of different backgrounds and ages. It is important that the volunteer is open-minded and has good social and cooperation skills. Some knowledge or experience of social work or youth work or about working with elderly people or people is an advantage, but more important is the motivation to actively cooperate with the different groups of people. Previous experience or ideas in organising group activities would be beneficial. We would prefer to choose a volunteer, who is at least 20 years.
Accommodation, food, and transportation
Accommodation is provided at the student dormitory building situated in the STEP Education campus area. The volunteer will have a private room, but the kitchen, bathroom, sauna and laundry will be shared with other volunteers and students. Most of the meals will be provided in the student restaurant. When the restaurant is closed during weekends or holidays, the volunteer will receive food allowance. Volunteer lives and works at the campus area, so no daily local transportation is needed.
Accessibility
The premises of the voluntary workplace unfortunately are not suitable with volunteers with physical disabilities. If you are an applicant with a sensory disability, please contact Maailmanvaihto for discussing in more detail if a volunteering period could be possible for you.
Activity topics
elderly people, health, education and training, disabilities, inclusion
How to apply?
Further information
- If you wish to ask something about the open position for volunteering at Valona Elderly Services and STEP Education, please, see answers to frequently asked questions and European Solidarity Corps program page.
- If you don’t find an answer to your question, please contact us at Maailmanvaihto at esc@maailmanvaihto.fi. (Do not contact the voluntary workplace directly.)
- Please note that you can only apply for the open position through Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland by following the application instructions linked above. (You cannot apply directly through the voluntary workplace.)