ICYE Volunteering outside Europe

Are you living in Finland looking for meaningful international experiences? Join ICYE volunteering for 6 or 12 months! The programme is open to everyone aged 18 or over.

 

International Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE) volunteering gives you the opportunity to learn through everyday cooperation, meet new people and cultures, and make new friends.

In the programme, communities and volunteers work together and engage in dialogue across the world. Together, we challenge assumptions and prejudices and build peace at grassroots level.

At Maailmanvaihto, we prepare you for your departure and support you throughout your experience together with the ICYE organisation in your programme country.

1. Where and when?
2. Fields of volunteering and accommodation
3. Who is the program for?
4. Training camps
5. Participation fee and what it includes?
6. When and how to apply?
7. Further information

1) Where and when?

You can travel to numerous countries outside Europe and spend either six months or a year volunteering.

You can start your volunteering period in August–September or January–February. August–September is the main starting period, when an arrival orientation is organised in each country. The exact starting date varies by country and is given in the country descriptions.

Program countries in Africa

Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania

 

Asia and Oceania

Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand

 

Latin America and the United States

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, the United States

 

“A year may sound like a long time, but I highly recommend it. The first third is spent learning the language and finding your place in the community.” – volunteer Riikka

2) Field of volunteering and accommodation

There are volunteering opportunities in many fields, from education to environmental protection and from work with older people to human rights work.

→ Explore opportunities in the database ↗ (icye.org)

• Care work and health
• Climate and environment
• Culture and arts
• Diversity, equality, and inclusion
• Education
• Office work and communications
• Leisure activities and community development

Centro Integral Warmi, Bolivia

Centro Integral Warmi is a centre that supports the wellbeing of women, young people, and children by providing counselling, education, and practical support. A volunteer can participate in a wide range of activities, such as organising events and supporting children’s schooling.

Quito Botanical Garden, Ecuador

The botanical garden promotes the conservation of Andean plant species and environmental education, and maintains plant collections and green spaces. Volunteers take part in caring for plants by, for example, planting, watering, pruning, and fertilising them. Here, you can learn about plant species and develop your skills in plant care.

Hilos de Plata residential home for older people, Honduras

Here, volunteers work with older people and support their wellbeing. Volunteers keep residents company, organise social activities for them, and assist with everyday activities.

Kindergarten, Indonesia

This kindergarten on the island of Java supports children’s development. Volunteers help care for the children, assist teachers, lead games and other activities, and teach English to the children.

Accommodation varies depending on the volunteer placement. Volunteers may, for example, stay with a host family, in a shared flat with other volunteers, or on the premises of their volunteer placement. Details of accommodation are provided in the description of each volunteer placement.

“It was particularly inspiring to see up close how grassroots human rights work is carried out in Bolivia.” – Volunteer Mikaela

3) Who is the program for?

ICYE volunteering is for people who want to learn new things. You don’t need previous experience in international volunteering or a particular educational or professional background. What matters most is your willingness to participate with an open mind.

Important qualities include openness to a new culture, flexibility, responsibility, adaptability, initiative, and the ability to meet people respectfully.

Participation requires a working knowledge of English, you will have the opportunity to learn the local language during the programme.

The programme is open to those aged 18 and over. In Colombia, Ecuador, and Thailand, there is no upper age limit. In Costa Rica, Honduras, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, Peru, Tanzania, and the United States, the upper age limit is flexible, with the local ICYE organisation assessing on a case-by-case basis whether applicants over the age limit can take part.

“One of the best things about Maailmanvaihto has been that I was warmly welcomed as a volunteer even though I’m a bit older. Overall, this has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” – Anna-Maija

4) Training camps

The programme includes comprehensive training:

Pre-departure training
The pre-departure training covers, among other things, the volunteer’s role and their responsibilities, obligations and rights, adapting to a new cultural environment, and health and safety issues.

Arrival orientation
The arrival orientation introduces you to the local culture and society and helps you learn about working as a volunteer in that particular environment.

Mid-year evaluation camp (part of the annual programme) and final evaluation camp
At these camps, you’ll have the chance to deepen your learning by reflecting on your experiences and sharing them with other volunteers. You’ll be able to reflect on how your day-to-day encounters have affected you.

Returnee meeting
At the returnee meeting, you can reflect on your volunteering period, share your experiences with peers, and identify the skills you have gained.

“To everyone interested in international volunteer work, I want to say: if there’s even the slightest chance to go, do it! Along the way, you’ll learn new things about yourself, others, and the whole world.” – volunteer Kalle

5) Participation fee and what it includes

The participation fee covers the arrangements for a safe and rewarding volunteer period, from training and support to accommodation and insurance:

• Practical arrangements and support
  • Accommodation and daily meals in the host country
  • Comprehensive health, accident, and liability insurance
  • Travel costs to training camps in Finland and in the host country
  • Airport pick-up in the host country
  • Daily commuting to the volunteer placement
  • Monthly pocket money, varying by country
    • For the 2026–2027 season: €12.53/month (Nigeria) – €100/month (United States)
  • Guidance and advice for visa applications
  • Support from Maailmanvaihto (ICYE Finland) and the ICYE organisation in the host country
    • with practical matters (e.g., insurance)
    • according to the individual needs of the participant
  • Support for homecoming and recognition of skills gained after the volunteer period
  • Solidarity fee to support volunteers from Global South countries coming to Finland
  • Five-year membership in Maailmanvaihto
  • Certificate of participation
• 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

Participation fees for the season 2026–27

NB! The participant also needs to pay for the flights and the visa to the destination country.

Support for participation: Maailmanvaihto offers those selected for the ICYE program the opportunity to apply for a scholarship. Scholarships (up to €650) are awarded on financial grounds to a maximum of three participants for the 2026–27 exchange year. All participants will receive application instructions.

When do I need to pay the participation fee?

If after the selection interview, you are selected as a participant, within approximately two weeks of your selection interview, you will receive a participation and payment agreement with cancellation conditions to sign and you will need to pay a deposit of €400. In the contract, you will decide whether to pay the rest of your participation fee in one, two, or more installments. Your participation fee must be paid in full before departure.

 

5) How to participate?

1. Submit your application. Send Maailmanvaihto the application form and its attachments. The form can be downloaded from the application instructions page. Submitting an application does not yet commit you to participating in the programme.
2. Take part in an interview. During the interview, you can ask questions and learn more about the programme. If, after the interview, the programme seems like a good fit for both sides, your participation in the programme will be agreed upon.

There are still places available for volunteering starting in January–February 2027. Places are filled in the order applications are received until 1 September 2026.

 

7) Why volunteer through the ICYE program

Training and peer support

You receive training for international volunteering and peer support from other volunteers. You can also receive support and tips from former participants, whom you can contact, if you wish, even before deciding whether to participate.

Care and support

We support you throughout your volunteering period. You will have a contact person both in the ICYE organisation in your programme country and at Maailmanvaihto. You receive support with everyday situations, adapting to a new environment and dealing with challenging experiences.

Support after returning home

Maailmanvaihto provides support with readjusting after your return and recognising the skills you gained through volunteering. You are also warmly welcome to take part in Maailmanvaihto’s volunteer activities.

Reciprocity

Maailmanvaihto’s activities are based on the principle of reciprocity. We send volunteers abroad and receive volunteers in Finland so that volunteers and work communities can have learning experiences both abroad and in Finland.

Extensive experience

The ICYE network was established in 1949. Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland was founded in 1958 and has extensive experience in organising international opportunities.

8) Further information

• See Frequently asked questions on volunteering abroad
• Learn about the policies of ICYE (icye.org):
  • • ICYE’s Code of Ethical Practise ↗
    • Greener together – ICYE’s commitment for a sustainable and regenerative future ↗ 
    • Care to Engage – ICYE’s Policy on Safeguarding Children ↗
    • Safer Together – ICYE’s policy addressing sexual violence in international volunteering ↗

If you have questions, please contact us!

 

You can also reach us via e-mail at maailmanvaihto@maailmanvaihto.fi and by phone +358 50 346 0965 (also WhatsApp).

 

“I saw the world, and it permanently changed my outlook on life. It really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” – volunteer Emilia