Finland: ESC: From Fall Night to Winter Wonder

About the local hosting organization

Marttinen Youth Center Virrat is one of nine youth centres supported and supervised by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The work of Finnish youth centres is based on the Youth Act and the goals of the national youth work and policy program, which are based on values of internationality, equality and inclusion, and educational activities that encourage these. The service role of youth centres is also determined by the Youth Act. The main year-round task of youth centres is to provide guided / educational adventure, nature, environmental, cultural or camping activities for young people (Section 20 of the Youth Act). The youth work of youth centres also promotes the internationalization and sustainable development of young people. The Marttinen Youth Center is a pioneer in its field as an actor in youth work, and our strategic goal is to continue to play an increasingly strong role as a regional developer of youth work, a youth policy actor, a promoter of internationalization and an enabler of international activities for young people. In this role, our strong expertise in youth work and our extensive network with actors in Pirkanmaa and neighboring regions are emphasized. Marttinen's main activities are: - Organization of pedagogical camp activities (Social youth work / coaching for outreach youth work and workshops, camp schools, penitentiary camps, thematic camps and events, training, youth exchanges, voluntary projects) - Pirkanmaa Municipal Youth Work Coordination (AVI) - Adventure and environmental education projects (NOW !, Adventure and environmental education network) - Projects promoting the inclusion of young people in the region (Youth Voice project) - Coordination of international activities in the region - General development and cooperation in the youth field All activities are often linked to each other in terms of their themes and measures (eg volunteering and environmental education, youth inclusion project and youth exchanges -...) Since 2017, Marttinen has been developing forms of international youth work in its area, aiming to implement and produce international youth work services, identifying needs and increasing field expertise in the field of international work. The goals achieved in previous years have laid the foundation for future regional project co-operation, in which Marttinen's role is to act as an expert and as a co-ordinating and quality-supporting body for projects that benefit the region. Previous measures have been very successful, bringing together key players in the youth field who are interested in cooperating in the field of international work (under Erasmus + and ESC funding), and have strongly supported the development of their skills (including training and parallel project advice) and regional networking. among themselves. Networking is also being developed in an increasingly international direction, with increasing efforts being made to transfer ownership to regional players. Young people have also been the main beneficiaries. The current operational resource has produced the first several pilots and experiments that can be replicated and disseminated through a new project. Activities funded by Erasmus + and ESC bring international added value to our existing pedagogical youth center activities, as well as directly to young people. In addition, Marttinen has coordinated the study visits offered to the field of youth work, training, supported projects born in the region and started regular network meetings of actors interested in international activities, where the needs discussed should also be used as a basis for our project.

Presentation of the programme

The main task of 4 volunteers is to bring an international perspective to the daily activities of the Marttinen Youth Centre and to support the internationalisation of its staff and community. Volunteers take part in year‑round educational activities and assist in planning, implementing and evaluating events and everyday operations. During the four‑month period, they focus especially on two major projects: Kekri day event (similar as Halloween), where they create family‑friendly workshops, atmosphere and decorations as well as handle documentation and social media; and the Christmas Path, which they build around the Marttinen area and participate in opening event with various activities, together with the staff. Depending on centre's needs and their own skills, volunteers may also participate in various indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks throughout the whole project.

About the accomodation

ACCOMMODATION - The volunteers will be living together in two Marttinen´s log houses and there’s own room for each volunteer. The cabins have shared kitchen, two toilets and shower / sauna for volunteers to use. FOOD - Marttinen will provide breakfast, lunch & dinner for the volunteers. TRANSPORT - Flight arrangements must be approved by the hosting organisation. Volunteers (together with supporting organisation) are responsible for searching for adequate flights, respecting the mobility dates & budget.

About the leisure activities

- A pre-departure meeting between Marttinen´s international youth work team, supporting organisation and volunteers - On arrival training at the very beginning of the project - Mentoring sessions by a mentor - Reflection sessions to integrate information and share learning outcomes - On going support from professional youth workers of Marttinen youth centre - Flexibility in supporting to volunteers special needs (individual support when needed) - Evaluation meeting for volunteers in home countries after returning from ESC- project

Requirements

The Participant profile: The volunteer project will focus on bringing 4 volunteers as an active part in the youth work / pedagogical team of Marttinen Youth Centre. those applicants are prioritised who wouldn't normally (in their life) to be part of international activities. Volunteers we are looking for this ESC project are between 20 to 29 years old. You might fit in our team if you are, FOR EXAMPLE, - adaptive and flexible, - willing to experience northern society with it’s specific characteristics and during the darkest time of a year, - eager to learn new things, - interested in working with kids and youngsters, - interested in gaining international experiences, - able and willing to communicate in English, - able to take initiative and being responsible with your activities, - creative, - having a great sense of humor - able to laught at yourself. The volunteers have to have the motivation to be part of 4 month long project and willing to pledge to working in a small group, in a small town and more precisely in a youth centre , during the darkest period of a year in Finland. In this 4-months project, the main responsibilities for the volunteers are: KEKRI EVENT - create Kekri open house event (Finnish old tradititon, similar as Halloween) on Saturday 17.11.2026, for local families and kids - setting the ghost tunnel to the main building - creating different kind of interactive activities/workshops (with yourself) that fits for kids in all ages and encourages participants to interact with international people - being responsible for documentation and social media promotion - set up 2h Halloween disco and some easy games/activities for local kids, age 8-12 CHRISTMAS PATH - create Christmas path around Marttinen nature trail - Christmas path opening event with City of Virrat / Heritage village (located next to the youth centre) - participating small Christmas market activities and events in the Heritage village 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! AI-generated applications don't meet our requirements, so be orginal, be you! Before sending your application, please notice that the project will start in the end of September 2026 and take place until December 2026. Make sure you are available for the whole period (27.9.-18.12.2026). We will contact the selected applicants for the interview via email right after the application deadline. Unfortunately, we cannot respond to all applicants.Deadline: 26/06/2026 23:59