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. Helsingin lyhytaikaiskoti ja työpaja Lyhty ry / Lyhty C Housing Unit

URGENT: Available ESC volunteer placement with people with special needs in Helsinki, Finland

• Period: 1.4.2019–31.1.2020 (10 months)
• Number of volunteers: 1
• Organization: The volunteer works as an assistant in Lyhty C housing unit of the non-profit NGO “Lyhty ry”, which provides housing, education and work activity services for adults with learning disabilities. Lyhty C housing unit is a home for 8 adults with disabilities and it is situated in a lovely neighbourhood in Helsinki.
• Volunteer’s role and tasks: The volunteer’s tasks include supporting the residents, who are adults with learning disabilities to take an active role in their everyday activities. This means assisting with the daily household tasks, like keeping the housing unit clean and aesthetic, cooking together, doing the laundry and participating and supporting the residents to participate actively in the community activities and free-time activities, such as going together to a supermarket or movies or library or doing outdoor activities. All tasks can be done together with residents. Work includes morning and evening shifts, as well as weekend work shifts (5 work days per week.).
• Volunteer’s requirements: Good social skills and motivation to work with people with special needs are important. The work can be dynamic at times and requires such mentality. It is important to have the motivation to learn Finnish language to be able to communicate better with the residents. Lyhty is nonsmoking working place. We are looking for a volunteer who is interested in sharing in public (e.g. social media) their learning experiences during the volunteering period– the project will involve communication activities carried out in co-operation with the coordinating organization Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland.
• Accommodation: Volunteer is accommodated in one of Lyhty’s housing buildings and will be sharing a room with a female volunteer, so we are looking for a female volunteer this time.
• Homepage of the voluntary workplace: www.lyhty.fi
• Application deadline: Apply as soon as possible – the volunteer will be selected as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

2) Metsähallitus – Parks & Wildlife Finland / Koli National Park and Koli Nature Centre Ukko

URGENT: Due to a cancellation, we are urgently looking for ESC volunteer to Koli National Park and Koli Nature Centre Ukko.

• Period: 4.3.–5.11.2019 (8 months)
• Number of volunteers: 1
• Short description of the host organization: Koli National Park is one of Finland’s 39 national parks, which are run by Metsähallitus. Koli is located in Eastern Finland in the municipality of Lieksa. Koli’s hills, lakes and forests provide a beautiful scenery for enjoyable outdoor activities at any time of year. The Nature Centre is the heart of the activities and the volunteer tasks in the national park. The nature centre Ukko offers hiking and tourist information services, guided tours, national park rental hut bookings, conference services and there is also a small café.
• Volunteer’s role and tasks: Tasks vary from customer service tasks at the nature centre to outdoor work in the nature. The volunteers assist the staff at the nature centre Ukko and help to run the café. It is important, that the volunteer is outdoor-oriented, interested in the Finnish nature and motivated to work outside in different seasons, but also interested in baking and work at the café. As a volunteer you might be able to conduct small development project for the nature centre according to your skills and ideas. If you have good photography skills or other interests in developing your medias, we are glad to welcome your expertise.
• Volunteer’s requirements: Moderate English skills are required. The work also involves physical labour in field conditions and the volunteer should be able to adopt to a variety of tasks. Our protected areas are located in remote places, where are no good public transportation, so we are looking for outdoor-oriented volunteers. It is important that the volunteer is motivated to live surrounded by nature and is oriented to live through the different seasons in Finland. We are looking for a volunteer who is interested in sharing in public (e.g. social media) their learning experiences during the volunteering period– the project will involve communication activities carried out in co-operation with the coordinating organization Maailmanvaihto – ICYE Finland.
• Accommodation: The volunteer will be offered accommodation in a house within walking distance from the nature Centre Ukko. They will live together with another volunteer. Upstairs there are two separate rooms for volunteers and downstairs there are offices, kitchen, bathroom and living room. The participant should be able to adapt in modest living conditions in the nature with no frequent connections to the cities.
• Homepage of the voluntary workplace: www.outdoors.fi/en/kolinp
• Application deadline: Apply as soon as possible – the volunteer will be selected as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

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.