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 Erasmus+ Volunteering 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
• Organization in the European Youth Portal
• Volunteers’ experiences
• Application deadline: Apply as soon as possible – the volunteer will be selected as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

2) Vanhamäki Activity Centre

• Period: 1.4.–30.11.2019 (8 months)
• Number of volunteers: 1
• Short description of the host organization: Vanhamäki is an activity centre in Suonenjoki, which is a small rural town of some 7 500 inhabitants, situated in the central Finland. Vanhamäki provides different kinds of activities for visitors and it also runs organic farm, horse stables and a foster home. The centre produces organic berries and vegetables and the products are also sold in the little shop. Vanhamäki also has a lunch restaurant, serving 100-200 clients every weekday. It is very famous for its food, using organic and local ingredients as much as possible.
• Volunteer’s role, tasks and requirements: Volunteering tasks vary according to the season: in the summer time the volunteers work more in Vanhamäki and in the autumn and spring there is more cooperation with other local organizations, such as local folk academy, association of unemployed people and a school. At Vanhamäki the volunteers assist in different kinds of tasks, both outdoors and indoors. They take part in organic farming and maintenance work of the park area. Volunteers also assist in planning and carrying out events in Vanhamäki according to their skills and interests. The volunteers can also carry out tasks in the office and kitchen, as well as at the horse stables of the activity centre. It is important that the volunteer enjoys both practical and social work tasks. It is good to have an interest in organic farming and nature.
• Accommodation: The volunteers are accommodated in the Vanhamäki centre in a single room, shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. Vanhamäki is situated in the countryside surroundings, by a lake. Volunteers are provided with breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee and dinner in the restaurant of Vanhamäki.
• Homepage of the voluntary workplace: www.vanhamaki.fi
• Organization in the European Youth Portal
• Volunteers’ experiences
• 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.