Training for volunteers going to long-term projects or camps in the Global South Sat 9.9. in Helsinki

Build solidarity in the world? Gain experiences that carry through life? Learn new skills for the future? All these are a part of international voluntary work!

All volunteers planning to apply to voluntary workcamps in the Global South or long-term volunteering projects of 1-12 months are expected to participate in KVT’s training. Anyone who is planning to do a volunteering project during the year 2023 is welcome to sign up, you don’t need to know the exact project yet. The next training will take place on Saturday 9th September from 9:30am to 4pm.

The training will be in Helsinki (the exact location will be announced later). The training day consists of getting to know KVT, learning about different aspects of volunteering abroad, practical arrangements, responsibility and the purpose of volunteering. You will also meet other people who are in the process of preparing for their volunteer experience. All participants are expected to actively take part in the activities and discussions during the day. The trainers will be experienced KVT volunteers, who have themselves also volunteered in different parts of the world.

We will offer breakfast and lunch during the training for a small participation fee.

Before the training day you will first go through an online module. This can be done at everyone’s own pace and it will take approximately 2 hours in total. Bear this in mind when planning your schedules! More information will be sent to you with invitation to the training day.

Sign up to the training by Wednesday 6th September by sending email to . In the email tell us where and how long you are hoping to go in your volunteer project. More detailed info and info for the online module will be send to everyone two weeks before the training. All participants must have their KVT membership paid by the day of the training.

Welcome!

We’re looking for camp leaders: training in June

Do you want to work for peace, solidarity and intercultural understanding? Would you like to spend a couple of weeks this summer by volunteering for a community project and learning about different ways of life in Finland? If your answer is yes, apply to be a camp leader on KVT’s voluntary work camps!

Being a camp leader is an enriching international voluntary work experience. Kansainvälinen vapaaehtoistyö ry (KVT) organizes international voluntary work camps in different parts of Finland every summer.

Right now we’re looking for camp leaders as follows:
26.6. – 7.7. Food Not Bombs, in Helsinki (2 camp leaders)
23.7. – 6.8. Friendships across social borders, in Jyväskylä (2 camp leaders)

You can see the descriptions, locations and dates of the camps here.

The camps bring together 5-12 volunteers of different nationalities and backgrounds to live and work for projects that benefit local communities and have an impact on a social, cultural or environmental level.

We will train all the camp leaders. The last training of this summer will be on 17 – 18 June. Camp leaders will not receive financial compensation but their travels to the camp and to camp leader training will be reimbursed. All volunteers will be provided with food and accommodation during the camp.

If you would like to become a camp leader for one of our camps this summer, please send us an email at

Accessibility information:
Some of the campsites are accessible, and we recommend asking us directly for more information.

The camp leader trainings are organized at Rauhanasema and Zoom. We recommend to participate at least one of the training days on site. Rauhanasema is a partially protected over 100-year-old log house on three floors, so accessibility in our premises is a bit challenging to implement due to protection.

The hall, where some of the trainings are held, can be accessed via a ramp from the Messukeskus side of the building. The slope angle is ten degrees.

One of the toilets next to the hall is larger and its doors can be opened wider. The toilet seat has support rails. There is also a collapsible table in this booth.

Peace station follows the principles of a safer space. Please ask more from us in case of doubt.

Voluntary workcamps in Finland

Voluntary workcamp is a possibility to get to know Finland from a new perspective, meet new people and participate in the activities of a local community. You don’t always need to travel far to gain unforgettable experiences and learn something new. You can check the camp descriptions for workcamps organized in Finland from our webpages.

There are three ways to participate in a workcamp in Finland as a national volunteer: apply for camp leader position, join with the reduced camp fee as a national volunteer or apply for our supported camp places. Read more about applying as a camp leader. Below you can read more about how to participate as a national volunteer with reduced camp fee or supported places to Finnish workcamps. For more information and questions you can contact out office (). All camps offer accommodation and food for the volunteers.

National volunteer with reduced camp fee

You can apply to the Finnish camps the same way you would apply to a camp abroad in the camp database: register to the database, search for camps in Finland, fill your application and make the payment to KVT. When you participate in a Finnish camp as a resident in Finland, you don’t pay the normal camp coordination fee, but a decreased fee of 60€ and the KVT membership fee. You can read more about voluntary workcamps and applications or how to become a KVT member. You will also organize your own travels to the camp. Anyone minimum 18-years old are able to apply as volunteers to camps in Finland.

National volunteer with supported camp places

KVT offers some free places on our workcamps to immigrants with fewer opportunities. The supported camp places are offered to e.g. asylym seekers and youth with immgirant background, who couldn’t participate otherwise (e.g. no work or study place, no own networks to get to know Finland). A supported camp place means that the volunteer doesn’t pay camp coordination fee and KVT membership is free. KVT also covers the cost of travel tickets to the camp. More info and application instructions are here.

vapaaehtoinen työntää toista kottikärryissä

One year of war and no end in sight

We strongly condemn the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. In particular, we express our solidarity with and support for peace movements and peace activists in Ukraine, Russia and internationally, as they resist the war. We join in the statement shared by SCI, our umbrella organization.

One year of war and no end in sight

Tomorrow marks a very distressing anniversary: one year since the full-scale military aggression against Ukraine by Russia.

We want to reiterate our message in support of peace, standing in solidarity with the people of Ukraine as well as peace movements and peace activists in all countries involved, especially in Russia, and all over the world.

Once again we call upon the Russian government to immediately stop this aggression and commit to a genuine peace process and a process of accountability.

We call upon the international community and all parties involved, including the Russian and Ukrainian states, to turn to diplomacy as a means to solve conflict and abide by international law.

Finally, we reject the war and militaristic narrative that is now prevalent in the media and institutions, and we ask for protection of conscientious objectors from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Peace is a choice that all parties in the conflict must commit to now!

Diplomacy is the only real method for conflict resolution!

No to war in Ukraine, no to war anywhere!

As we feared a year ago, this war brought immense suffering to thousands of people: in the conflict territories, civilians were killed, injured or forcibly displaced, people were tortured and made to disappear, peace activists and lawyers suffered attacks, human rights – such as the right to freedom of expression and the right to conscientious objection – were corroded, civilian infrastructure was severely damaged. Globally, the war brought food insecurity for communities who were already suffering poverty and hunger, an energy and economic crisis that harshly strikes the most vulnerable, militarisation and diversion of funds from social investments and services, an intensification of the nuclear threat and a deterioration of mental health. These are only a few examples of the consequences of war. And the one in Ukraine is only one example of war, as we cannot forget that it is but one of many.

This year has shown us that building a culture of peace, working on peace education, implementing peace actions and focusing on advocacy for peace is more urgent and relevant than ever. Peace cannot be taken for granted and it must be fostered every day with our words and actions, that is, working on our inner selves, nurturing positive relationships with others, engaging in society to build communities that respect human rights and support the most vulnerable, and taking care of our natural environment and our impact on the climate.

We invite people within our network and all over the world to stand up against the war in Ukraine.

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. – Martin Luther King.

We encourage you to join your local peace protest or activity in the coming days, or to organise one yourself.

Service Civil International is an international peace organisation active since 1920. We are dedicated to promoting a culture of peace by organising international voluntary projects for people of all ages and backgrounds. The organisation consists of 40 branches and more than 90 partner organisations. We oppose all forms of armed conflict and militarisation. Since its beginnings, SCI has developed peaceful dialogue between people of all nations, with the vision of a world without armed conflict, hostility and with positive peace. For many years, we have been supporting peace and reconciliation efforts in Ukraine and Russia.

KVT’s annual Spring meeting on Tue 18th April at Peace Station

Kansainvälinen vapaaehtoistyö ry will have the annual Spring meeting on Tuesday 18th of April at 5:30pm at Peace Station (Veturitori 3) in Helsinki.

The Spring meeting will cover issues according to our rules, such as annual report and financial statement of 2022. The annual meeting is open to all, but only members of KVT can vote. Please make sure you are a member before the meeting. Invitations will be sent to members directly, so if you have any doubts, make sure your contact details are updated too.

Join the KVT Volunteer Weekend on October 1st!

Join us to enjoy the volunteering spirit and get to know other volunteers! All previous KVT volunteers and everyone who wants to get to know KVT and our activities are welcome to participate. The Volunteer Weekend will be organized in Pasila, Helsinki at the Peace Station (Veturitori 3).

PROGRAM: We will start the day on Saturday at noon and continue until about 5:30 pm. The first part of the day (12–3 pm) is reserved for people who have volunteered through KVT (volunteers at camps, long term volunteers, camp leaders and camp hosts etc). You’ll get to share your experience and participate in feedback workshops. From 3 pm onwards we’ll have an open doors event to which all previous volunteers and anyone interested in KVT are welcome to join! We will share information about KVT’s activities, you’ll meet others engaged in or interested in KVT and we will present our Green Diversity? project on climate justice. After the official programme, everyone interested can stay for a sauna evening. KVT will offer lunch for those participating in the first session of the day.

SIGN UP: We ask all participants (also those coming for the open doors event) to sign up beforehand in order to help us plan the details of the day. Signups are open until Wednesday September 28. You can sign up through this link: https://forms.gle/VtuYz2qYCNQqvdNq9 

You are warmly welcome!

KVT’s board


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

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

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.

No war in Ukraine! No war anywhere!

We, the undersigned SCI organisations, strongly condemn the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. In particular, we express our solidarity with and support for peace movements and peace activists in Ukraine, Russia and internationally, as they resist the war.

We, the undersigned Service Civil International (SCI) organisations, strongly condemn the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We express our solidarity with the people of Ukraine. In particular, we express our solidarity with and support for peace movements and peace activists in Ukraine, Russia and internationally, as they resist the war.

We are concerned that this invasion leads to a huge number of victims and deaths, injuries and severe emotional distress among civilians and military in the countries concerned. It can cause significant deterioration of infrastructure and the ecosystem, an economic crisis and mass displacement of people.

We call upon the Russian decision makers to immediately stop the violence and withdraw their troops from Ukraine and bordering territories. We call upon the international community and all parties involved to engage in substantial and sincere diplomatic negotiations in accordance with international agreements and place the humanitarian needs of civilians first. We call upon the countries of the European Union to welcome people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and guarantee international protection.

We call upon people within our network and all over the world to stand up against the war in Ukraine. We ask you to join or organise demonstrations for a diplomatic resolution and against a further military escalation of the conflict. Call for an immediate ceasefire as well as a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the conflict on social media and with decision-makers in your countries.

A war undermines efforts at global cooperation. It leads to an increase in military spending, while resources are much needed to address pressing global issues, such as the climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the technologies available for warfare today, among them huge arsenals of nuclear weapons, de-escalation is the only way forward.

We call upon people within our network and all over the world to stand up against the war in Ukraine. We ask you to join or organise demonstrations for a diplomatic resolution and against a further military escalation of the conflict. Call for an immediate ceasefire as well as a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the conflict on social media and with decision-makers in your countries.

Peace is a choice that all parties in the conflict must commit to now! Diplomacy is the only real method for conflict resolution! No to war in Ukraine!

Service Civil International is an international peace organisation active since 1920. We are dedicated to promoting a culture of peace by organising international voluntary projects for people of all ages and backgrounds. The organisation consists of 40 branches and more than 90 partner organisations. We oppose all forms of armed conflict and militarization. Since its beginnings, SCI has developed peaceful dialogue between people of all nations, with the vision of a world without armed conflict, hostility and with positive peace. For many years, we have been supporting peace and reconciliation efforts in Ukraine and Russia.

Branches and partners that support this statement:

  1. SCI Hellas
  2. SCI Austria
  3. Stowarzyszenie Jeden Świat – SCI Poland
  4. ÚTILAPU Hungary
  5. Volonterski centar Vojvodine
  6. SCI IVS USA
  7. SCI Catalunya
  8. Mati Canada (not SCI)
  9. SCI Germany
  10. SCI Italy
  11. GAIA SCI Kosovo
  12. IVP Australia
  13. KVT Finland
  14. SCI Korea
  15. PVN Albania
  16. SCI Madrid
  17. VSI Ireland
  18. SCI Sri Lanka
  19. Association Volontariat Sans Frontière (VSFr Tunisia)
  20. ID Norway
  21. SCI India
  22. SCI Romania
  23. SCI Malaysia
  24. CVS Bulgaria
  25. IVP Indonesia
  26. SCI France
  27. SCI Switzerland
  28. International Voluntary Service (IVS-GB)
  29. VIA Netherlands
  30. SCI Belgium

Open doors at KVT on Thu June 2nd

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!