With the objective of promoting volunteer social work among girls from Finland and Spain, International Youth Cooperation managed the summer program “LIVING FOR OTHERS” in Helsinki.
The project was partnered by International Youth Cooperation Suomi and Cooperación Internacional.The Finnish group prepared for the visit during the spring months preceding the program by visiting the elderly and visiting a school with children who have cerebral palsy and are disabled.
The Spaniards arrived at the end of July. They spent a few days visiting Helsinki: downtown Helsinki, the zoo Korkeasaari, the fortress island Suomenlinna, Unesco Heritage site… Finnish girls were their guides throughout the city.Real exchange came when they brought them to a country house located one and a half hours outside of Helsinki called Malminharju for a big camp.
The exchange between the Finnish group and Spanish group was a success. They had the chance to interact, reflect and create new ideas on how to promote voluntary work in Finland and in Spain.They had panels, debates, and also enjoyed being together in the Finnish nature. They also had language classes.
There was time for sports, barbecues, to hear about each other’s voluntary work programs,and ideas of bringing new volunteers.The weather was so good and they spent time outside playing sports and games, swimming and boating, and even taking the sauna, which was a completely novel activity for the Spaniards. All in all, it was an excellent exchange program.
