volunteering

Wanted: camp coordinators for voluntary work camps in Finland

Hanna Rask on 11.4.2024

vapaaehtoiset tikkaiden kanssa maalaamassa taloa

Would you like to gain experience of working with an international group, enhance your leadership skills, perhaps get to know new places and local communities in Finland, while contributing to building a world of peace and understanding? Join our 2024 work camps as a voluntary coordinator!

KVT’s work camps are organized in different parts of Finland, in collaboration with a local community or non-profit organization acting as a camp host that organizes the work for the volunteers and provides them with food and accommodation in return. Participants in our camps are international volunteers of diverse backgrounds, either joining the camp from abroad through the network of our international umbrella organization SCI or already living in Finland.

We are searching 1-2 coordinators for each of the following camps (please consult our volunteer and exchange coordinator at for latest updates):

River Restoration and Village Celebration 8.7. – 22.7.2024, Tavastkenkä village, Northern Ostrobothnia region

Lakeside Summer Camp; Building Community in a Historic Location 19.8. – 27.8.2024, Tampere

Natural Living and Aging With Wisdom 18.8. – 30.8.2024, Jyväskylä

Autumn Harvest & Human and Animal Well-being 2.9. – 16.9.2024, Jokioinen

Please check out a more comprehensive list of our work camps for detailed descriptions.

Before the camp, camp coordinators participate KVT’s training and write an info sheet for the participants of their camp, with help from the camp host and KVT. During the camp, main tasks of the camp coordinator are to help build group spirit among the volunteers, to help the host with coordination of the daily life of the camp, and to facilitate communication between the international volunteer group, KVT and the local camp host.

Open and active attitude are the most important features for a camp coordinator. You will also need English skills sufficient for everyday communication (some Finnish might be helpful too but not a requirement). Having some previous experience of voluntary work or group activities is also an advantage.

Camp coordinators don’t get paid, but trips to the camp coordinator training and to the camp are reimbursed and food and accommodation provided during the camp. Camp coordinators receive a certificate of their work after the camp. If you are a student, you can ask your own educational institution if camp coordination could earn you credits. As a camp coordinator, you will also need to be KVT’s member.

This year we will organize two camp coordinator trainings in Helsinki: on May 18-19 and June 8-9. Each camp coordinator should attend one of these. The training includes information and workshops on various topics, including the role and tasks of the camp leader, group dynamics, intercultural encounters, and how to deal with possible problem situations during the camp. In addition, the training provides information on the history, ideology and activities of KVT and our international umbrella organization SCI.

Got interested? Great! Please drop us a message at and tell us 1) who you are and your contact information, 2) which camp you would like to be a camp leader in (one or three options are good to have), and 3) why you want to be a camp leader. You can also tell us if you have previous experience of voluntary workcamps, other similar group activities, or if you have some other useful skills or experience.

Feel free to be in touch also if you have any questions about a particular camp or would like to learn more about camp coordinator’s tasks in general!

Volunteer opportunities in Finland outside the camp season: join KVT’s working groups!

Hanna Rask on 2.10.2023

Ryhmä ihmisiä istuu ringissä. Yksi ihminen seisoo ja puhuu ryhmälle.

Working groups have an important role in keeping KVT’s core activities going, for example by coordinating long-term volunteering exchanges and workcamp activities in Finland. Working groups are also a great opportunity to learn more about KVT’s work outside the workcamp season and about the field of international voluntary work in general. At the moment we are looking for new members to two active working groups:

Koordis

Ihmisiä pöydän ääressä. Pöydällä paperilappuja, joissa tekstiä.

Koordis is the coordination group for KVT’s international voluntary workcamps in Finland. Koordis searches and keeps up contact with our local camp hosts, recruits and trains camp coordinators, visits the camps during summer time and evaluates the camp season. In Koordis you get a chance to have your impact on what kind of camps KVT organizes and to participate in shaping the camp experience of our volunteers and camp hosts. If you got interested or would like to know more, please contact our volunteer and exchange coordinator Gweal Monykuany:

Pave

Pave is the coordination group for KVT’s long-term volunteer exchange (in Finnish ‘pitkäaikaisvapaaehtoisvaihto’, hence the name). Pave group consists entirely of volunteers and its tasks include processing applications for long-term volunteering projects, interviewing and training our outgoing volunteers, collecting feedback from returning volunteers and keeping up contact with our partner organizations abroad. If you have some existing experience or knowledge of long-term volunteering and are interested in joining the group, feel free to reach out to Anni Lamponen ().

Social media and working group for equity issues

In addition to these two working groups, we are looking for new volunteers with at least some existing knowledge of KVT’s work to join our social media group. Volunteers in the group take care of updating content on KVT’s social media channels (Facebook, Instagram) in one-week shifts according to predefined themes. For more information, please contact Hanna Rask: . Also: if you have a new idea that you would like to make become reality in KVT’s communications, we are more than happy to hear about that!

KVT has also had a separate working group for advancing equity in our work and improving accessibility of our activities to volunteers of diverse backgrounds. In the past the equity working group has, among other things, helped with communicating about KVT’s workcamp opportunities in Finland to asylum seekers and immigrants. The group has been inactive for a while, but we hope to restart it in the near future – if you would like to be part of that, feel free to contact Hanna (see email above) for more information!

Join KVT’s board for 2024!

Hanna Rask on 1.10.2023

Would you like to get to know how a small NGO operates? Do you wish to have a greater impact on what KVT is doing? Join our board for 2024!

KVT has worked for peace through grass-root level voluntary work already for more than 70 years. On our voluntary workcamps we bring together people from different backgrounds to contribute to a common cause and to learn from each other, which we believe helps to create understanding and combat harmful stereotypes and prejudice. This grass-root level peace work is based on ideas of cooperation, equity and promoting of active citizenship.

KVT’s work is planned and coordinated by our board that consists of 10 to 12 active volunteers. As a board member, you will learn about KVT’s activities and peace work on both local and international level, get experience of how a board of a small organization operates, and get to do meaningful voluntary work in inspiring company. In addition to ‘traditional’ board activities, you will also get to participate in different events, trainings and seminars.

The board meets about once a month, either in person or online depending on the board members’ preferences. It is also possible to attend the in-person meetings online if needed.

The board is open to people with all levels of NGO experience; whether you have years of experience in different NGOs or are just beginning to learn about the field, you are welcome as you are. Tasks are divided among board members according to everybody’s own interests, and you don’t need to know everything beforehand. The most important that you are interested in having your impact on KVT’s work, share our values and are ready to commit to be an active part of the board.

If you are interested or would like to know more, please contact the chair person Hanna Rask () to provide a short introduction of yourself, of how well you know KVT and why you would like to join the board. The new board members will be elected in our annual meeting on Tuesday, November 28th.

Are you already familiar with KVT and board work, and into broadening your experience of both?

We are also looking for a chair person and two vice chairs for 2024! Some of the tasks of the chairs are chairing of board meetings, preparing the meetings together with the executive director, representing the board as an employer, coordination of the annual plan of action and annual report, and closer follow-up of KVT’s finances together with the executive director. The chair person will be elected in the same annual meeting on November 28th, and the new board will select the vice chairs at the beginning of the year. Contact Hanna for more details!

Join KVT Volunteer Weekend on September 30th and October 1st!

Toiminnanjohtaja on 29.8.2023

Ohoy KVT volunteers and supporters!

Did you do a workcamp or long-term project during the summer? Are you a former KVT activist and would like to find yourself back in the beloved KVT community? Are your friends and family sick and tired of listening to your stories about your volunteering project? Or are you interested about international voluntary work? Worry not, KVT’s legendary Volunteer Weekend is here again!

What’s to come is two days of awesome program, chilling in great company and, of course, wonderful food! Whether you already know us or are a new volunteer, all are welcome.

Come meet old friends and get to know new ones!

What?

A two-day community event at the Peace Station in Helsinki: with the aim of getting to know KVT, other volunteers and share experiences about volunteering and peace work in Finland and abroad. On Saturday we will visit the Ukrainian aid center, evaluate last year’s projects and learn more about non-violent communication.

On Sunday well spend time in nature and then come back to the Peace Station to hang out and make some button pins for ourselves and for KVT fundraising. You can attend one day only or come for the whole weekend!

If you come farther away and you need a place to sleep in, please let us know in the registration form and we’ll see if we can arrange a couch to sleep on.

For whom?

For KVT members, alumni, volunteers and everyone interested in KVT activities. You are welcome to join us whether you have only just gotten to know us or have been active for a while – or even if it has been some time since you last saw us.

Where and when?

Saturday-Sunday September 30th-October 1st
Rauhanasema (Peace Station)
Veturitori 3
00520 Helsinki

Program (changes possible)

Saturday September 30th

Breakfast 9:30, 10:00 onwards the program starts

Evaluation of past year’s projects in small groups
Visit to the Ukraine aid center in Vallila
Lunch
Volunteer experiences from near and far – come join our activities!
Nonviolent Communication workshop

Starting from around 18.00 chilling and hanging out, possibility to watch a documentary, sauna, etc.

Sunday October 1st

around 11.00-14.00

nature trip in Viikki and picnic (possibly birdwatching, at least partly potluck lunch, time to be confirmed)

around 14.00-16.00

hanging out and making button pins at the Peace Station

Sign up

Tell us whether you’ll join us for one or two days and if you need a place to sleep in. It’s possible to being donations to the Ukraine aid center – we’ll let you know what might be needed later.

See you soon!

KVT’s summer: workcamps still open for applications!

Järjestökoordinaattori on 7.1.2023

picture with a backpack and red rubber boots on a road, blue sky

With the picture above, we wish everyone a wonderful summer! The picture was taken by our camp leader Jonna on a way to the Tuusula camp in June.

Summer is a busy time for KVT but some of our activities are on a break during the summer holidays. However, it is still possible to join work camps this summer so do stay in touch or make an appointment. Here you can find all the available camps: https://workcamps.sci.ngo/icamps/

Summer picnic Wed 24.8. at 5-8pm in Helsinki

Toiminnanjohtaja on 16.8.2022

iloisia ihmisiä, ulkona, istuu nurmikolla

Come start the fall season and KVT’s 75th birthday celebrations with a summer picnic. At the picnic you can meet both KVT board members and other volunteers. You can also bring a friend along to meet us.

Place: Rauhanasema (Veturitori 3), close to Pasila railway station in Helsinki

This picnic will be organized as an international potluck gathering, but we offer coffee, tea and some small sweets. Please bring something with you, or just drop by for a coffee. You can also bring a music instrument, a game or photos your volunteer experiences. Let’s have a fun and relaxed picnic together!

To Spain this summer? Become part of Green Diversity

Järjestökoordinaattori on 7.6.2022

Caring about climate justice, telling my story and getting active? Are you 18 – 30 years old? Do you want to travel to Spain in July? YES! Then apply to become part of the Green Diversity project.

‘Green Diversity?!’ is a project that aims to equip you with the necessary tools to be visible and be heard with your claim for global climate justice. With your story, you can inspire other young people to speak up themselves. If you care about climate justice and about telling your side of the story, we invite you to our Storytelling Lab in Logroño, Spain, from 18th to 23rd of July 2022.

At the Storytelling Lab, you will meet young people and learn more about different perspectives on climate justice. We will get creative and practice different ways to share our stories and ideas. You will work on building your own personal story and a team to establish a community to strengthen climate justice. The world needs young people who want to raise up their voice and participate/ get involved in climate justice issues.

The costs related to the activity (travels, meals, accommodation on shared rooms, etc.) will be covered by the project Green Diversity through the Erasmus+ programme. All the activities will be implemented on accessible spaces, using non formal techniques and in a suitable lodging to ensure an appropriate attendance and participation of any person.

Complete this form for registering on the selection of participants.

Open doors at KVT on Thu June 2nd

Toiminnanjohtaja on 1.3.2022

Come meet us and the world of international volunteering! You can ask us about volunteering options, exchange stories or just pop in to say hi.

How wonderful would it be to meet new and old volunteers now that the world starts to open again! KVT starts having open doors again after a long while. Come to our office on Thursday June 2nd at 4-6 pm. Come as you are: we will offer coffee and tea and good talks.

If you are a new volunteer you can learn about different ways to participate and hear stories from others. If you have participated with KVT before, you can share your memories with us. You can come to the office at any point during the open doors time. Our office is located in the yellow wooden building Peace Station in Pasila, Helsinki. Street address is Veturitori 3. Come to the entrance at the side of the building closest to Pasila station, ring buzzer that says KVT and then come up the stairs to the second floor. Looking forward to seeing you all!