Breaking the Bubbles of Locality
VIRTAIN KAUPUNKI
Virrat, Finlande
Description
Our main task as a youth centre is to support the growth and development of young people (aged 0 to 30). We arrange various camps for kids and youth locally, nationally and internationally, i.e. school camps, summer camps, youth exchanges, Nuotta coaching as supporting social skills, volunteering, internships, trainings etc. Marttinen is a pleasant, safe environment for a range of groups, courses, training events and other events year-round. We offer guided activities and the possibilities for own self-run programmes. Our premises are designed with accessibility for all in mind. Through our pedagogic skills and functional procedures, young people have useful experiences both alone and in groups. Our operations are guided by the Youth Act and we are part of the network of Finnish youth centres (8 in total). We are looking for two (2) long term volunteers to work mainly in the youth work team. Tasks related to this project are listed in participant's profile.
Modalités d'hébergement, de restauration et de transport
Marttinen Youth Centre will provide for accommodation, food and support for leisure time activities. Each volunteer will have their own room with shared kitchen and bathroom. Volunteers have access to youth centre's activities (i.e. climbing, canoeing, stand up padling, nature paths etc.). It is good to know that the youth centre is located on the rural area, in the city of Virrat (town morelikely), surrounded by amazing nature with lakes and forests. Virrat city centre is located approx. 5km away from the youth centre. Bigger cities nearby are Tampere, Jyväskylä and Seinäjoki.
Formation pendant l’activité
The volunteers will be assigned with an individual mentor to take interest in the volunteers daily life and well-being. Marttinen youth centre’s international coordinator will act as a support person and coordinator, supporting especially the administration, launch, mid-evaluation and finishing the project. Volunteers will be attending in on arrival training and mid term training offered by the Finnish National Agency.
Profil du participant
We are looking for two long term volunteers, from 11.1. until 17.12.2027 to work mainly as a part of our pedagogical youth work team. Our main activities are camp schools, social empowerment for youth needing for more support and various international activities (youth exchanges, study visists and training courses) and the main methods used are non-formal education, adventure pedagogy and learning by doing. Our centre is free of discrimination. We want every participant to have the same opportunities to participate and be treated in an equal way, regardless of their background.
This project will focus on bringing 2 volunteers as an active part in the youth work / pedagogical team of Marttinen Youth Centre. You might fit in our team if you are, FOR EXAMPLE, adaptive and flexible, willing to experience northern society with it’s specific characteristics, eager to learn new things, interested in working with kids and youngsters, interested in gaining international experiences, interested in non-formal learning, able to communicate in English, able to take initiative and being responsible with your activities, creative, having interest towards social media and taking photos and videos, having editing skills, having a great sense of humor and your’re able to laught at yourself.
For both volunteers, the main responsibility is to support Marttinen’s staff with:
CAMP SCHOOLS - A school class activity, implemented in the youth centre and it lasts 2-5 days and is planned and carried out together with the teacher, students, and parents. The high seasons for camp schools are in September and May, occasionally they will also take place during wintertime. In camp shcools, the volunteers work with our program managers and other guides with different kinds of sports and activities, having a chance to instruct international workshops and other activities for the children (mainly 12-year-olds) and give them an understanding of other cultures, at the same time learning from Finnish way of living.
SOCIAL YOUTH WORK, NUOTTA - Nuotta coaching camps happen around the year, bringing groups of young people (13-29) from variety of backgrounds for intensive coaching and activities in Marttinen. Some come only for two days, some come for the whole week. Volunteers will have an opportunity to work with our Nuotta coordinator, planning and implementing activities with these groups. Also, perhaps one or two of the groups could be interested in your home countries, or maybe even planning a trip or an exchange with some other countries, where we think you might have a lot to offer to the conversation!
PROJECTS IN MARTTINEN - huge part of Marttinen’s activities are based on different smaller project always running. There are international events, youth exchanges, local initiatives, school visits, voluntary actions, and much, much more that you will be invited to contribute to! Also, if you feel like it, you can set up your own projects as you work here, based on the volunteers own interest. Cooperation with local schools, events, projects and more is a day-to-day reality, also for the volunteers.
MAINTENANCE AND KITCHEN - Running a Youth Centre is much more than simply working with young people from visiting groups. Food needs to be served every day, buildings repaired, rooms cleaned, snow shoveled from the paths, post delivered, and customers and young people helped every day of the year! You will also get the opportunity to meet, get to know, and work with the maintenance crew, and kitchen staff, and if you are willing, also bring spices and ideas from your own culture to the equation.
VOLUNTEERS' PERSONAL PROJECTS - Will be designed together with each volunteer, depending on each skills, goals and motivation
Among the previous, volunteers’ responsibilities might include indoor and outdoor maintenance activities such as leaf racking, shoveling snow, fixing and building etc., depending on youth centre’s need, volunteers’ skills and interests.
For us to know you've read this whole introduction, start your motivation letter / application with the word "TERVE". Tell us about yourself, who are you, what is your passion in life, anything that helps us to know you and write it by yourself - we appriciate it a lot! Before sending your application, please notice that the project will start in January 2027 and take place until December 2027. Make sure you are available for the whole period. We will contact the selected applicants for the interview via email right after the application deadline. Please make sure you have your contact information correclty and check the spam folder, as well. Unfortunately, we cannot respond to all applicants.
Dates de l’activité
Du 11/01/2027 au 17/12/2027
Lieu de l’activité
Herrasentie 16, Virrat, Finlande
Type d’activité
Volontariat individuel
Nous recherchons des participants venus de
Allemagne, Autriche, Belgique, Croatie, Danemark, Espagne, Estonie, France, Hongrie, Irlande, Islande, Italie, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monténégro, Norvège, Pays-Bas, Portugal, Roumanie, Serbie, Slovaquie, Slovénie, Suède, Tchéquie, Ukraine
Thèmes de l’activité
Social challenges
Citizenship and democratic participation
Environment and natural protection
Health and wellbeing
Creativity and culture
Date limite de dépôt des candidatures
Délai de dépôt de candidature: 30/09/2026 23:59
Code du projet
2026-1-FI01-ESC51-VTJ-000403923