Would you like to:
- broaden your worldview and practice your language skills at home?
- support young people’s international experiences?
- share your daily life with a volunteer?
Become a host family! Maailmanvaihto is looking for a host in Tampere for a 20-year-old named Harshpreet, who arrived from India in January 2026 for a year of volunteer work with elderly people at the Koivupirtti Foundation (https://koivupirtti.fi).
Hosting a volunteer is a form of voluntary activity that offers a unique opportunity for cultural exchange at home. As a host, you can practice your language skills in everyday life and gain new perspectives on your surroundings.
Harshpreet is currently staying with a host family, and we are now looking for the next host for the period April 30, 2026 – January 12, 2027 (8,5 months). Shorter periods, for example, 3–4 months, are also possible if needed.
In his free time, Harshpreet enjoys listening to music and playing indoor and outdoor games. He is also interested in cooking. With his host family, Harshpreet hopes to learn about local culture through daily life experiences. Harshpreet speaks English fluently and he is learning Finnish.
A suitable host can be a family or an individual interested in meeting a new person and sharing everyday life with them. The host’s responsibility is to provide the volunteer with accommodation and meals outside of work hours. If needed, Maailmanvaihto can reimburse expenses at €150/month.
Maailmanvaihto ry – ICYE Finland is a youth exchange organization founded in 1958. We offer volunteer opportunities lasting 6–12 months, both from Finland to other countries and from other countries to Finland. Our vision is to create a more equal world through intercultural learning. Our organization is religiously and politically uncommitted.
Harshpreet
“I’m really grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received in Tampere and at the Koivupirtti Foundation. Volunteering with older people has been a meaningful and rewarding experience for me, and I’ve learned a lot through daily interactions and activities. Everyone has been very kind and supportive, which has helped me settle in quickly. I’m happy to be part of this community and look forward to continuing my volunteering journey here.”
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