Elina

Finland
Login to see last activity

Badges (3)

Photos

View all

Give the gift of Workaway

Watch my profile video

Please accept marketing-cookies to watch the video.

Profile information

Travel information

I am currently

Travelling

My next destination:
Italy - from Oct 2026 until Nov 2026
View all
Description

I enjoy outdoor life, both working outdoors (garden, agriculture, forest, maintenance of hiking trails etc) and hiking, bicycling & skiing. I enjoy working with others while I am independent with my tasks and happy to work on my own. I am also ready to work indoors as you can see from the list of my volunteering jobs below. Cooking - and eating - and learning about local cuisine and use of local ingredients is one of my interests. I read a lot, both fiction and non-fiction, in particular history and contemporary society, I like seeing theatre and films, and love discussion on a wide range of topics.

Over the last three years, since I retired, I have been doing diverse volunteering jobs. A list below, I am happy to provide more information
- Kitchen work in the hut of the Finnish outdoor association, Suomen Latu ry, in Kiilopää, Lapland, 2 weeks in March and 2 weeks in September 2025.
- Garden work and diverse tasks in Sardinia at two places, 2 and 3 weeks in April-May 2025 via Workaway, reviews avaiable
- Helping with renovation of a flat in Valle d'Aosta and removal (painting, cleaning, packing, preparing the garden etc), 2 weeks in September 2024, organised myself
- Maintenance of hiking trails in Thorsmörk, Iceland. 3 weeks in June 2024, organiser: Icelandic Forest Service
- Helping in an organic farm, Sicily. 3.5 weeks in April 2024 via Workaway, review available
- Olive harvest, garden work and helping in the kitchen of an agriturismo, Puglia. 4 weeks in October -November 2023 via WWOOF Italy
- helping in renovation and reopening of an old camping site in Bretagne as well as closing down after the first season, in total three times, each 4-5 weeks in 2022-2023. Gardening, renovation, cleaning, maintenance. Reference letter available

Volunteering has proven to be a good way to me to learn new skils and more about a country and its habits and culture.

The main reason for retiring early was to stay abroad for longer time periods, enjoy outdoor life and learn new things by volunteering while I am still in good physical condition. I loved my work for the European administration and the possibility to contribute to the protection of the environment and human health while working with great colleagues from all EU Countries.
Interests

Sailing / Boating

Writing

Sustainability

Politics / Social justice

Plant care

Performing arts

Outdoor activities

Nature

History

Hiking

Gardening

Farming

Cycling

Culture

Cooking & food

Charity work

Camping

Books

Art & design

Architecture
Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Finnish: Fluent
Swedish: Fluent
German: Intermediate
French: Beginner
Italian: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I would like to learn Italian by using my basic, beginner knoweldge. I am able to support others learning English (and Finnish and Swedish) e.g. via discussing, however, I have no formal teaching experience.

Find a language partner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:

Charity Work

Some knowledge of:

Light gardening

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

Creative DIY projects

Art Projects
More details about your skills

My working history of 40 years, and in particular the last 20 years in the international environment, has taught me a lot on how to ensure good common understanding on the goals of the work and on how to organise the work in practice. I am able to adapt to the different working cultures and to the needs of the situation. My university degree is on engineering.

In my free time I have been helping with setting up and maintaining vegetable gardens. I have been doing forest work (planting trees, cutting trees for fire work) at my cottage in Finland. I also like picking berries and mushrooms as well as fishing.

Over four years I worked with a professional playwright to write a play in Swedish, which was performed during the spring 2026 in the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki. The play was also invited to the Tampere Theatre Festival in August 2026.

My mother tongue is Finnish and I am fluent in English and Swedish. In addition I speak some German and French. I would very much like to improve my basic Italian.
Age

64
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements

Website Safety

Feedback

3 Jun 2025

Left by host (Help me in the vegetable ...) for Workawayer ()

Elina! Thanks for coming here. It was a pleasure meeting you! For me, welcoming people is a help and you were a lot! But above all a cultural exchange. I had a great time with you, you are a very respectful, serious and curious person and you were also very patient with my limited English! It was a great exchange Thank you🙏

(Excellent )

30 May 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help me in the vegetable ...)

It is difficult to make justice to my experience and to my weeks with Rita in a short written message. I would need to use superlatives on everything - staying with Rita and her extended family in her beautiful home, working in her splendid garden and learning so much from her, all the walks and visits that provided me an excellent insight to the … read more

(Excellent )

22 Apr 2025

Left by Workawayer () for host (Be a part of a sustainable ...)

I can’t imagine a better place to start exploring Sardinia than Tori’s and Gian Luca’s due to their knowledge about Sardinian history, customs, culture, crafts and cuisine.
Tori and Gian Luca have a very nice way of planning the tasks and providing instructions and guidance. I learned a lot about pruning and gardening and also cooking.
It was … read more

(Excellent )

21 Apr 2025

Left by host (Be a part of a sustainable ...) for Workawayer ()

Sorry guys you can’t have Elina as a volunteer because we shrunk her. Now we can always have good company, a helping hand, someone to share a great conversation or a little joke with right in our pocket. She is a fantastic person to be in the company of.

(Excellent )

26 Apr 2024

Left by host (Take part in our countryside ...) for Workawayer ()

Sometimes I have thought that Elina was my guardian angel. A splendid woman always curious to learn and to do things for us. She had also always good and interesting ideas to do new works, just because she was really interested to stay with us.Sometimes we played talking about her garden or her house, yes, now I am continuing her … read more

(Excellent )

12 Apr 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Take part in our countryside ...)

3.5 splendid weeks at Angela's place. Big thanks for the opportunity to experience the place and learn many new things! And for the flexibility to prolong the agreed 2 weeks nearly to double - I simply had difficulties to leave...
The place is beautiful both due to its location in a lush valley and due to the way Angela has developed and manages … read more

(Excellent )

View all