Finnish camps 2023

The camps for summer 2023 will be published during March.

Please note that due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation there can be some changes to the camps. We will contact you in case of any chances.

Read more about applying to camps in Finland.

FI-KVT 12.1 Local Traditions with International Skills at Folk Music Festival 26.6. – 7.7

Kuvassa kansanmusiikkiyhtye esiintyy järvimaisemassa yleisön edessä.

Number of Volunteers: 10

Description: Rääkkylä Kihaus is one of Finland’s most important annual international folk music events. Under the name Kihaus, the event has been organized annually in July since 1991. Previously, the event was known as Heinähupa, which started in 1970. See the festival webpage here: https://www.kihaus.fi/ (in Finnish)

Type of Work: The main task of the camp is first to practice a common repertoire to perform at the festival. There will be several performances during the festival. Ideally, volunteers will form also a bigger orchestra with the local musician members and rehearse a small repertoire for the festival with them. In addition, there will be light physical tasks related to the background arrangements of the festival. The camp is also aiming to collaborate with the local Finnish Red Cross unit to include Ukrainians fleeing the war.

Study Theme: Friendship, creativity, and cooperation across borders; Finnish and local traditions which include e.g. a visit to a famous “kantele” (Finnish zither) instrument-building workshop.

Accommodation: Beds with bedding will be provided. A kitchen is available for the volunteers to cook in shifts apart from lunch, which is served near the festival area

Language: English

Location: Municipality of Rääkkylä in Eastern Finland

Notes: Applicants to the camp are expected to have basic skills in a folk musical instrument (can also be a vocal instrument) and 1-2 pieces of repertoire to present and practice with others at the festival. Please specify your skills in a free-form motivation letter.

We recommend double-checking that your insurance covers your travel costs in case of unlikely but possible camp cancellation e.g. due to sudden changes in the Covid pandemic. We prefer sustainable travel.

Additional fee: Some SCI workcamps will have an additional fee of €50.00. This will cover e.g. international insurance costs of the volunteer and a small travel fund to enable disadvantaged volunteers to join projects. If you apply through a partner organization you will pay the fee directly to the hosting branch according to their instructions. Check here whether you’re applying through the SCI branch or partner: https://sci.ngo/about-us/our-movement/where-we-aret-us/our-movement/where-we-are/

FI-KVT 4.1 Food Not Bombs 26.6. – 7.7.

food not bombs tent outisde in a market place

Number of Volunteers: 10

Description: Food Not Bombs is an international campaign that works in hundreds of cities around the world. Food Not Bombs is trying to inspire the public to participate in changing and educating society by helping in a concrete way. The idea of the campaign is to focus our resources on solving problems like hunger, homelessness and poverty while seeking an end to war, continuous rearmament and the destruction of the environment. It works by giving out vegan meals in public places to anyone in need. The campaign is also closely connected to food waste issues, and much of the cooking is done with donated food.

Type of Work: During the camp, volunteers will organize six meal-sharing events around Helsinki. The volunteers’ tasks include cooking, bringing the food to the event location, giving it out during the event, and cleaning up afterwards. Volunteers are also welcome to participate in announcing the meal-sharing events and collecting food donations. No special skills are needed.

Study Theme: There will be discussions on the history and ideology of the Food Not Bombs campaign, nonviolence, and social problems in Finland.

Accommodation: Volunteers will live at the Peace Station in Helsinki where many peace organisations reside. The accommodation is simple. A sleeping bag is required as volunteers will sleep on mattresses in a shared space. There are bathrooms, a kitchen, a shower and a sauna. The accommodation facilities and the nature of the work might be challenging for a person with physical disabilities, but their participation is warmly welcome. Families can apply to the camp if the lack of privacy is not a problem. The food will be mainly the same vegan food that is offered in the events around town.

Language: English

Location: Helsinki, capital city of Finland

Notes: Free-formatted motivation letter is required. Volunteers should express why they are interested in the camp and what they could benefit from participating in it. Volunteers should be interested in antimilitarism, nonviolence and peaceful conflict resolution.

FI-KVT 9.1 Friendships across social borders 23.7. – 6.8.2023

Number of Volunteers: 8

Description: Äijälä Home is situated near Jyväskylä in Central Finland. The community’s aim is to support its clients in their everyday life and life management. The community works with organic gardening and it has a charming old farmhouse that has been renovated to host disabled people for daily visits and during the holidays. Äijälä Home also offers supportive work activities for long-term unemployed people and preserves traditional culture and working methods. Äijälä has been hosting KVT workcamps since 1980.

Type of Work: The volunteers are going to help and assist with two separate, a-week-long camps. In the first week, the camp will be for disabled people, and in the second week for children. Together with campers volunteers will learn about nature, traditions, and the English language through arts and crafts, play, and games. There will also be some gardening work. The aim is to provide unforgettable memories for disabled people and kids by working and spending time together across social borders. Work will be done together with the other workers of the community.

Study Theme: Diversity of people; ecological & communal living

Accommodation: In shared rooms in a 200-year-old wooden farmhouse, the main building of the farm. The camp is suitable for families if the kids can keep up with the work. Volunteers with disabilities are welcome too but should be aware that moving around the house or garden can require some assistance (there are e.g. doorsteps and sand & grass in the garden).

Language: English

Location: Jyskä, near the city of Jyväskylä in central Finland

Notes: Since some of the work is done with children, a volunteer needs to present a criminal record according to Finnish child welfare regulations.

FI-KVT 12.2 Communal, sustainable living & culture at Finnish countryside 11.8. – 21.8.2023

Number of Volunteers: 14

Description: The focus of the camp organizer, Saarela’s cultural association, is inclusion and social responsibility, as well as, for example, the revival of traditional handicrafts and art around them. The association organizes many cultural activities, from art exhibitions to music events and various workshops. The village association organizes this work camp in the Lehtoniemi Garden (www.lehtoniemipuutarha.eu), which is at the center of these events and offers people a place of community and things to do together during the summers, as well as beautiful surroundings to enjoy some peace and calmness.

Type of Work: There are various tasks during the camp. The volunteers will assist with organizing events like jazz-concert and summer cafes. Another mission is meeting local retired people and helping them in their daily routines. The third central theme is to participate in gardening work in the garden, also some small renovation works might be done in the area. The aim is, by meeting the locals, to provide knowledge and understanding of the traditional living style in the countryside: how it used to be and how is it nowadays for these people who decided to stay. Traditional handicrafts and art inspired by them play a big role in the village’s community and volunteers will get an opportunity to learn about them in different workshops.

Study Theme: North-Savonian culture, sustainable living, and relationship with nature, local traditions & handicrafts, social work: introduction to inclusion and retired person’s life in Finland

Accommodation: In shared rooms (1-3 persons) and in tents. Toilets and showers are in the main house, and also a possibility to wash your laundry. The camp is suitable for families if the kids can keep up with the work (14+ years). Meals are mainly based on local, organic ingredients, volunteers will also participate in collecting some of the ingredients from the forests and the garden (berries, veggies, etc.). Volunteers will participate in cooking and will learn some food preservation. Note: Please note that the host has two dogs, in case you are allergic.

Language: English

Location: Saarela village is located in North Savonia (nearly in the middle of Finland). To the nearest bigger village, and therefore the nearest shop, is 30 km. During leisure time, different outdoor activities are possible: enjoying the beautiful summer, swimming and sauna, forest trips, biking, etc.