An open call for young people from all over Europe aged between 18 and 30 years old to join the ESC team Volunteering "Kekri Celebration in North Karelia 2025", which takes place in Nurmes, Finland, from the 2nd to the 22nd October 2025. This volunteering project is organised by "YOUTH AND TOURISM CENTER HYVÄRILÄ OY" and funded by the European Solidarity Corps programme of the European Union.
About the volunteering
Kekri is an autumn harvest festival in Eastern Finland, marking the transition from summer and light to winter and darkness. It involves cooking traditional and local foods, gathering the community and generations together, remembering ancestors, and celebrating light.
Volunteers explore Finnish culture and nature, focusing on sustainability, creativity, and community work across various age groups, from children to the elderly. Activities range from learning about traditional harvest foods and cooking, to renovating and building traditional fences, as well as creative projects like video-making, recycling, crafts, and organising community events at schools, elderly homes, and museums. Volunteers typically work 30-35 hours per week with two days off.
Eligibility | Who can apply?
- Young people aged between 18 and 30 years old and residing in one of the following countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, Spain, Finland, France, Croatia, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Volunteers who like to stay in a small and isolated rural community surrounded by nature and serenity;
- Openness to meeting the local community and individuals from diverse backgrounds is essential.
- The project is well-suited for individuals interested in traditional culture, arts and crafts, nature and outdoor activities, cooking, and sustainability;
- Ability to stay the whole duration of the project;
- Able to speak and understand English. Your English does not have to be perfect;
- No experience is needed to participate in this project.
Expenses and Benefits
- Participants will be accommodated in hostel accommodation in Hyvärilä youth centre.
- One room will be shared by two or three participants with shared showers and bathrooms. Bed linens and towels are provided.
- Meals are served in the cafeteria, and some volunteers cook together. The food is mostly vegan and vegetarian, ensuring it is both 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).
- Participants are entitled to receive 6 euros per day as pocket money according to ESC rules.
-Your international travel expenses will be reimbursed according to the distance between your home and Finland, according to the following limits:
- from 10 – 99 km - 56 EUR (Green Travel)/ 28 EUR (Non-Green Travel)
- from 100 – 499 km - 285 EUR (Green Travel)/ 211 EUR (Non-Green Travel)
- from 500 – 1999 km - 417 EUR (Green Travel)/ 309 EUR (Non-Green Travel)
- from 2000 – 2999 km - 395 EUR (Green Travel)/ 535 EUR (Non-Green Travel)
- Calculate your budget from HERE
- IMPORTANT: Keep all your travel documents! Online boarding passes and tickets for reimbursements. No documents = No reimbursement!
- IMPORTANT: Please send your travel proposition by email to the organisers and wait for their confirmation before purchasing your tickets!
- Participants are entitled to receive a YouthPass certificate after the project, where you are expected to self-assess your own learning, and you can add it to your CV.
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