Do you live in Finland? Got interested in volunteering with ICYE? Here you’ll find instructions on how to apply. Start by downloading the application form at the bottom of the page. Fill out the form and submit it to Maailmanvaihto within the application period. We’ll meet up soon for an interview, then.
Application → Interview → Selection → Preparation
Volunteering placements begin each year in August–September (the main start period) and in January–February. The exact start dates vary by country (see country profiles).
There are two application rounds each year. The first round (deadline 31 October) covers all programme countries. The second round (deadline 31 January) covers those programme countries where places remain after the first round.
| The application period closes | Start | |
|---|---|---|
| Additional applications for the 2026–27 season | 31 October 2026 | January–February 2027 (Bolivia, Ecuador, Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, and Thailand; places will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until the closing date for applications) |
| 1st application round for the season 2027–28 | 31 October 2026 | August–September 2027 |
| 2nd application round for the season 2027–28 | 31 January 2027 | August–September 2027 or January–February 2028 |
Two to three weeks after the application period ends, we will organize a selection day to which we will invite all applicants.
During the day
If you are unable to attend the selection day, we can arrange an interview at another time.
We will hold a selection day on Saturday 21 November 2026 for applicants to the first intake round (deadline 31 October) for the programme starting in August–September 2027.
We will interview applicants for the supplementary intake starting in January–February 2027 individually at a time convenient for each applicant.
Participants are selected based on their application and interview.
The participation fee covers the arrangements for a safe and rewarding volunteer period, from training and support to accommodation and insurance:
Practical arrangements
– Accommodation and daily meals in the host country
– Comprehensive health, accident, and liability insurance
– Travel costs to the program’s training camps in Finland and in the host country
– Airport pick-up in the host country
– Daily commuting to the volunteering placement
– Monthly pocket money that varies by country. In the season 2027–28, the pocket money is €12.80/month (Nigeria) – €100/month (United States). In the season 2026–27, the pocket money is €12.53/month (Nigeria) – €100/month (United States)
– Certificate of participation
– Five-year membership in Maailmanvaihto
Support from Maailmanvaihto and the ICYE organisation in the host country
– Guidance and advice on applying for a visa application
– Support with other practical matters (insurance matters, for example)
– Support according to the participant’s individual needs
– Support with readjusting after returning and recognising the skills acquired after the volunteering placement
Training
– Pre-departure training (3 days) in Finland
– On-arrival training in the host country
– Mid-term evaluation camp, only for the one-year program
– Final evaluation camp
– Support for learning the local language
– Returnees’ meeting in Finland after coming home
Solidarity fee to support volunteers from Global South countries coming to Finland
For the 2027–28 season, the participation fee is €400–917 / month, depending on the duration and program country. See the detailed prices below.
Programme countries in Asia and New Zealand 6 months | 12 months
Indonesia:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 4 900 € (~ 408 € / month)
Japan:
– 6 months 5 400 € (= 900 € / month)
– 12 months 7 300 € (~ 608 € / month)
Nepal:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 4 800 € (= 400 € / month)
New Zealand:
– 6 months 5 400 € (= 900 € / month)
– 12 months 6 850 € (~ 571 € / month)
South Korea
– 6 months 5 500 € (~ 917 € / month)
– 12 months 7 300 € (~ 608 € / month)
Taiwan:
– 6 months 4 900 € (~ 817 € / month)
– 12 months 6 900 € (~ 575 € / month)
Thailand:
– 6 months 4 800 € (= 800 € / month)
– No periods of 12 months.
Programme countries in Africa 6 months | 12 months
Ghana:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 5 050 € (~ 421 € / month)
Kenya:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 4 950 € (~ 413 € / month)
Mozambique:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 4 900 € (~ 408 € / month)
Nigeria:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 5 000 € (~ 417 € / month)
Tanzania:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 5 300 € (~ 442 € / month)
Programme countries in Latin America and the USA 6 months | 12 months
Argentina:
– 6 months 5 100 € (= 850 € / month)
– 12 months 6 800 € (~ 567 € / month)
Bolivia:
– 6 months 4 400 € (~ 733 € / month)
– 12 months 5 650 € (~ 471€ / month)
Brazil:
– 6 months 4 700 € (~ 783 € / month)
– 12 months 6 400 € (~ 533 € / month)
Colombia:
– 6 months 5 200 € (~ 867 € / month)
– 12 months 6 400 € (~ 533 € / month)
Costa Rica:
– 6 months 5 200 € (~ 867 € / month)
– 12 months 6 500 € (~ 542 € / month)
Ecuador:
– 6 months 4 500 € (= 750 € / month)
– 12 months 6 300 € (= 525 € / month)
Honduras:
– 6 months 4 800 € (= 800 € / month)
– 12 months 6 500 € (~ 542 € / month)
Mexico:
– 6 months 4 700 € (~ 783 € / month)
– 12 months 6 300 € (= 525 € / month)
Peru:
– 6 months 4 100 € (~ 683 € / month)
– 12 months 5 500 € (~ 458 € / month)
United States:
– 6 months 5 400 € (= 900 € / month)
– 12 months 6 850 € (~ 571 € / month)
For the 2026–27 season, the participation fee is €400–900 / month, depending on the duration and program country. See the detailed prices below.
Program countries in Asia and Oceania 6 months | 12 months
Indonesia:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 4 900 € (~ 408 € / month)
Japan:
– 6 months 5 400 € (= 900 € / month)
– 12 months 7 100 € (~ 592 € / month)
Nepal:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 4 800 € (= 400 € / month)
New Zealand:
– 6 months 5 400 € (= 900 € / month)
– 12 months 6 850 € (~ 571 € / month)
Taiwan:
– 6 months 4 900 € (~ 817 € / month)
– 12 months 6 800 € (~ 567 € / month)
Thailand:
– 6 months 4 800 € (= 800 € / month)
– No periods of 12 months
South Korea:
– 6 months 5 400 € (= 900 € / month)
– 12 months 7 300 € (~ 608 € / month)
Program countries in Africa 6 months | 12 months
Ghana:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 4 900 € (~ 408 € / month)
Kenya:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 4 900 € (~ 408 € / month)
Mozambique:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 4 900 € (~ 408 € / month)
Nigeria:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 5 000 € (~ 417 € / month)
Tanzania:
– 6 months 3 800 € (~ 633 € / month)
– 12 months 5 300 € (~ 442 € / month)
Program countries in Latin America and the United States 6 months | 12 months
Argentina:
– 6 months 5 100 € (= 850 € / month)
– 12 months 6 800 € (~ 567 € / month)
Bolivia:
– 6 months 4 400 € (~ 733 € / month)
– 12 months 5 600 € (~ 467 € / month)
Brazil:
– 6 months 4 700 € (~ 783 € / month)
– 12 months 6 400 € (~ 533 € / month)
Costa Rica:
– 6 months 5 200 € (~ 867 € / month)
– 12 months 6 500 € (~ 542 € / month)
Colombia:
– 6 months 5 200 € (~ 867 € / month)
– 12 months 6 400 € (~ 533 € / month)
Ecuador:
– 6 months 4 500 € (= 750 € / month)
– 12 months 6 300 € (= 525 € / month)
Honduras:
– 6 months 4 800 € (= 800 € / month)
– 12 months 6 500 € (~ 542 € / month)
Mexico:
– 6 months 4 700 € (~ 783 € / month)
– 12 months 6 300 € (= 525 € / month)
Peru:
– 6 months 4 100 € (~ 683 € / month)
– 12 months 5 500 € (~ 458 € / month)
United States:
– 6 months 5 100 € (= 850 € / month)
– 12 months 6 600 € (= 550 € / month)
The participation fee includes accommodation and daily meals, insurance, training (pre-departure orientation camp in Finland, training on the language and culture in the destination country and two evaluation training (in periods of 6 months one evaluation meeting), daily travels to work, the support of ICYE office in Finland as well as in the destination country, small pocket money, and a meeting of the returnees in Finland after the return.
NB! The participant also needs to pay for the flights and the visa to the destination country. The participant is responsible for organizing their travel to the destination country.
Participants in the ICYE program can apply for a grant from Maailmanvaihto. We award grants (up to €650 per participant) on financial grounds to a maximum of three participants in the exchange year.
Applicants are selected for a specific programme country. You will be notified of the selection result within approximately one week of the interview.
If you are selected for the programme, you will receive
The ICYE organisation in the programme country will place you in a volunteer placement. Your preferences and areas of interest play an important role in the selection of your volunteer placement. You will be informed of your volunteer placement no later than approximately one month before departure.
If it is important to you to volunteer in a specific sector or with a specific organisation, please state this in your application, and we will seek confirmation of this before you commit to taking part.
1) Download and fill in the application form. Please note that this program is open only to applicants who live in Finland. If you are unable to attach your photo to the application form, you can send it separately.
2) Please include a motivation letter.
3) Send your application by email (maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi) or post (Maailmanvaihto ry – ICYE Finland, Oikokatu 3, 00170 Helsinki). Submitting your application is the first step, but it is not yet binding.
4) Wait for an invitation to an interview – we will contact you soon!
Would you like to ask us about applying? Please, contact us at maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi, 050 452 5660.
