OLJENKORSI FOSTER HOME COMMUNITY (FIN-37)

Type: Human Rights: Children Rights - Country: Finland

Brief description and main aims

Oljenkorsi is a family run foster home for children on an organic farm. The aim of Oljenkorsi is to provide the children a safe place to grow, so that they could live their lives happily. The values of the community are respect for others and sense of community.

https://www.oljenkorsi.com

Cultural Exposure

Oljenkorsi is situated in a peaceful countryside location in Orimattila, in Southern Finland. Orimattila is a town with about 16 000 inhabitants. The public transportation is not so good in the area, but the community staff will support volunteer getting around and there is also a possibility to borrow a car if volunteer has a driving license.

Main Activities

Oljenkorsi is a foster home for children aged 0–18 years. At the moment there are seven children living in the community, placed to Oljenkorsi by the social services. The children have different types of backgrounds and some also have special needs, like learning challenges. The work of Oljenkorsi includes also activities on the farm, for example taking care of the domestic animals. In Oljenkorsi, there are horses, sheep, cattle, and chicken.

Volunteer tasks

The volunteer will participate in the different activities of the community, such as supporting the children living in the community. This includes taking part in organising activities such as games for the children and helping them with their homework and during the meal times. The volunteer will be assisting staff members and will never be alone responsible for the children. The volunteer will also help with taking care of the domestic animals on the farm, by feeding and brushing the horses, for example. There are also some tasks in the garden and fields. The volunteer enriches the community by bringing in an intercultural learning element to the everyday life of the countryside community.

Volunteer requirements / Skills

We are looking for a volunteer with an open mind, good social skills, and motivation to work with children (some with special needs and challenges). It is also important to be motivated to participate in the farm work and take care of domestic animals, as well as living in the countryside close to nature and away from the city.

Hosting Situation (Board and Lodging)

The accommodation is provided in Oljenkorsi, so the volunteer both lives and works in the community. The volunteer will share the bathroom facilities with the Oljenkorsi community. The meals will be provided by Oljenkorsi community.

More Information

1, ICYE and IJFD long term. The house Oljenkorsi has two floors with stairs outside and inside the building. Due to the challenging situations of the children placed at Oljenkorsi, co-operation with volunteers with disabilities could be challenging for the community to organise.