Profile information
Host rating
90 %
Last replied
6 Oct 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
45
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Description
This is a recently started not for profit cooperative promoting creativity and well-being. Our space is a big old sanatorium, located in south-eastern Finland, one hour away from the capital Helsinki and surrounded by beautiful forests. The space is used to create a community for art, handicraft and wellness. It is important to us to create an atmosphere of open-mindedness and continuous learning.
We are creative and lively couple, and ten of our friends, who have recently started this big project creating something big and meaningful with the community around us! We are happy to welcome people to join and be part of creating it. Since it is a big space we have quite a large dedicated area for Workaway, and in the winter 3-6, in the summer 8-12 volunteers.
We are looking for help in many different tasks like building and maintenance, decoration, gardening, cooking, marketing, and much more! Since 2023 we are putting special focus on building up one of Europe's largest maker-spaces.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You can participate in the birth of a large, not for profit community centre. You can learn all kinds of skills, eg renovation, carpentry and eco-wood building, as well as artistic skills, learning about community projects and much more! We are happy to share our knowledge and you are welcome to join in yoga classes and other events organized at the location.
We have already working woodworking, metalworking and 3d shops. The longer you stay the more you can learn. And we are expanding.
Help
This is a really big and old sanatorium that we are well on the way to transforming into a beautiful community art & well-being space. There is help needed in
- building/renovating the spaces, like painting, carpentry, fixing, decoration and maintenance.
- gardening (and landscaping, we do have a digger), in the summer-ish
- home automation to improve our current systems
- workshop maintenance/organisation of metal or woodworking workshops
If you have any special skills or interests, please let us know. We are especially looking for makers at this point.
We like to find tasks people enjoy and have lots to choose from (in our weekly meetings) We also appreciate self-motivated people and in general expect everyone to do their work when they want. As long as the hours and the work gets done we are fine.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Finnish: Fluent
Italian: Intermediate
Accommodation
We have about 10 rooms for staying (see pictures), with shared bathroom and kitchen and common area. Shared rooms with 2 per room. Linen will be provided, washing machine available.
We provide basic food ingredients and volunteers often cook together. Also food from events/course is shared.
All food we buy/provide is vegetarian and we have a policy of no meat/fish in the house. Obviously we are health concious people, so no drugs and alcohol in moderation.
The closest supermarket is 6km away and there is a car available only for workaway use.
Also bikes are available and often people go together on day trips.
Also we have common sauna once a week, and there is a small gym and music room in the house.
A word about the colder season. It can start getting below 10 in October with frost (and snow) being quite a certainty from December to beginning of April. this means during that time you will have to deal with cold, and we will help you do so.
In the north we say there is no bad weather only bad clothing, and we have whole wardrobes from where you can borrow suitable clothes. Since we renovate unused spaces in the house, the working area can be not heated too, ie 10 degrees.
The most important thing is to dress well and stay moving.
Off course living quarters are heated and each room has an extra heater, but if you ever get cold, this may not be enough, then a warm shower may be needed :-)
Still, the winter is very very beautiful, winter-wonderland, and with above advice it can be a most exceptional experience.
What else ...
The place is surrounded by a beautiful forest for walks in nature. Also a lake nearby for swimming during the summer. There is a sauna , a movie room, a small gym, and the possibility to join other activities like yoga classes, our makers space with tools for woodwork, metalwork and sowing. There is public transportation available from close by to get to know the surrounding towns and cities. Close by is a lively artisan village called Fiskars, and a bit bigger city called Lohja with all different services.
If you made it this far and you want to apply, here are a few things common to successful applications:
- Let us know why you want to join us.
- Tell us what you are good at and how you can help here (referring to our tasks)
- Additionally to your ideal time, also mention any flexibility and general travel plans,
Please mention the word Dumbledore so we know you have read the whole profile.
We have a video call ( we use Signal app ) with anyone applying to clarify everything beforehand.
Hope to see you soon!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have a co-working space and are working on different It-projects ourselves also. We are happy to host digital nomads who are interested in community projects, art and wellbeing!
Space for parking camper vans
We have a big parking area suitable for all kinds of campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours a day, 5 days a week, flexible times
Feedback (35)
They respected the working hours and made sure not to exceed them. I felt that they cared about this.
I did cooking and cleaning tasks, and none of them were difficult. She taught me about the history of the facility, which was very… read more
Xenia is a live one, a real energy bundle. Joyful, intelligent, energetic and a good communicator. Really, what more can any host ask for.
She did her work well with that german/swiss precision and attention to detail. She asks when in doubt, makes sensible good… read more
Words can not describe what I have experienced in the 3 weeks that I could spend with you. Time went so fast but I also made soo many wonderful memories that it felt way longer.
The place and the project are amazing, but what made this experience truly special for me are all the people - the volunteers, the artist and the… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.7)
They respected the working hours and made sure not to exceed them. I felt that they cared about this.
I did cooking and cleaning tasks, and none of them were difficult. She taught me about the history of the facility, which was very… read more
Xenia is a live one, a real energy bundle. Joyful, intelligent, energetic and a good communicator. Really, what more can any host ask for.
She did her work well with that german/swiss precision and attention to detail. She asks when in doubt, makes sensible good… read more
Words can not describe what I have experienced in the 3 weeks that I could spend with you. Time went so fast but I also made soo many wonderful memories that it felt way longer.
The place and the project are amazing, but what made this experience truly special for me are all the people - the volunteers, the artist and the… read more
Thank you so much ☺️
As a professional in the field she works diligently and independently (how great is that). She had many good ideas that she implemented, she communicates well… read more
I general and first contact Phil and Martin are a nice couple. Modern travellers/nomads out to experience the… read more
Loys has practical skills and works well with others. She is eager to learn and communicates well, both at work and after.
Socially she is sensitive and well spoken, get's along with people,… read more
I really enjoyed my… read more
Thanks to all of you!
Because I could stay a long time I experienced various activities and work, I learned so much in many topics. All the people living here are wonderful and nice, I'm so grateful for the time I spent with them.
The project is BIG and so interesting, I'm just sad because I wish I could help more and… read more
Even his name is very finnish, he always claimed to be German, and in many ways was too: very reliable precise in work.
Maybe a little shy in the beginning but genuine and warm in character he gets along well with everyone.
We had some IT… read more
The place is located in a… read more
I was taking care of plants, cleaning, painting the walls, futnitures, writing the article on website and many… read more
A group of us guys started with outdoor work when the weather was still nice. We were jackhammering, sledgehammering,… read more
Raisa and Torsten are both amazing, such an open mind and forever young people with a great sense of humor
everything is very well organized and you have the possibility to learn a lot and at the same time enjoy your stay
we are both very gratefull for the experience we had and the amazing people we… read more
She help us efficiently and enthusiastically in many task, mainly around kitchen.
While she was only passing through and did not stay long, we can heartily recommend her.
Shraga did not stay long with us but really helped us with his metal skills, which are off course outstanding since he is a teacher.
I am sure he excels at many other tasks too… read more
Don't hesitate if you want to join this special place, you won't regret your decision.
A great… read more
The place is wonderful, with a forest and a lake nearby, the people (hosts and workawayers) are so nice and welcoming, that you… read more
The place is situated in a very quiet environment and surrounded by nature, it was pretty amazing just to walk out of the door or look at the sky at night. What's been done with the building itself so far it's incredible: the place, an ex sanatorium, has been completely restored to… read more
torsten and raisa were amazing and helped with everything I needed.
She was great with the others, always positive and social.
As a young professional she was able to help us with out web site, using a cms (wix).
She had many ideas and was enthusiastic to implement them.
All the best for her extended travels.
This place is perfect to go if you want to be somewhere far from the big city, a quite place, surrounded by trees and nature. Event if its just 1 hour away from Helsinki and 15… read more
They communicated well, and did their tasks without flaw.
We have a great many tasks here and since they are skilful in many areas, were able to help a lot.
Travelling as a couple they are keep a lot to themselves and do not disturb others.
We wish them well on their… read more
We spent just 2 weeks because our time in the schengen area was ending, but we really enjoyed it. Torsten and the crew recieved us as family member, they are relly nice and they can teach you how to do the job. if its sauna day please don't miss it! There are a couple of… read more
The work we had to do varied from unloading vans, moving heavy things around, painting walls, oling furniture, cleaning,… read more
The House is super big and invites to be explored. From the little more creepy basement to the amazing view from the roof, there is something for everyone.
The Work is very diverse. I did some carpenter work, electrical… read more
i spent 2 months in that place, i left my home for the first time and i went to another big cozy white home where u can take any random pictures from ur window and congratulations u got a piece of art.
the girls in the comments described the… read more
If you happen to meet them one day, they'll be happy to tell… read more
He worked well and precise on the tasks given and actively looked to help out.
We possibly did not have the amount of social activities he was looking for, but he made the best of his time.
His communication with us and others was usually to the point, which could possibly be… read more
for volunteers: before applying for a volunteering position there, be sure of the following:
> You have basics of manual work ( many tasks require that you use your hands )
> The place is… read more
