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.

How to apply? Three simple steps:

1) Read carefully the project descriptions below and choose from the list the project you wish to apply to.

2) Download and fill in Maailmanvaihto’s European Solidarity Corps Application form: docx or pdf. (You will be able to attach your photo to the pdf form if you fill it in with Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

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.
In order to apply, you need to have a sending organization in the country you live in. The sending supporting organization will orientate and support you. In case you do not yet have a sending organization, you can look for one from this database. Please, contact them to find out if they could act as your sending organization if you got selected as a volunteer.
Please contact us (esc@maailmanvaihto.fi) if the application form is not accessible for you.

3) Send your application form as an email attachment to: esc@maailmanvaihto.fi.

Write the project name to the subject field of your message.
Photos are optional.

Please note these things:

If you do not understand the content of the application form, please ask for help from your sending supporting organization.
Maailmanvaihto only accepts applications that 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 of the European Solidarity Corps Volunteering.
ESC volunteering periods are targeted especially for those young adults who otherwise have fewer opportunities than their peers to participate in transnational projects. If you feel you have fewer opportunities than other young people, please tell about this in your application. There is a separate question on it in the application form.
The available European Solidarity Corps Volunteering periods can be postponed to a later date or cancelled in case needed due to the Corona virus situation (see the news from the Finnish National Agency for Education).

Available European Solidarity Corps volunteering positions

1) Nicehearts

NICEHEARTS was established in 2001 with the aim to produce community-based activities for women and their families as well as for girls and young women while respecting gender diversity. NIcehearts is an NGO with a mission to enable participants to find their own place in society as its equal and unique members. All of Nicehearts’ work is based on strong gender and culture sensitivity and anti-racist work. We follow the safer space principles in our work. In the Uusimaa region, we have activities in the cities of Vantaa, Helsinki, and Espoo. We are looking for a volunteer to support our activities in Vantaa, Helsinki, and Espoo:

Neighbourhood Mothers in Vantaa, Espoo, and Helsinki is a voluntary program based on peer support and empowering, in which women who have moved to Finland some time ago, are the focus. Nicehearts organises them trainings that provide tools to become active local volunteers. At the very core of the program is helping others, especially other women who have moved to Finland more recently and organizing activities based on a person’s own interests.

Girls’ Space (Tyttöjen Tila) in Vantaa aims at supporting the growth and identity of girls and young women, while respecting gender diversity and intersexuality, supporting them to become their unique personalities in an atmosphere that respects the sense of community, diversity, and unity. Girls’ Space activities offer a safe and positive space where the youth can come together, participate in peer support groups and other activities, receive personal guidance and support, meet new friends and find a hobby nearby. We also offer sexual counseling and therapy. We aim at encouraging girls and young women to listen to and respect themselves and others, as well as learn new skills and one’s role in the community. We offer them opportunities to participate, be heard and seen, and contribute to the common good. We also coordinate a project called Sua varten somessa, which is an innovative youth work model running on social media channels, helping to prevent sexual harassment on social media.

We-house (Me-talo) in Espoo offers inspiring activities to all citizens. We-house offers leisure activities, courses, clubs and events, a meeting room, as well as support for different life situations. Our activities involve associations, local organizations, volunteers, and residents of the area, who can also have the We-house spaces at their disposal upon request. We-house also gives the opportunity to meet new people, get peer support, or, for example, play fun games. We provide facilities for all kinds of activities that support the well-being of our communities, planned according to their specific needs. Courses, events, etc. can also be arranged in the evenings and on weekends as well.

Number of volunteers

Volunteering periods

Volunteer 1: 1.3.–1.9.2023 (6 months)
Volunteer 2: 15.8.2023-15.2.2024 (6 months)

Application deadline

13th Nov 2022

Activity topics

well-being, inclusion

Role and tasks of the volunteer

The volunteer assists the Area Coordinators in running the activities of the Neighbourhood Mothers, the Girls’ Space, and We-house. The tasks include, for example:

Helping to organize the events, such as training and group activities
Helping to plan and organize trips and other refreshing activities
Assisting the participants of the Neighbourhood Mothers, the Girls’ Space, and We-house with their own activities
Based on the person’s know-how and interests, possibility to plan and organize own activities for the participants
Based on the person’s know-how, assisting with the marketing and communications of the activities

Location

The volunteer will work in the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Espoo. In Helsinki, the activities of Nicehearts take place in the district of Malmi. In Vantaa in the area of Tikkurila and in Espoo at Espoon keskus.

Accommodation, food and transportation

The volunteer will stay in a host family in the Helsinki area. It is essential to be flexible and motivated to interact with the family members. The lunch will be provided in the form of lunch allowance and other meals will be provided by the host family.

Volunteer’s profile

We are looking for a volunteer who

is independent, friendly and patient
understands safer space principles, and anti-racism and/or be willing to learn more about it and is ready to commit to these
has self-initiative
is open to creating an own project within the possibilities that we can offer at Nicehearts

We appreciate if the volunteer

has some experience in youth work, as a youth worker or facilitator
has some experience of organizing events
is familiar with online tools, like social media, Canva, www-page management

Due to our activities, we prefer women or non-binary participants.

Accessibility

As this is our first time hosting, we, unfortunately, do not have enough resources to provide a placement for participants who require a lot of support, particularly those with limited mobility. Our offices are not 100 % accessible for participants with limited mobility. If you would like to ask further questions on the accessibility, please contact Nicehearts via Maailmanvaihto at esc@maailmanvaihto.fi.