Profile information
Host rating
Not yet rated
Feedback
-
Email verified
Country info
Badges (1)
Details
Description
We are restoring an old village school on the quiet island of Hiiumaa into a village, a place to explore presence, freedom, and love. Yes, those big words. No, we don’t fully agree on what they mean either. That's that point.
We are Dmitri and Valerie, living here with our five-year-old son Sky. Life is slow, alcohol-free, close to nature, and occasionally involves sitting in silence, wondering why we decided to restore an old building instead of buying a nice piece of land somewhere sensible.
Volunteering here is part hands-on help (land care, creating spaces) and part reflective experiment. There is mindfulness, meditation, solo-retreat energy, creative time (writing, painting, thinking), tea ceremonies, long walks, and the radical practice of doing one thing at a time. We are also interested in helping people who are burnt out, stuck, or quietly questioning their lives (no fixing, no gurus, no five-step systems). We use tools such as direct pointing at trees, drinking tea together, deep dialogue and of course - sauna rituals.
This tends to suit creators, artists, entrepreneurs, and people who enjoy forests, tools, and asking unnecessary questions.
Not a good fit if you’re into partying, alcohol, dislike tea, are afraid of hammers, or think silence is suspicious.
If you’re curious about yourself, nature, and what a meaningful life might look like when nobody is watching, you might feel oddly at home here.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Interests
Movies & TV
Charity work
Sustainability
Culture
Van life
Videography
Technology
Events & social
Writing
Performing arts
Photography
Languages
Drawing & painting
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Blogging
Books
Art & design
Hiking
Yoga / Wellness
Sailing / Boating
Dancing
Camping
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Cultural exchange is an experience that is all about a sense of community, and a feeling of participating in a true village life.
However, we are not really simulating a 'historical village'. Instead, we are bringing a mix of new and the old, east and west, a modern approach to an ancient society. Our goal is to explore how we connect with each other and with nature.
We are fans of Gong Fu Tea ceremonies, Bohmism Dialogues, Estonian Sauna culture, herbalism and much more. So if you come stay with us, you can expect to jump into these worlds and many others.
Hiiumaa is also well known for its hiking trails (we will probably do a few tours around the whole island).
Life on the island is all about silence, minimal noise, and connection to nature. The locals say that Hiiumaa is the place that "time" come to for a holiday.
If you come join us, we will treat you as family, and share meals together, talk about life, creaticity, freedom.
While you are here, there might be other possibilities: festivals, retreats, events, and more.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We respect that this a volunatary position, so we will never ask you to do something you don't want to do, or are uncomfortable doing. At the same time we are looking for your help and contribution to help us with our project.
We have both physical help and non-physical help options, all are fairly simple and non-professional.
The biggest tasks right now are:
- cleaning and organising two older buildings,
- creating and maintaining paths in the forest,
- helping out in the garden
We are flexible, and you don't need to be a professional in any field. You do need to be okay with getting your hands dirty, using simple tools, and doing things properly rather than quickly.
At the same time, this is not a place where we hand out strict task lists. We work in a self-directed, trust-based way. We will show you the context, the needs, and the direction, and then we’ll ask a slightly unusual question:d
“What do you feel called to contribute?”
Some people help by taking care of the land, others by holding space, or simply being present.
Some bring creative skills: writing, photography, art, and design.
Some help with outreach, storytelling, or attracting the right people.
Some feel inspired to try a workshop, a walk, a dialogue circle, or an idea they’ve been carrying for a long time but never dared to test.
We’re open to that. This is co-creation, not task execution.
You can expect to do tasks together with us, share skills both ways, and occasionally realise that what you thought you came here to “do” is not what you actually end up doing. That seems to happen a lot.
If you need constant instructions, rigid schedules, or someone to tell you what your role is, this will likely feel uncomfortable.
We also want to help you, so if you always wanted to join a workshop or an event, or wanted to try a new skill, we will do everything we can to enable that. This is what we do at the village.
We will not be asking the helpers to help with paying guests.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Estonian: Fluent
Russian: Fluent
Ukrainian: Fluent
Finnish: Intermediate
Japanese: Beginner
Swedish: Beginner
Accommodation
We offer simple, clean, and secure accommodation, with a few options depending on the season and what’s happening on-site.
Most likely, you’ll stay in a small apartment with a proper bed, shower, and toilet. This is the most comfortable option and our default. (At the moment the water is slightly rusty. Welcome to old buildings, but fixing this is our first task as the season opens.)
We also have recently renovated camping houses with beds, new windows, electricity, and everything needed for a good night’s sleep. If these are not occupied by guests, they’re a great second option. There are also a few similar houses in a more “work-in-progress” state, still very much livable and already tested by friends and guests last year. This option is unlikely and usually only happens during events.
For those who enjoy being closer to nature, tents are available as well.
Showers and toilets are currently usable, including access via the sauna facilities, and we’re upgrading them to a high standard before the season fully begins. Daily sauna is possible, which tends to improve most situations in life.
Food:
Meals are shared and simple, often cooked together. Expect a mix of Estonian local food and Ukrainian cuisine. Valerie is Ukrainian, and her mother owns a Ukrainian food franchise, so this is taken seriously (in the best way). Fresh, warm, nourishing food is part of the culture here.
In short: nothing fancy, everything cared for, and always improving, just like the project itself.
What else ...
Time off & getting around
Hiiumaa is small, quiet, and best explored slowly. Bikes, walking, and the occasional car ride usually cover most needs. We’re flexible with time off and understand that people may want to explore, disappear into nature, or take a weekend away.
It’s easy to:
- visit other parts of Hiiumaa (forests, empty beaches, old lighthouses, small villages),
- hop over to Saaremaa (Hiiumaa’s slightly louder sibling island),
- or go to Tallinn for a weekend when city life calls again.
- We can also help with accommodation in Tallinn or Haapsalu if you want to explore mainland Estonia without rushing back.
Non-touristy things people tend to love:
- walking forest paths where nothing happens (a local favourite),
- swimming in the sea when it’s probably warm enough,
- Sunsets that feel suspiciously personal,
- abandoned military structures quietly being reclaimed by nature,
- village saunas and conversations that involve long pauses.
Life here:
We live simply, respectfully, and without alcohol or partying. Silence is welcome. Curiosity is encouraged. We tend to do things together: work, meals, sauna, walks, and occasional events. You’re welcome to join what’s happening , ceremonies, retreats, art experiments, dialogues, or take space when needed.
There is no pressure to constantly “participate”. Presence counts.
In short: you’ll have freedom, support, and enough space to figure out how you want to use both.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
As a former startup entrepreneur, I can definitely help you out with your startup and digital nomad needs.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a caravan ourselves too, so we know what you need. Happy to provide electricity, and there is plenty of space to park.
Can possibly accept pets
We love pets, especially dogs or cats that are happy to live outside (Dmitri does have a bit of a cat allergy).
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Photos
