Kekri Celebration in North Karelia 2026
NUORISO- JA MATKAILUKESKUS HYVARILAOY
Nurmes, Finland
Description
Kekri is an autumn festival of harvest, transitioning from summer and light to winter and darkness in Eastern Finland. It is a time for cooking traditional and local food, bringing community and generations together, remembering ancestors and celebrating light. Volunteers explore the Finnish culture and nature, sustainability, creativity and work with the local community of different age groups from children to elderly people. The activities vary from learning about traditional harvest season foods and cooking and renovating and building traditional fence to creativity and video-making activities, recycling and crafts, and meeting local community members and organizing activities with them (schools, elderly home and museums). Volunteers will work 30-35 hours per week with two days off.
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
Volunteers stay in hostel accommodation in Hyvärilä youth centre. Rooms for 2-3 persons with shared showers and bathrooms. Bed linens and towels are provided. Meals are served in the cafeteria, some volunteers cook together. Food is mostly vegan and vegetarian, it is good and healthy. Volunteers will have a chance to use saunas on designated days. Volunteers can use bicycles to go to Nurmes town (approx. 4 km away). Travel costs are reimbursed based on ESC program distance limits. !! Arrivals to Nurmes 29.09., departures 21.10. Nurmes is a remote area, a 7-hour train ride away from Helsinki
Training during the activity
On-arrival training on the first day of the project and a pre-departure online meeting is organized by the hosting organization.
Participant profile
We welcome volunteers who enjoy staying in a small and isolated rural community surrounded by nature and serenity. Openness to meet the local community and people with different backgrounds is essential. The project suits well to people who have interest in some of the following areas: traditional culture, arts and crafts, nature and outdoors activities, cooking and sustainability. The project is open for young people 18-30 years old. Please, apply if you are certain you are available through the whole duration of the project. Selected candidates will be contacted within 20-30 July 2026
Activity dates
From 30/09/2026 to 20/10/2026
Activity location
LOMATIE 12, Nurmes, Finland
Activity type
Volunteering teams
Looking for participants from
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine
Activity topics
Creativity and culture
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 19/07/2026 23:59
Project code
2025-1-FI01-ESC51-VTJ-000345956