Group leading in Volunteering Projects

Workcamps 2026

Fill in our application form here to apply as a group leader!

During spring and summer 2026, we organise around 10 workcamps and volunteering teams across Finland. Camps marked with "EYA" are part of European Youth in Action: Policymakers for Climate Justice -project.  As part of this project, volunteering camps with topics around biodiversity, energy transition and green washing are organised in the project countries.

We also organize European Solidarity Corps volunteering teams as a part of our Concrete Deeds for the Baltic Sea (CoDe Sea) -VTHPA project.  The teams combine concrete volunteering work with opportunities to learn more about the Baltic Sea and environmental issues, the impact of climate change and what we can do together for better future. 

Who is the group leader?

The group leader is mainly responsible for making all the volunteers feel comfortable and ensuring that the volunteers understand what is going on and what they should do. They support the volunteer group, help to coordinate timetables and  free time activities. They share the accommodation and everyday life with other volunteers. 

Each project usually has at least one group leader from Allianssi Youth Exchanges depending on the size of the group, as well as work instructors from the local hosting organisation who are responsible for organising the daily work.

Training will be organized for the new group leaders on the 17.4.2026 in Helsinki. All group leaders will be shared relevant online resources and toolkits.

Group leading is voluntary work but meals, accommodation and travels to and from the project by public transport are covered.

What are the requirements?

Previous volunteering and/or group  leading experience is a plus but not mandatory. Some projects have specific requirements for the group leader. These can include language skills, driving license, criminal record extract for working with children etc. 

If you are motivated, consider yourself a responsible person, and are ready to have a lot of fun, then you should definitely apply!

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at volunteer@alli.fi

Check out short descriptions of this year's camps here:

Nut orchards EYA, Karjalohja,    26.4. - 9.5.2026
The camp is organized by GEN Finland, which is the organization for Finnish ecovillages and community-led initiatives for sustainability. The organizers under GEN Finland work for a nut breeding project which aims to create nut orchards to produce sowing seeds from different species of nuts in Finland to enable nut growing as a part of sustainable food production. They want to support the transition to regenerative agriculture and creation of a sustainable future. Main work is being done on a farm and in a communal food forest/ nut orchard in the area. Organizers hold expertise on permaculture design, plant nursing and creating forest gardens. During the camp you can learn about different methods of sustainable gardening and plant nursing while working on diverse tasks.

 Volunteers’ work will include gardening in a nut tree nursery, making new growing beds, transplanting trees, mulching, potting the plants, preparation work for the food forest sites, forest work, preparing firewood and transplanting perennials. Volunteers will also have other work such as reorganizing summer kitchen and other outdoor spaces, preparational work for renovating an old traditional log house and other small projects.

World Village EYA , Helsinki,      12.5. - 20.5.2026
Finnish Development NGOs Fingo is the umbrella organisation of Finnish civil society organisations engaged in development cooperation and global citizenship education. Fingo and its member organisations promote sustainable development and global justice and work to make life fairer everywhere. Fingo organizes the yearly World Village Festival which is Finland’s leading event for global action for the whole family, a free cultural festival and a trade fair for sustainable development. World Village raises global challenges and solutions, increases  understanding and provides concrete ways to take action to create change. The program will consist of concerts, discussions, and workshops. In the festival area different organisations and institutions and other actors present their work.

World Village Festival is committed to continually improving its environmental efforts. The festival strives to minimize waste and is committed to recycling. The volunteers of the festival are carrying out several different tasks. The first three days the festival area is built up. This means carrying fences and tables, setting up tents, installing signs and banners and helping with area decoration. During the festival days many volunteers are needed in the team which keeps the festival area tidy and in the recycling team which takes care that the different types of litter end in the right containers. After the festival, volunteers work with take-down work such as taking down banners, signs and decorations.

Leinikki, Vantaa,      1.6. - 17.6.2026
 Vantaan Jarjestorinki is an organization that supports and connects associations in Vantaa. It serves as a network for local groups and works to improve the conditions for associations by organizing networking meetings, training sessions, and offering free meeting spaces at the Leinikki Civic Activity Center.  They also organize free weekly community events, ranging from a crafts club, community cafe, Men's group, Senior cafe, children's afternoon club, and similar activities to people living in the area. 

The volunteers will participate in a community project where they will be riding an electronic coffee bike, providing people free of charge refreshments and a place to chat and connect. During the project a childrens’ summer day camp takes place, and the volunteers play games and do crafts with the participating children. They will get to be part of the camp, play football and other games, and spend time outside.

WHV Rock Carvings, Tanum,     14.6. - 27.6.2026 
WHV Rock Carvings in Tanum project is organised by Vitlycke museum in Tanumshede in west Sweden. Vitlycke museum is a knowledge and experience centre in Tanum Unesco World Heritage site - an area of about 600 rock carving art sites. Here you can experience world class rock carving art and explore the Bronze Age world.

The volunteers will help with the green area maintenance in the bronze age farm and around the rock carvings. The group should be ready for  hands-on activities and working outdoors regardless of the weather. The volunteers  also assist in preparing for the summer solstice event, which is held during the camp. The midsummer preparations include picking flowers, dressing the maypole, and talking to our visitors about the event.

 Tipula EYA, Laitila,         12.7. - 25.7.2026
The Cultural Organisation of Tipula pursues to provide the residences for artists from various fields and develop the activity based on the needs of the creative work. They also organize concerts, camps and events in Tipula. The organization upkeeps an old garden of self-grown and locally produced food, surrounded by forests, old farmland and wheatfields. Their goal is to reach out to create international bonds, to enhance ecological values and sustainable, environmentally friendly way of life.

The volunteers will be renovating and painting the buildings in Tipula, gardening and removing invasive species in the Laitila area. There will also be some tasks related to cleaning up and organizing the historic WALO house. The volunteers will get to know the sustainable way of living  and learn more about the themes of the camp through workshops and activities.

ESC Vol Team Baltic Sea Suomenlinna, Helsinki,       30.7. - 14.8.2026
The Governing Body of Suomenlinna is a government agency that restores, maintains, administers and presents The Fortress of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main task for the volunteers will be to participate in restoration and landscaping work, under the guidance of the site management and specialists. 

Requirements: being a local/knowing Helsinki well is a plus.

Alpo Savannah EYA, Kauhajoki,     2.8. – 16.8.2026
The local host is an innovative association that maintains the Alpo savannah, a sculpture park created by DIY artist Alpo Koivumaki. They repair, restore and preserve the sculptures he made from waste materials. They want the sculptures to be admired by visitors in the future as well.

The participants will clear and tidy the environment and separate waste materials  such as plastic, metal, textiles for future use or for recycling. One day volunteers will have a workshop on how to make art from recycled materials. The topic of Energy transition will be shared and discussed and there will be some interesting visits to local energy sources such as fuel peat producers who are changing their activities from fuel peat to more sustainable options.

DinosauRock, Mikkeli,        9.8. - 20.8.2026
This camp is organized together with a cultural association Mukula which has organised cultural festivals with international volunteers for over 20 years. These camps have been really successful. This year the festival will take place for the second time in a new exciting location with popular artists.

The volunteers  will assist in building a festival called DinosauRock in Mikkeli. During the festival there will be various tasks such as keeping the area tidy, but also free time to enjoy the interesting festival program. After the festival there will also be work dismantling the festival. Please note that the volunteers are expected to do physical work outdoors in all weather conditions.

Lastu EYA, Lapinlahti,     16.8. -  29.8.2026
Architecture and environmental culture school Lastu is an art and construction activity center in Lapinlahti. It was founded in 1993 and is maintained by an association. Their mission is to support and develop architectural and environmental cultural education and promote the appreciation, understanding and nurturing of old and newer built cultural heritage. Their aim is to help people to create a relationship with nature and offer tools to nurture and care for the environment.

The main task of volunteers is to paint  historical wooden buildings with traditional paint that will be prepared together from basic ingredients. The work is physical and will be done outdoors,  be ready to get your hands dirty. In addition there will be tasks to increase biodiversity in the surroundings  by building living fences and taking care of the herb garden. The volunteers will learn about nutrients and composting and there will be a workshop on biodiversity. 

ESC Vol Team Baltic Sea - Loviisa Youth and Culture,   16.8. - 31.8.2026
The ESC volunteering team will be involved in implementing various events in Loviisa together with Loviisa Youth and Cultural Services, local associations and young people. This year's  theme of the Loviisa City festival is the Baltic Sea and there will be several events in the area during ten days in August. The volunteering team will be involved in organising the Night of Young  Arts - event, as well as other local traditional cultural events. There will also be a Baltic Sea Day celebration on the Baltic Sea Day. 

The aim is that the volunteers will get to know the pearl of the Baltic Sea, Loviisa, and its interesting history and thriving cultural life. They will get to know everyday life in a small Baltic Sea seaside town and have lots of cultural exchanges with local people.

Venetians in North Savonia, Kerkonkoski      23.8. - 2.9.2026
The local host, LAG Mansikka is a rural development association and a local activator that operates and supports rural development in the area of six municipalities in Northern Savonia. The camp is organized in cooperation with  Taitava Kerkonkoski, an interdisciplinary association that aims to support all kinds of creative activities in Kerkonkoski. 

During the camp a Venetian Event will be organized. This is a traditional celebration for the end of the summer season with bonfires and sometimes fireworks. The main tasks of the volunteers include creating artworks for the event, putting up and decorating the festival area, and dismantling and cleaning up afterwards. Participants will also collaborate with the local youth centre and create social media content about the event and their experiences. The focus is on creative work, giving young people the opportunity to explore different art and craft techniques while actively participating in the festival and its organization.

More details about the camps can be found here: