Volunteering

”Thank you so much for letting me have my own group in Familia. This makes me so happy!”

FAMILIA PROVIDES VOLUNTEERS WITH FUN ACTIVITIES AND A DIVERSE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT

A significant portion of Familia’s activities rely on volunteer involvement. The Finnish language discussion groups, for example, as well as other language groups for adults, language clubs for children and families, and Duo activities for intercultural families are all primarily led by volunteers.

You are welcome to join as a volunteer by filling out this form.

At the moment we are looking for volunteers to:​

• facilitate Duo Living Room group
• facilitate Duo Mother & Baby group
• help with our Summer Activities, eg., facilitate the Summer Trips

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Who can participate as a volunteer for Familia? 

If you sympathise with the principles and aims of the association, you can support our activities by sharing your time and expertise with Familia and its members.

You can volunteer regardless of your age and whether you were born in Finland or elsewhere. We value the knowledge and skills of ordinary people, so you need not be an expert.

You can also be a volunteer at Familia in your own native language. You can, for example, lead a group in your native language for others who speak the same language or those wishing to learn your language.

​We ensure that our volunteer activities are flexible and respectful to your life situation by offering opportunities in very different tasks of varying duration that do not necessarily require any lengthy commitments. There are also volunteer opportunities online, so you can participate in the volunteer activities no matter where you are in Finland or abroad.

You can even be a volunteer without being a member of the Familia association. We do, however, warmly welcome all volunteers to become members as well!

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What can I do as a volunteer?

As a Familia volunteer, you can:

• lead language and discussion groups for adults or children in Finnish or in your own native language
• lead a Duo discussion group for intercultural families (e.g., Duo Mother & Baby group or Duo Living Room) in your own town
• lead Duo discussion or thematic groups online
• lead different types of recreational groups (e.g., music, handicrafts, cooking and children’s clubs)
• act as an experiential expert in groups, lectures and events
• participate in the brainstorming and arrangement of Familia activities and events

• lead ‘Duo Living Room’ online chats intended for intercultural families
• write about the daily life of an intercultural family in the Duo Blog
• present Familia’s activities at different events, such as the World Village Festival
• perform at Familia celebrations
• assist in a Finnish language course or discussion group
• care for children in our nursery while their parents are participating in a Finnish language course

We develop our activities together with our volunteers, so we welcome your ideas on how you might contribute to Familia's volunteer work.

 

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Are you interested in becoming a Familia volunteer?

Becoming a volunteer of Familia is easy! Fill out the Volunteer in Familia form and tell us which kind of volunteer tasks you are interested in. Give us your contact details and we will contact you as soon as possible! 

Why should I volunteer?

Volunteers represent a vital resource for our association. We offer volunteers a variety of possibilities for involvement from online group leadership to chat organiser and blog author. Regardless of your life situation, you can always find a suitable way to contribute to Familia’s activities.

As a Familia volunteer, you have the opportunity to make a difference and get involved while also utilising your own competencies and experiences for the benefit of others. Volunteering opens the door to meet people from all around the world. As a peer group leader, you will come into contact with others who are interested in the same things and living in similar life situations. It is a chance for everyone to learn from one another.

Volunteering provides opportunities for networking and collecting information and experiences that will be beneficial both in your work and personal life.