ESC Volunteering: Available Projects

Apply for the European Solidarity Corps Volunteering periods in Finland! On this page you can find those projects coordinated by Maailmanvaihto that are currently seeking volunteers and instructions for applying for them.

To apply, please load Maailmanvaihto’s application form (docx) and read instructions for filling in the form from the bottom of this page. Send your filled-in application to evs(a)maailmanvaihto.fi.

Please note that Maailmanvaihto only accepts applications which have been filled into Maailmanvaihto’s application form. Prior to applying, plaese read carefully the project descriptions below as well as the program information.

Available ESC Projects

1) Lehtimäki Folk High School

• Volunteering period: 17.8.2019–16.6.2020 (10 months)
• Number of volunteers: 1
• Description of the project: Lehtimäki folk high school is a boarding school for youth and adults with special needs. The school offers 70 places for students and there are more than 100 different short term courses for disabled youth, adults and elderly as well as their families. The school also offers rehabilitation courses such as riding therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Some training is aimed at increasing the occupational capacities of the people through, for example, computer literacy training.
• Location: Lehtimäki Special Folk High School is situated in Lehtimäki, a small village situated some 60 km away from the city of Seinäjoki.
• Volunteer’s role, tasks and requirements: The main task of the volunteers is to interact students with special needs during their lessons and leisure time, as well as to help them in their daily routines. The volunteers can also organize free-time activities for the mentally disabled students. Helping the kitchen staff also belongs to the tasks of the volunteers. It is important that the volunteers has motivation to work with people with special needs as well as good social skills and an open attitude. The voluntary workplace is especially looking for volunteers who have knowledge on horseback riding and stable work as well as volunteers with a musical background. The volunteers should also be willing to work in different kinds of tasks and to live in a small village in the country side.
• Accommodation: The volunteers live in an apartment.
• Website of the organization: www.lehtimaenopisto.fi
• Organization in the European Youth Portal

2) Sippola Residential School

• Volunteering period: 17.8.2019–16.6.2020 (10 months)
• Number of volunteers: 2
• Description of the project: Sippola residential school provides holistic rehabilitation, education and care for highly challenging youth aged between 15 and 18 years. In the school there is a place for 33 children and most of the pupils are also accommodated in Sippola. Most of the children come from families with social problems and other challenges, and also the kids have different behavioral and mental problems. Sippola Residential School has a team of 65 staff members, whose aim is to provide education and safe environment for growing for these young people with fewer opportunities. Also working with the families is very important in Sippola.
• Location: Sippola Residential School is situated in the southeast part of Finland in the village of Sippola, which is part of Kouvola commune.
• Volunteer’s role, tasks and requirements: Volunteer works as an assistant for the teachers and staff in providing the kids with education and care. Tasks vary from helping the teacher in the school classes, participating in the free-time activities with the youth, for example hobbies and household tasks like cooking. Work tasks vary according to volunteers skills, age and experience. The volunteers should be motivated to work with young people with difficult backgrounds and to be prepared for social tasks. Good social skills and experience on youth work or social work are of a great value. Age limit minimum 20 years.
• Accommodation: Accommodation is in the project.
• Website of the organization: www.valtionkoulukodit.fi
• Organization in the European Youth Portal
• Volunteers’ experiences

3) Kisälli-Harjulanmäki

• Volunteering period: 17.8.2019–16.8.2020 (12 months)
• Number of volunteers: 2
• Project description: Kisälli-Harjulanmäki has two main activities: it has a nursing home called “Harjulanmäki” for mentally disabled people and a workshop called “Kisälli” which provides art and work therapy for disabled people.
• Location: Kisälli-Harjulanmäki is situated in Vihti, a small town located some 50 kilometers away from the city of Helsinki.
• Volunteer’s role, tasks and requirements: The volunteers help disabled people in their daily activities at the Kisälli arts&crafts workshop and at the Harjulanmäki home. The work includes both artistic work and practical personal assisting (for example with eating and daily hygiene).The volunteers need to have interest in creative arts&crafts work as well as motivation to work with people with special needs.
• Accommodation: The volunteers live in an apartment.
• Website of the organization: www.kisallipaja.fi
• Organization in the European Youth Portal
• Volunteers’ experiences

4) Myllylähde

• Volunteering period: 17.8.2019–16.8.2020 (12 months)
• Number of volunteers: 1
• Project description: Myllylähde is a village community with adults with special needs. It is a part of the international Camphill movement which was established to work and live with people who have special needs like learning disabilities. In the community all work is shared: teaching, caring, household tasks, gardening and ecological farming. In Camphill Communities the idea is that in the community life each person contributes according to his/her abilities what they can towards the well-being of their fellows. The community is based on the general Christian values and principles. The main work activities of Myllylähde are biodynamic agriculture, animal care, gardening, packing of the agriculture products and weavery and handicrafts workshops. All work is done together with adults with special needs.
• Location: Myllylähde community is situated in the Southern Finland in the village of Hämeenkoski, with the distance of about 30 km from the city of Lahti. Myllylähde is located in a quite remote countryside surroundings surrounded by beautiful nature, forests and fields. The distance to the Hämeenkoski village center, where also the local buses run to Lahti, is about 7 km.
• Volunteer’s role, tasks and requirements: The volunteer is expected to be willing to help with all the activities of the community according to his/her personal skills and abilities. The tasks of the volunteer will be socializing and co-working with the people with special needs and supporting them in the community’s daily functions in practical tasks like cooking and cleaning. Volunteers can also introduce their own culture and language to the members of the community. Life in the community changes according to the seasons, and so do the tasks of the volunteer as well. From spring to autumn there is a lot of agricultural work tasks and in the winter time more work in the workshops. It is important that the volunteer is motivated to live in the countryside and interested to work with people with special needs.Interest in a communal way of life and nature is also helpful.
• Accommodation: Accommodation is in the project, in one of the communal houses.
• Organization in the European Youth Portal
• Volunteers’ experiences

How to apply? Three simple steps:

1. Choose from the list above the project you wish to apply to.
2. After selecting the project, fill in Maailmanvaihto’s application form (docx). If you wish to apply to more than one project, please fill in a separate form for each project. Write your answers on the green blank fields. There is no length limit for your answers.
3. Send your application form as an email attachment to: evs(a)maailmanvaihto.fi Write the project name to the subject field. Attach your application to the message and send. Photos are optional.

Please note these things:

• In order to apply, you need to have a sending organization in the country you live in. In case you do not yet have a sending organization, you can look for one from this database.
• If you do not understand the content of the application form, please ask help from your sending organisation.
• Maailmanvaihto only accepts applications which have been filled into Maailmanvaihto’s application form.
• Prior to sending us an application, please read through the program information in order to get a picture on the European Solidarity Corps Volunteering.
• ESC volunteering periods are targeted especially for those young adults who otherwise have less opportunities than their peers to participate in transnational projects. If you feel you have less opportunities than other young people, please tell about this in your application. There is a separate question on it in the application form.