Emil’s experiences of volunteering
Emil Smolander has just completed his last exams and projects for his studies at Keski-Pohjanmaan ammattiopisto towards becoming a youth and community instructor. With his degree in hand, he looks to what lies ahead. Unsure if he will continue his studies or start work within the youth field, what he does know is that now […]
“One story of my life” -Enzo
Hello, my name is Enzo, I am French and now I am a volunteer in Finland in the municipality of Pedersöre. But before I get to that I tell you the whole story. I always had difficulties at school with a birth disease dyslexion, but with willpower and courage I overcame these difficulties and started […]
Youngsters’ trail II -seminar highlights
In October 2021 was finally time to meet face to face with our partner organisations of the project Youngsters’ trail II -seminar. Topic of the seminar was impact of international youth work. Aim was to get commong understanding about impact, and to get new ideas and to share best practises how to evaluate and assess […]
Blog: Youth Stories – Varvara’s story
We have been lucky to host a volunteer Varvara from February until end of the year. Varvara comes from Russia, Siberia. She has a Bachelor degree on International Relations with the focus on Europe cooperation, so she was a perfect fit to our International Youth Centre. You can read on Varvara’s first impression from Finland […]
Youth Center Villa Elba – my personal love story
Working in the field of international youth work brought me to cooperation with Youth Center Villa Elba 20 years ago. Even before my first visit in Kokkola, the name of the Youth Center created a beautiful imagination in my fantasy: I like Villa’s. I spent some really nice time on the Italian island of Elba. And I […]
Blogg: ESC volunteer Varvara about life in Finland
If someone asks me what Finland is for me, I probably will not be able to find one single word to describe all my delight after 4 months here. For me it includes amazingly beautiful nature and fast-changing weather; simple, but amazing Finnish design and adorable moomins; wonderful people; sauna and unusual food, and much […]
Blog: ESC volunteer Varvara about life in Finland
If someone asks me what Finland is for me, I probably will not be able to find one single word to describe all my delight after 4 months here. For me it includes amazingly beautiful nature and fast-changing weather; simple, but amazing Finnish design and adorable moomins; wonderful people; sauna and unusual food, and much […]
Elf Start volunteer project
At Villa Elba, Christmas preparations began as early as September, when ten volunteers from Hungary, Italy and Finland participated in the Elf start! volunteering team project. (13.9 – 4.10.2020) During three weeks, they built about 112 elves, sledge, a bear, a reindeer and other Christmas decorations which are to be used at the Villa […]
Youth stories – Project Friendship
Kata, Alice and Bea, together with seven other volunteers, took part in European Solidarity Corps project, Project Friendship. Project was a three week long project, held in Villa Elba in March 2020. Aim was to organise friendship themed workshops around the Kokkola City, in schools, workshops and service houses. Unfortunately during the project the corona […]