European Solidarity Corps – International Youth Houses in Pori, Finland

On this page you can find more information about our International Youth Houses -project. We have tried to gather all the practical info to answer the most frequently asked questions. But if you still have some questions, you can find our contact information at the bottom of this page.

How to apply

Before applying, we kindly ask you to read the information below carefully and consider if this project is really for you.

Notice that you have to apply in two steps
1) Fill in the Google Forms application
2) Apply also in the Youth Portal https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/51595_fi  

Application period ends on 7th of June 2026 at 23:59.

Organisation

The Youth Services of the City of Pori provides a wide range of services for local youth. Our goal is to positively influence their lives through youth work, by improving their living conditions, strengthening their coping skills, and empowering them to act on social issues. We are committed to offering equal opportunities for all young people to participate in our activities.

Most of the volunteers’ work takes place in open youth houses or youth workshops. We also organize various events such as discos, youth clubs, as well as targeted youth work (including small group activities, individual support, and street outreach work), digital youth work, youth council activities, and international projects.

During school holidays, we offer camps and themed events. Almost all our youth activities are free of charge or have only a small participation fee.

We will start our 13th long term volunteer project as a hosting organization. Through our previous involvement in ERASMUS+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programs, we’ve gained extensive experience in both practical arrangements and the core principles and values of EU funded volunteering projects.

As a government-regulated organization responsible for youth services in Pori, we employ about 20 professional youth workers and are excited to include international volunteers in our daily operations.

About the project

The International Youth Houses project will host two volunteers for 12 months; one position is open from October 2026 and the other one from January/February 2027. The aim is to foster a positive international atmosphere throughout our activities. We want both our staff and local young people to approach other cultures with curiosity, respect, and open-mindedness.

Our international volunteers play a key role in this. By working and interacting with our community, they help build understanding between people of different backgrounds. We hope that volunteers also inspire young people to explore the world and engage with other cultures.

We want to provide young adults from across Europe (and beyond) a meaningful opportunity to gain work experience in Finland. Volunteers will learn about Finnish youth work and our diverse working methods. In return, they bring fresh perspectives and new ideas to our team.

We encourage our volunteers to plan and lead their own activities based on their interests and strengths.

Volunteer Profile

Eligibility

Applicants must be 18–30 years old and have legal residence in, or nationality of, one of the following countries:

  • EU Member States
  • Partner Countries: North Macedonia, Turkey, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Ukraine.
  • Applications from countries involved in political or armed conflict will be considered with attention to current laws and guidelines from said country, EU-commission and Finnish government.

Desired Qualities

We’re looking for a people person, someone who is open-minded, motivated to work with all kinds of people and comfortable sharing an apartment with one other volunteer from a different background, habits and lifestyle. Volunteers might be of same or different gender.

The ideal volunteer will enjoy working with teenagers (ages 13–19) and or young adults (ages 20-29) and be proactive in engaging with them, even when language barriers exist.

We value independence, creativity, and resilience. Volunteers should be able to take initiative, organize activities, and respond constructively to feedback or disinterest from youth.

Our activities aim to offer safe, pressure-free spaces for all youth. Volunteers must respect this and be able to meet young people where they are, offering support without expectations or prejudice for any reason.

We are looking for people with experience or skills in some of these areas:

  • social work
  • counseling youth / young adults
  • kitchen work at a café or restaurant
  • woodwork
  • metal work
  • hands & crafts
  • playing or creating music
  • social media content creation
  • event planning

Volunteer tasks

Volunteers assist our youth workers in planning and implementing youth activities such as:

  • Open youth house activities
  • Activities at the youth workshops
  • Small group sessions
  • Events
  • Camps
  • Digital youth work
  • International youth projects

The open youth house concept is quite unique in Nordic countries. Our five youth houses are open from Tuesday to Saturday afternoons and evenings (typically 15:00–21:00) and serve as casual spaces where young people (ages 13–29) can hang out. The number of youths participating varies, and activities are mostly unstructured.

Youth workers and volunteers’ main task is to be there to ensure the space is welcoming and supportive.

Youth workshops are meant for young adults (ages 18-29 ) who need support finding their own path. Workshops can help strengthen participants’ ability to manage everyday life and improve their functional capacity. Participants can also explore new vocational fields, develop their professional skills, and enhance their working life and teamwork abilities. The workshop can serve as an alternative learning environment for completing a qualification or a part of a qualification. The workshop community offers experiences of inclusion and strengthens participants’ social skills and ability to function within a group.

Youth at a workshop participate in work coaching and it is based on learning by doing. It provides participants with a practical way to develop vocational skills through meaningful work tasks.

The youth workshops we currently have in Pori:

Café Nuokkari is a youth cafe at the central youth house that also serves lunch. During the morning and day, the place is a lunch café and during the evenings it is one of the open youth house spaces. Café offers a place to do internships or get work experience in the catering business in general. Tasks include cooking lunch and pastries as well as customer service, planning menus, and working as the cashier.

Audiovisual with band and press: Youth can learn or develop their skills, for example in graphic design, social media content creation, photography, filming, video editing, playing in a band, creating and producing music or event planning.

Arts and crafts:
Uses a variety of recycled materials and creative thinking, produces items for workshop sales, and carries out all kinds of customer work, from sewing to painting.
Youth learn and develop skills in different art methods like painting and sculpting, clothing design and repair, knitting, sewing and setting up sales events and art exhibitions.

Technical workshops:

Wood and surface treatment focus on various painting and woodworking tasks as well as furniture restoration. At the metal workshop, standard metalworking tasks are carried out, such as coating, engraving, drilling, polishing, cutting, and joining by welding.

In addition to working at open youth houses or youth workshops, volunteers will engage with youth (ages 13–29) in group settings, provide support and guidance, and co-create activities and events with the rest of the work community.

Volunteers are encouraged to teach local youth about their own language and culture and use personal skills – like music, art, or sport — in interactions. Volunteers are expected to behave respectfully both on and off duty and to stick to the work schedule agreed upon with colleagues.guage and culture and use personal skills—like music, art, or sport—in interactions.

Schedule

Volunteers work typically 30 hours per week, 5 days a week and 6h per day. Schedules vary depending on occasional events and extra activities, so there will be also longer and shorter weeks and days. The exact schedule will vary based on the volunteer’s strengths and the needs of the organization.

There is flexibility for volunteers to choose how they structure their tasks and schedules. This flexibility also requires independence and responsibility from the volunteers.

During the 12-month volunteering period volunteers have 24 vacation days to use. Vacations need to be planned and approved by the mentor-coordinator.

Typical working hours for volunteers:

  • Youth workshops: Working at the workshops means mainly morning shifts starting 8-10 am. usually Monday to Friday. The Café workshop being the exception and having evening shifts as well.
  • Youth houses: Working at the youth houses means mainly evening shifts, typically starting between 2-4 pm. either from Wednesday to Saturday, or Tuesday to Friday with Monday/Tuesday dedicated to office work.

Work schedules are fluctuating and include office hours to plan your schedule and tasks, create social media content, and design promotional materials such as posters and flyers. Volunteers are encouraged to contribute to our social media accounts, mainly Instagram and TikTok (@nuortenpori, @esc_pori).

Travel

The volunteer and hosting organization will jointly agree on the best way to book travel tickets and manage the project’s travel budget. The simplest route is to fly to Helsinki and take a train directly from the airport to Pori. We encourage volunteers to look for more environmentally friendly ways to travel. We will support the volunteers with instructions and booking the tickets.

Monthly allowance

Volunteers receive a monthly allowance consisting of:

  • Pocket money: 210 €
  • Food allowance: 300 €

This amount covers basic living expenses such as food and essentials. However, it is not enough for shopping, leisure travel, or frequent social outings. Food and general costs in Finland are high, especially compared to many southern European countries, so budgeting will be essential, and a skill you’re likely to improve during your stay.

Accommodation & Practical Matters

The hosting organization has a rented furnished apartment for the two volunteers. Each volunteer has a private bedroom, while the kitchen, living room, and bathroom are shared. The apartment is well-equipped, spacious, and stocked with essentials passed down by previous volunteers.

Volunteers are responsible for keeping the apartment clean and in good condition. It is in an apartment building where Finnish quiet hours are between 10pm. – 7 am.  Noise outside this time, such as loud music or shouting, is strictly prohibited. Violations can lead to complaints, police involvement, or even eviction from the apartment.

The apartment is located about 2.5 km from the city center. Volunteers will be provided with bicycles and public transport cards for getting around. Especially to reach the more distant youth houses and in winter, when weather conditions can be quite difficult.

Volunteers will also receive a Finnish mobile phone number with an internet plan paid for by the hosting organization. A Wi-Fi connection is available in the apartment. Phones aren’t provided, so volunteers should have their own devices. Daily communication with colleagues takes place mainly via WhatsApp and Signal. Laptops aren’t provided or required, however bringing your own laptop is recommended.

Insurance

The EU commission is providing all the volunteers with health insurance from the Henner insurance company. The insurance is automatically provided for all the volunteers confirmed to a project and email will be sent with log-in details and instructions to Henner platforms. If you have a medical condition that needs regular attention or if you need extra support for any health reasons, please consult the supporting and hosting organizations before applying to get more information on what kind of support the program can offer or what the Henner insurance covers.

Support and Training

Volunteers attend On-Arrival Training at Youth Centre Villa Elba (Kokkola) a few months into the project and Mid-Term training during mid project. The host organization’s contact person acts as the project coordinator and one of the volunteer’s mentors—helping set learning goals, monitor progress, and provide support with any issues.

In the first months, mentoring meetings are weekly. Later, they take place every 2–3 weeks or as needed. We also aim to provide a mentor outside of organization for extra support.

Host organizations, previous volunteers are available to support and answer any project or country-related questions new volunteers might have.

Contact

You can learn more about the city, youth services and project activities from our Instagram accounts:
City of Pori @porikaupunki
Youth Services @nuortenpori
ESC volunteers @esc_pori

If you have questions or would like more information, feel free to contact us:
 📧 esc.pori@gmail.com