Summer 2022
If you wish to apply to one or several of your summer projects, you simply have to click on title of the project you would like to apply to and fill in the form.
Sustainable summer, 27.6.-10.7.2022, Punkaharju
(project code: ALLI04ESC)
Partner
Ikko is a folk high school offering both general and vocational education for Finnish and international adult students during the school year and different groups throughout the year. Students also include special target groups such as students with special needs and asylum seekers. More information www.ikko.fi
Volunteer's tasks
During two weeks the volunteers will do different nature related activities while getting to know the surrounding area. The volunteers will tidy hiking routes, make some seal-friendly fish traps in order to protect the endangered Saimaa seal and also learn to make birdhouses for small birds. The group will learn about recycling and sustainability and visit places like an arboretum. There will also be some Finnish language and culture lessons and workshops as well as time for relaxing.
Accommodation
Accommodation will be in shared rooms in the student dormitory, all meals provided. There are possibilities for various creative and other activities. Sauna and swimming facilities are also available.
Location
Punkaharju is located in eastern Finland near Savonlinna and it takes four hours by train from Helsinki. The school is situated in a location of natural beauty, surrounded on both sides by lakes. In this place you get to enjoy the Finnish summer with its beautiful lakes and forests. The area offers good opportunities for outdoor activities.
Volunteer profile
The European Solidarity Corps volunteer team is open to be 18-30 years old European Union citizens, who are motivated to volunteer in the countryside and feel the need for EU support in order to volunteer. Travel costs will be reimbursed after the project based on the EU distance calculator.
Apply by filling in the application form at the bottom of the page by 31st of May 2022
Wellbeing from nature, Punkaharju 18.-31.7.2022
(Project code: ALLI05 ESC)
Partner
Ikko is a folk high school offering both general and vocational education for Finnish and international adult students and different groups throughout the year. Students also include special target groups such as students with special needs and asylum seekers.
Volunteer's tasks
The volunteers will familiarize themselves with the Finnish nature and learn how to orienteer in the forest so that you do not get lost while hiking or berrypicking. We aim at living in harmony with nature by tidying hiking routes, making some seal-friendly fish traps in order to protect the endangered Saimaa seal and also learning to make birdhouses for small birds. The group will also work with gardening tasks and other outdoor activities. There will also be some Finnish language and culture lessons and workshops and time to relax.
Accommodation
Accommodation will be in the student dormitory, meals provided. There are possibilities for various creative and other activities. Sauna and swimming facilities are also available.
Location
Punkaharju is located in eastern Finland near Savonlinna and it takes four hours by train from Helsinki. The school is situated in a location of natural beauty, surrounded on both sides by lakes. In this place you get to enjoy the Finnish summer with its beautiful lakes and forests. The area offers opportunities for outdoor activities.
Details of the project
Project is supported by the European Solidarity Corps and open for 18-30 year old citizens and permanent residents of EU countries and Ukraine. Participation is free of charge, as well as board and lodging. Volunteers need to stay the full duration of the project in order to get pocket money (5 euros per day) and travel cost reimbursed (20-360 euros depending on the distance). Due to covid-19 pandemic volunteers need to have certificates of their full series of approved covid-19 vaccinations or a certificate of earlier covid-19 infection less than 6 months ago.
Apply by filling in the application form at the bottom of the page by 12th of June 2022
Nature films, Punkaharju 9.-22.8.2022
(Project code: ALLI06ESC)
Partner
Ikko is a folk high school offering both general and vocational education for Finnish and international adult students and different groups throughout the year. Students also include special target groups such as students with special needs and asylum seekers.
Volunteer's tasks
Savonlinna International Nature Film Festival will be organised on 18.-21.8. and the volunteers will assist in various tasks before and during the festival. The main values of the festival are related to protection of nature and respect of the environment so the festival recycles and minimises the waste as much as possible. In addition to the festival preparations the volunteers will do nature activities such as tidying the hiking routes and picking berries and also other tasks. There will also be some Finnish language and culture lessons and workshops and relax.
Accommodation
Accommodation will be in the student dormitory, meals provided. There are possibilities for various creative and other activities. Sauna and swimming facilities are also available.
Location
Punkaharju is located in eastern Finland near Savonlinna and it takes four hours by train from Helsinki. The school is situated in a location of natural beauty, surrounded on both sides by lakes. In this place you get to enjoy the Finnish summer with its beautiful lakes and forests. The area offers opportunities for outdoor activities.
Details of the project
Project is supported by the European Solidarity Corps and open for 18-30 year old citizens and permanent residents of EU countries and Ukraine. Participation is free of charge, as well as board and lodging. Volunteers need to stay the full duration of the project in order to get pocket money (5 euros per day) and travel cost reimbursed (20-360 euros depending on the distance). Due to covid-19 pandemic volunteers need to have certificates of their full series of approved covid-19 vaccinations or a certificate of earlier covid-19 infection less than 6 months ago.
Apply by filling in the application form at the bottom of the page by 12th of June 2022
2WHV Suomenlinna, Helsinki, 6.8.-20.8.2022
(Project code: ALLI03ESC)
Partner
The UNESCO World Heritage Site in Suomenlinna is restored, maintained and governed by the Governing Body of Suomenlinna that operates under the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. This government agency is responsible for preserving the monument and associated historical and architectural values for future generations. In this project you are working to progress the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by protecting the world’s natural and cultural heritage (SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Volunteer's tasks
The volunteers will do landscaping tasks in this World Heritage Site in Finland. Suomenlinna is one of the most visited destinations in Finland and that is why the volunteers will also assist in other tasks such as visitor management and supportive restoration tasks of historical buildings. The volunteers have a chance to get to know more about preservation and promotion of a world heritage site. They aim in generating new ideas and actions with participants involved in preserving this common cultural heritage and aware how is it taken care of.
Accommodation
The volunteers will stay in a dormitory in Hostel Suomenlinna. Lunches are provided and the volunteers will cook dinners in turns.
Location
Suomenlinna (More information: http://www.suomenlinna.fi/en/) in Helsinki.
Requirements
The volunteers need to show interest towards World Heritage and prepare themselves beforehand in order to tell about the World Heritage projects in their home countries. The applicants need to write a one page motivation letter explaining why they would like to join the project, if they have any previous experience in WHV volunteering and what could be their contribution to the project.
Travelling
Helsinki. There is a 15 minutes ferry ride from the centre of Helsinki.
Details of the project
Project is supported by the European Solidarity Corps and open for 18-30 year old citizens and permanent residents of EU countries and Ukraine. Participation is free of charge, as well as board and lodging. Volunteers need to stay the full duration of the project in order to get pocket money (5 euros per day) and travel cost reimbursed (20-360 euros depending on the distance). Due to covid-19 pandemic volunteers need to have certificates of their full series of approved covid-19 vaccinations or a certificate of earlier covid-19 infection less than 6 months ago.
Apply by filling in the application form at the bottom of the page by 12th of June 2022
Kotofest, Janakkala, 19.8.- 4.9.2022
(Project code: ALLI07ESC)
Partner
This project will be organised in co-operation with the small cultural co-operative Kultti and the youth department of Janakkala municipality.
Volunteer's tasks
During the first week the volunteers will work in varied tasks to prepare and run a small indie festival called Kotofest in the countryside of Janakkala. This is the very first time this festival is being organised and artists from different fields have been invited to join and perform so it will be a very interesting event. There will be lots of practical tasks to do and also volunteers with artistic talents are welcome. After the festival, the second week of the ESC volunteer team the tasks will be different and related to local youth work. Volunteers will work alongside the local youth workers doing different activities to make the pupils to settle well in their new school. The aim is to assist the grouping process for pupils in their new school as well as give intercultural experience to break barriers between different cultures. This team is an excellent opportunity to experience Finnish culture and nature.
Accommodation
The volunteers will stay in Mallinkainen summer camp centre in a cosy house next to the lake and surrounded by the forest. Facilities include shared rooms, bathroom, kitchen and dining room and sauna. The volunteers will cook their meals together in small groups so be prepared to cook on your turn.
Location
The municipality of Janakkala and the camp centre Mallinkainen is situated in Southern Finland, about 90 kilometers from Helsinki. The camp is by the lake in the middle of the forest and there are good possibilities for swimming, fishing and hiking. The closest town is Turenki 15 km away and the city of Hameenlinna 35 km away from the camp. Please note that the camp does not have regular bus connections to the city.
Details of the project
Project is supported by the European Solidarity Corps and open for 18-30 year old citizens and permanent residents of EU countries and Ukraine. Participation is free of charge, as well as board and lodging. Volunteers need to stay the full duration of the project in order to get pocket money (5 euros per day) and travel cost reimbursed (20-360 euros depending on the distance). Due to covid-19 pandemic volunteers need to have certificates of their full series of approved covid-19 vaccinations or a certificate of earlier covid-19 infection less than 6 months ago. Accepted volunteers will need to provide a certificate of good conduct (criminal record sheet) in English one month before the project.
Apply by filling in the application form at the bottom of the page by 12th of June 2022
Strong roots make us active - Kauhava (Alahärmä) - 29.6. -12.7.22
PARTNER
The local culture history associarion Härmä-Seura is the camp host and there are also several other local associations involved in organising this project. There is a strong local involvement in this project. The theme of the ESC camp is roots and local identity. Härmä, the area where the camp will take place, is famous for its strong local identity and the local people feel that they have strong roots in their home villages. These roots create a lot of grass root activity in the form of restoration of old buildings, taking care of old traditions and running the local theatre, maintaining the nature path and many other things
WORK
Alaviitala was a typical farmhouse where the local court assembled once in a while a hundred years ago. The house was empty for many years and now it has been renovated. There is still some building, cleaning and garden work to do at the site. Kotiseututalo is also a traditional farmhouse that has been renovated and transformed into a museum and a meeting place. The old house, farm buildings and the yard also require some maintenance. One of the former Finnish presidents, J.W. Snellman, used to live in Alahärmä. The place is now a memorial site, which needs some gardening. All of these sites have fascinating history and a strong connection to the identity of the region. The participants can also write short presentations about the sites in their own language.
ACCOMODATION AND FOOD
The accommodation will be in Alaviitala courthouse. There are 2-3 rooms which can be used for accommodating the volunteers as well as kitchen, dining room etc. The participants will need to prepare their own breakfasts, dinners and snacks. Lunch will be served at the working sites.
LOCATION & LEISURE ACTIVITY
Alaharma village is part of the city of Kauhava. It is situated in Western Finland. The nearest bigger cities are Seinäjoki and Vaasa. Kauhava is a lively rural area with agriculture and small and medium size industry.
You can find tourism information here.
Vaasa and Kokkola airports are the nearest airports, but the public transport connections are not good. We recommend flying to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport and taking the train to Härmä (or Kauhava). The train ride from Helsinki to Kauhava/Alahärmä takes about 3,5 hours. If you take the ferry from Umeå, Sweden to Vaasa, you can take the bus from Vaasa to Kauhava/ Alahärmä.
Train tickets and timetables: https://www.vr.fi/en
Bus tickets and timetables: https://www.matkahuolto.fi/
Transportation connections guide: http://www.visitkauhava.fi/en/visit_kauhava/about_us/transportation_connections
REQUIREMENTS
This project is supported by the ESC program and open for 18-30 year old from EU countries and Ukraine. Participation is free of charge, as well as board and lodging. Volunteers need to stay the full duration of the project in order to get their pocket money (5 euros per day) and travel cost reimbursed (20-360 euros depending on the distance). Due to covid-19 pandemic all the volunteers need to have certificates of their full series of approved covid-19 vaccinations or a certificate of earlier covid-19 infection less than 6 months ago. Participants have be able to ride bikes because they will ride to the work sites by bicycles.
HOW TO APPLY? Project is full.
This year marks 100 years of Åland’s autonomy. The anniversary is celebrated and remembered in a variety of ways. The province’s jubilee year began on 9 June 2021 and will culminate on 9 June 2022 with the centenary of Åland’s Parliament. The Clean up Åland 100 -project is one of the events the Prime Minister’s Office organizes during the jubilee. The sea, nature and sustainable development are central themes in the jubilee.
The Clean Up Åland project promotes the protection of the Baltic Sea and brings together new ideas to facilitate the collection of waste. Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea is a problem, but so is littering. Plastic marine litter knows no boundaries. The Finnish coast differs from the shores of other Baltic Sea countries, as the shore is often rocky and therefore it is difficult to pick waste in other ways than manually.
More information on the website.
Tasks of volunteers:
The ESC volunteers from different EU countries are expected to arrive in Mariehamn on the 2nd of June and take part in cleanup initiatives on Åland and Mainland Finland during the Clean up Åland 100 -week. During the week there will be an event on UN World Oceans Day in Mariehamn and an event in Helsinki on Åland Autonomy Day where volunteers will get to do various tasks. The volunteers are also asked to help out with communication efforts about the week and post on social media. The Clean up Åland 100 –project is evaluated and best practices are shared at the final seminar on 15 June in Helsinki. Volunteers return home from Helsinki on 16 June.
Possible tasks include:
- Participating in cleanup initiatives on Åland and mainland Finland
- Taking part in UN World Ocean Day event 8.6.2022, Mariehamn
- Helping out at Senate Square event 9.6.2022, Helsinki
- Participating in final seminar 15.6.2022, Helsinki
- Communication and social media tasks
The project is open for active 18-30 year old volunteers who are interested in environmental protection and ready to get their hands dirty with a variety of practical tasks. Be prepared to communal living, cooking together and seeing some extraordinary places while working in Åland archipelago and Helsinki.. Project is full.