YOUTH CENTRE VILLA ELBA

Volunteers work either at Villa Elba’s international department or on the service department. Their mission is to bring internationality to Villa Elba.

Hosting two volunteers starting from September 2020

Proposed activities:

Volunteers are involved in carrying out international activities in Villa Elba’s International Clubs. Villa Elba currently has two different International Clubs, where young people meet once a month. With the help of the club, children and young people get experiences of internationalization and the opportunity to develop own projects.

Volunteers organize International Club activities for locals through a variety of events. In winter, Elba has a Global Mono Cafe and in summertime there is a beach café where we organize also public sauna nights. At the events, volunteers organize theme days on various topics. These events allow locals to get to know the volunteers, practice their language skills and broaden their worldview.

Volunteers are also involved in everyday work. On the service department, volunteers help with facilities and area maintenance, event organization and customer service work. In the international department volunteers work with various projects, helping out in practical assignments, material preparation, demonstrations, school visits, etc. Volunteers can also produce marketing material and promote the internationalization of other young people by sharing their own experiences, for example through social media.

The weekly working hours of the volunteer is 35 hours. Work is usually done from Monday to Friday in the morning or evening shift, but there can also be work on weekends. The volunteer has two days off / month.

The volunteer participates in arrival-training and mid-term meeting organized by the Finnish National Agency for Education. During the project, the volunteer meets with his / her mentor at agreed intervals to discuss the progress of the project and the volunteer’s challenges and success.

Profile of the volunteer:

We want to provide volunteer jobs for young people who want to develop their own skills in international activities and improve their language skills as well as develop their guidance and interaction skills. They are interested in youth, education or social fields and want to get to know the field before studying or perhaps have already graduated but need work experience to improve their employment. We want to provide volunteer places for disadvantaged young people, who, through voluntary service, can improve their employability.

Practical arrangements:

Volunteers live in apartments reserved for volunteers at the Youth Center Villa Elba. The apartment has a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. They get one hot meal a day at work and in addition they are paid food allowance so they can prepare other meals themselves.

For mobility, volunteers receive bicycles, and if necessary, Villa Elba’s staff also take them on shopping trips, etc. Volunteers participate in a language course at a school in Kokkola.