MIDTERM TRAINING in SOPUKKA

Hello dear bloggers and blogreaders. 

It's winter and it's really cold outside, but I hope that you're all doing well and if not, read my heartwarming post and I am sure that you will feel better.

Today I will tell you about midterm training which was in Training Centre Sopukka.

This was only 3 day training, but that was enough to recharge our energy batteries and to increase positive emotions.

Training was very interesting. We talked about our projects and we shared our experiences. This time we had more things to discuss, because we have all  been in Finland for quite long time.

We had little group presentations about our projects and some other group works.

I really liked all the group activities, because we were working in small groups which was making easier to know each other better.

 For me the best part was meeting my friends from previous trainig, because we really missed each other, even though we sometimes organise meetings. This was a great chance to spend more time together again.
As this group was bigger, and there were more people from different countries I had great time while talking to them about their country culture and of course it was pleasure to tell them about Armenia.
I really enjoyed this midterm training, even if this was by the end of my project, so this was my term-end training.
Thanks for reading!!!

''LAPLAND''

TRIP TO YOUTH HOLIDAY CENTRE VASATOKKA 

AND A PERFECT DAY IN NORWAY

HELLO, HELLO, HELLO!!!

Today I want to share with you my memories of an incredible trip to Northern Finland. 

I spent a week in Vasatokka, and that was one of the best travel experiences that I had in my life.

Vasatokka was a beautiful place, and it was perfect for observing Lapland's nature. This is a place where nature has been kept unspoiled.

I had a week full of interesting activities organized by Youth centre Vasatokka.

We had a tour to Inari Reindeer Farm. It was an incredible experience meeting Inari Sami people and their reindeers. Of course this was the first time in my life to see reindeers, before this reindeers were only Christmas magic for me(Santa, reindeers and elves😂😂😂).They have a big farm where reindeers are kept, and there was a little but interesting handicraft shop and reindeers safari. We had a little presentation about Sami culture and history.

 As Sami culture is must know if you are in Lapland, we had the next trip  to Sami museum in Inari. Sami people are native to Lapland, they have different tribes, and all they wear different native clothing. There are only 9000 Sami people around Finland, but still they have their own language and flags.

 The next place where I have been was very special.

It was Husky Sledding park in Inari. This was a big Husky camp, where different types of that nice creatures were living. You cannot believe, but in this camp there were more than 70 huskies living in a peace and love.

And we had a special day. It was day when we traveled to Norway. The place where we have been, was not too far from Lapland, but when we crossed the border everything changed, it was another world, everything there was differet. It was very nice place by the Arctic ocean. Photos and words can't show the indescribable beauty of Norwegian nature. 

 Later we had ''Survival skills'' activities in a forest near Vasatokka, that was interesting, helpful and very cold, but it was survival skill lesson, so we survived.😅
And later we had hendicraft workshop, where we made some keychains and jewelery, but not usual ones. Everything was made of reindeer bones and leather.
This was another special week of my life in Finland. And my special thanks to Lahti City Youth Services for organizing this tour, and  for making me a part of it !!! 😊😊😊

6 UNFORGETTABLE DAYS IN 

''VILLA ELBA''

The last week was a week full of memories, emotions and good vibes. 

From 28.10-02.11.2019 we had an on-arrival training in Kokkola in a very warm and hospitable Youth Centre Villa Elba.

Evrything was highly organized for us to feel comfort.

I met all the volunteers at a train station, and when we talked a little bit all together, I said to myself   

''-This  gonna be a cool week.'' and I was right, and it was far more cool than I could imagine. 17 volunteers from different countries of Europe and not only, took part in this training. And all the people who were in Kokkola were super friendly and sociable, so we could easily communicate and have fun together.

One thing that made me really happy was that we created a real team from the firt day. There were no misunderstandings or some conflicts between us, and I liked it.From the very beginning of training I felt a good and strong SPIRIT that all volunteers had. Training program was also very interesting, we had many attractive group activities about volunteering in Europe, volunteering principles, about the solidarity in our projects and ect., we got some practical information about ESC  programmes and Erasmus+, we had 2 days of finnish language lessons and they were really hepful.

We visited the first Arctic museum which is in Pietarsaari.

      

And we have been in Laivurintalo, where we had coffee and pulla and a presentation about Kokkola, and after we had a walking city tour.

And I am really happy that I was a part of  this training, now I know more good people around the world, and yes, now I can say that I have good friends around the Europe. 

I will always keep this good memories from Kokkola.

HALLOWEEN!!

 31.9. thursday we had a halloween party. 

 We carved pumpkins with kids and made waffels and played different kinds of board- and card games.

Tree planting day!

Today we planted trees on the school's yard.

 We planted trees as a message of climate change.

The International tree planting event was 25. till 27. of October.

Finnish day!

Finnish day

On Finnish day we made some finnish traditional dishes and sweets. We made karelian ricepies with eggbutter, blueberry pie and apple pie with ice cream.

The day before today we teached finnish at Suncokret. Just the basics: alphabet and greetings!

Hello from Croatia!

We've been in Vrginmost almost four weeks. This is a little town, about 80 km south from Zagreb.

Our temporary  home here in Croatia is a big green house. We also have another smaller house in our yard where the turkish volunteers are staying at the moment.

When in work we play with children different kinds

of games and make art such as paint, knit, sew and draw.

“Armenian Special Edition”

Last Thursday, 03.10.2019  was really important and memorable day for me. That was sprecial day  not only for me but for all the armenians who came to participate. And the Event was called

 ''Armenian Speial Edition''. 

This Armenin event was organised in Multi-Culti and it was sponsored by them. 

This was not an ordinary event. I've tried to organize it in a different way, without any formalities. 

We had a special guest, DJ Moris. Armenian DJ living and working in Fnland, and he made the event even more attractive, playing armenian music during that few hours. And all our guests were dancing and having fun with us.

The aim of this event was to represent Armenian art, culture and of course Armenian hospitaliy,  and I think it succeed. During the event I had a little presentation about Armenia, its histoy, cuisine, art and the culture. 

Some Armenian national dishes were served, like dolma, baklava and other sweets, 
made with love (by me😚).

 So that finnish people could feel the taste of Armenia. 
And for me it was pride and success to have so many guests. We had more than 30 guests during that evening and not only armenians or finnish people, but from Romania, Honduras, Iran, Afganstan and ect. 

This was perfect and unforgettable day for me, and I'll remember this day forever, and I hope that those who were participating will also remember this event and some things about Armenia.

#YOUTHere  ESC  EUsolidaritycorps  ESCvolunteer Dusya Armenia Finland volunteer

Oona, Finland

Hi there!! I'm Oona, 19, from Finland and I'll take part in #YOUTHere! project and travel to Croatia for voluntary work. I will be working mostly with kids and youth. I'm really very extra excited about this and hope I'll face new and interesting situations there!

I graduated from high school in spring 2019 and
I'm now spending a gap year so this is a great time
to leave Finland, FINALLY! Haha

I would say I'm spontaneous and a colorful person who likes to laugh! I like theater, acting and photographing. I always try to be open for new opportunities and let life show me what comes next!

I heard about voluntary work from my friend and got instantly interested. I applied and luckily I was chosen! I haven't even been there yet but I would recommend that every one should leave for voluntary work in some point in their life.

Krista, Finland

Hi, everybody! I am Krista, a 23 year old girl from Finland. I am going to spend the next two months in Croatia doing volunteer work mainly with kids and youth. People have described me kind, calm and positive. I like crafting and DIY projects. I got a degree in childcare in 2015 and last year I got a degree in carpentry.

I excited to get to know a new culture and meet new people. I also want to improve my language skills and I think this is a very good opportunity to do that. Since I am unemployed at the moment, I feel this is the perfect time to go.

I don’t know much about Croatia so I don’t know what to expect, but I am excited for this adventure.

“Remember, you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.” - Snow White

Hi everybody !!!

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to introduce myself. I’m Dusya and I am 21 years old. I came here from sunny Armenia and I am going to live here for 8 months, sooo, this means that this is not our first and last meeting))).

I have recently graduated from Yerevan State Linguistic University of Languages and Social Sciences with a bachelor degree and I was looking for an opportunity to live, travel and get practice abroad, so ESC was really good chance for me.

So now it will interest you how I knew about this project and that’s what I am going to tell you...

I was on an internship at Brusov YSULS Career Center and Graduates Association, and they offered me to participate in this project (p.s. Brusov YSULS Career Center and Graduates Association is ESC coordinator in Armenia). I thought about it for few days and decided to send my CV for participation, and as you see I am one of the lucky volunteers who was choosen to participate in this project.

And now I’ll try to do my best to be useful for this project and of course I will enjoy my time here, in hospitable LAHTI!!!

Nice to meet you all. 

Levon, Armenia, 23 years old

Hi everyone. I am Levon from Armenia. I am a friendly, polite and honest person and i am looking for new friends and adventures. I’ve graduated from my university this year and wanted to get a good package of experience before proffesional work and also travel to Europe, see wonderful places, broaden my world-outlook. I’ve been doing volunteering in my country since 2016 and participated different kinds of projects. I have learned about this ESC project from my friend who also participated in it.

Before coming Finland i knew about it only some things, that it is very cold here)))) about Laplandia, and also about heroic Finns who fought against Russian conquerors and saved their homeland. 

Ewan Reid

Name:  Ewan Reid

Age: 20

Why I'm went to Finland? I’m going to Finland because I want too have new experiences.
I haven’t been in Finland or worked in another country. I want to see the world, so Finland is a good start!!

What are you expecting for your time in a foreign country? I was expecting people to be afraid to talk to me because I am a foreigner... But it was'nt so bad i met some really good people and got to see most of Lahti, but i would like to see more of Finland, like the nature and the countryside.

Is there something you find exciting? I found the idea of being in a different country exciting and this meant everyday would be different and not the same, this made everything interesting.

What are your hobbies? What kind of stuff are you interested in?
I like to go out in the evenings and see the nightlife, I also love to cycle as I do it everyday at home, in my spare time I like to hike, which i have'nt done in Finland as there is only little hills!

What is the most important thing you're going to stow with you? 
My phone.

What would you like to tell about your homeland to people you'll meet in your destination?
I want to learn about the finnish people's ways and how they are different from irish people, I told them about Irish culture and how different it is from finnish culture, and it what ways it is the same.

What do you wish for your future? What is your dream? I really want to travel the world and see the most interesting places in it and now Finland is off my list!!

Presenting the mentors for the volunteers from Ireland

Hello and welcome to Finland! We are Riina, Susanna and Larissa, the mentors for the volunteers from Ireland. It is finally starting to feel like summer so it looks like the perfect time for a volunteering period.

Riina is working at Ohjaamo Lahti, which is a one-stop guidance center for young people. She is helping young people to get a job or getting into studies. The aim is to create functional networks and decrease bureaucracy.

Susanna is working at Ohjaamo Lahti too. She is a work/career coach and helps her clients to plan their future which can mean e.g. to find a jog, a work placement or a place to study.

Larissa works as an outreach-worker. She helps young people to find solutions to their problems, small or big.

We mentors will be welcoming the volunteers to Lahti and take care of the on-arrival training. We will have regular meetings with our volunteers and help them with the Youthpass as well as other issues concerning the stay.

We hope we can make you feel at home in Lahti and make the most of your EVS-experience in Lahti. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have a questions. Welcome!

Hey! I'm Pauliina.

Name: Pauliina Suonio

Age: 23

Why I'm going to Slovenia? I’m going to Slovenia because I want to have new experiences.
I haven’t been in Slovenia or worked in another country. I also want to meet new people and see what’s every day life in Slovenia like.

What are you expecting for your time in a foreign country? I’m expecting to see beautiful Slovenian nature. I have heard that it is stunning. I also expect to become better English speaker in foreign country.

Is there something you find exciting? I find working another country exiting. And also I’m exited to use English more.

What are your hobbies? What kind of stuff are you interested in? I’m interested in many things. I do yoga, run and meditate. I’m very creative person so I most of the time paint, draw or shoot pictures with my camera and edit pictures. Most of my paintings and photos are gothic because I’m very in to goth subculture and goth is what I am. I’m also interested of metal music and goth music, science, pagan religions, conspiracy theories and psychic powers.

What is the most important thing you're going to stow with you? My camera.

What would you like to tell about your homeland to people you'll meet in your destination?
About finnish language and old pagan culture of Finland.

What do you wish for your future? What is your dream? I wish to become my greatest version. I also dream to publish my action comics, make epic animation movies of them in future and have great time and future with my boyfriend.

Hello

Sanna

Age: 22

Why I'm going to Slovenia?
I want to get new experiences and new friends.
What are you expecting for your time in foreign country?
I want to practise my english and to learn something about a new culture.
Is there something that you find exciting?
New culture and new people.
What are your hobbies? What kind of stuff are you interested in?
My hobbies are cycling and walking and I'm interested in to listen to music and to make handicrafts.
What is the most important thing you're going to stow with you?
Happy mindset and my phone.
What would you like to tell about your homeland to people you'll meet in your destination?
We have a beautiful nature here.
What you wish for your future? What is your dream?
I wish that I would get to some school.

Teja, Denis and the gang!

On Wednesday we had Teja's and Denis's farewell and good bye-party! They got their Youthpasses, we all got to enjoy some coffee and carrot cake in the luchcafeteria workshop. Emotional speeches were given and just hanging together for the last time, at least for now :)

Thank you some much for everyone involved in :) Teja and Denis we hope for you a nice and safe journey home and of course everything good for your future! Hopefully we will hear from you guys soon <3

Terhi, coordinator

What's happening? Regards from the coordinator!

Hi everyone! I thought that I could let you in to see whats happening in the "scenes" :)

As you know, we have had our first volunteers here in Lahti, Teja and Denis from Slovenia. Working with them has been awesome! Tomorrow we are doing things concerning coordinator role; checking receips from the traveling here, getting signatures to the participant list, they will give us feedback about the period and some other things as well.

In the same time Mikko is in Slovenia. We have been in touch with him by messages, checking up how is he doing there, what's the work been there like etc.

Also we have keeping contact with Slovenian workers Barbara and David by email. Just to let everybody in the same page and checking that everything is going as it's planned :)

AND! November is coming fast! So this means that the volunteers from Sweden are coming to Lahti at Ohjaamo :) We have been in contact with Anna in Sweden, sending different documents and agreements to her and of course planning together the period with our EVS-team! We are hoping to have a skype meeting with Anna and the volunteers before they arrive here.

So lots and lots of emails, WhatsApp messages, writing documents, doing things together and enjoying our work! I think it's refeshing to do work with international level. It might take a little bit of more time to write the emails and documents in english, but if the volunteers and youngsters have learning experiances, so do us workers! And it's been nice to notice how youngsters in the workshops speak english, take part in the conversations and help our volunteers to adjust living here in Lahti.

We had a attitude indicator with our younsters in Drama, Media and Interior desing workshops before Denis and Teja arrived. The goal of this indicator was to discuss about attitudes, prejudices and how do the volunteers see Finland and Lahti when they come here for the firts time.  We are having the second meeting with the younsters next week. It's also about giving an opportunity to the younsters tell and talk about what they have learned from internationalism and possible tell if have they learned something about themselves! We are doing these indicators in every period that happens in Lahti. So stay tuned, we will make a summary of it.

Can't wait the to see the next volunteers!

Terhi, coordinator 

Final post about my trip to Ireland

Hello guys!

It has been over a month since we came back to Finland from Ireland, and a lot have happened! I started in a new workshop and I try to make plans for future etc.

I really want to say thanks to all who've been included in this whole EVS project, especially Juuso, who've been with me all that time in Ireland. It was really nice to get to know you!

I was surprised how pretty easy it was to live an abroad. Well, yeah, there was a lots of people helping but I still survived on my own. And now my dream to live in Canada grew even bigger, because I know that I can survive an abroad alone. It was nice to notice that I understood English and even nicer that people understood me and said that I speak really good English. I thought that I suck at English because I don't use it in Finland that often, so it was like a really big surprise to me.

Overall my time in Ireland was awesome, even tough I cried some nights because wanted to be in Finland with people dear to me. But still, I didn't forget to enjoy my time in Ireland and get to know to local people. Irish people were so nice and I wanted to know them better, but one month was kinda short time there.

After we arrived back to Finland we had some meetups where we talked about how our time in Ireland went etc. It was really refreshing to let it all out, what bothered me and what I liked in Ireland. I hope next volunteers who go to Ireland have even better experience!

Okay I'm pretty clumsy to write blogs, because it's not really my thing (I love to write and have few novels of my own, but writing a blog text is really different thing), but I hope that you enjoyed reading my blog!

See you again! :)

Dublin was really beautiful city!

Bon voyage, Teja & Denis!

Have a great journey and awesome learning experience in Lahti Youth Services and around the "perimeter"! 

Warm regards from me and my friend(s)!! :)