IKKO Folk High School

IKKO Folk High School

Ikko is a modern, non-political and nonreligious folk high school offering both general and vocational education for Finnish and immigrant adult students and  groups throughout the year. We also host special target groups such as students with special needs as well as young asylum seekers. Punkaharju folk high school is located in rural area in Eastern Finland, so the volunteer should feel comfortable with living in a small community far from city lights, preferably someone who enjoys environment and outdoor activities. 

Your work as a volunteer

The ESC volunteer will plan and organise activities such as various workshops related to for example arts, culture, languages, computers, cooking, sports, music, games and other topics depending on the skills and interests of the volunteer and the students of the folk high school. Durin the summer months volunteer will also assist with different international  groups, especially with the international volunteers and youth groups. 

The length of the volunteer's stay can be one to two months and the dates are flexible between June and August, so please specify your availability in the application form.  

Possible tasks

In general, the volunteer will work in co-operation and under guidance of folk high school staff:

  • Guiding international volunteer camps and other groups 
  • Disseminating information on European Solidarity Corps  and Erasmus+ programs in the area
  • Acting as intercultural messenger encouraging the students (and the international volunteers in summer) with different ethnic backgrounds to co-operate together and make everyone feel welcome to join all the activities. 
  • Preparing, organizing and assisting in various afternoon and evening activities for the residential adult students such as different workshops, events, cooking clubs, arts and crafts, sports activities etc.
  • Supporting in practical tasks in the folk high school when needed.


The volunteer in encouraged to carry out own ideas, own projects such as running a workshop on some topic of her/his hobby or expertise (for example sports, language, handicraft, music).

Accommodation

The volunteer will spend time with the folk high school students and other groups, to socialize with them and to co-organize leisure time activities during the working hours. Volunteer will stay at the student dormitory in a double room. The school offers breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, so the ESC volunteer has all the meals prepared.

Volunteer profile

We look for a person who is motivated to learn,  adapt,  propose ideas, take initiative and open to discover other cultures and work in a multicultural environment. 

The volunteer is expected to plan and do activities  mainly with adults  and sometimes with  young people (summer months)  so the environment fits best to a person who is  sociable and positive and loves outdoor and nature. The school is multicultural so volunteer should be interested and able to work with people from many different cultures. 

 The project is suitable for volunteers who are flexible, independent and able to communicate in English sufficiently to plan and do activities. 

Please apply here asap, preferably by 16th of May,  

More information on the place and surroundings: www.ikko.fi