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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 d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre
Projets artistiques
Aide avec des éco-projets
Enseignement
Jardinage
Bricolage et construction
Cuisine/repas pour la famille
Entretien général
Centres d’intérêt
Films et télé
Bénévolat
Dev. durable
Culture
Vie en van
Vidéographie
Technologie
Événements/vie sociale
Écriture
Arts du spectacle
Photographie
Langues
Dessin et peinture
Jardinage
Bricolage / artisanat
Blogs
Livres
Art et design
Randonnée
Yoga / bien-être
Voile / bateau
Danse
Camping
Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre
Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre
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.
Projets impliquant des enfants
Ce projet peut impliquer des enfants. Pour en savoir plus, consultez nos directives et conseils ici.
Aide
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.
Langues parlées
Anglais: Courant
Estonian: Courant
Russe: Courant
Ukrainian: Courant
Finnish: Intermédiaire
Japonais: Débutant
Swedish: Débutant
Hébergement
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.
Autres infos...
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.
Informations complémentaires
Accès Internet
Accès Internet limité
Nous avons des animaux
Nous sommes fumeurs
Familles bienvenues
Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads
As a former startup entrepreneur, I can definitely help you out with your startup and digital nomad needs.
Espace pour garer des 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.
Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux
We love pets, especially dogs or cats that are happy to live outside (Dmitri does have a bit of a cat allergy).
Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?
Plus de 2
Mes animaux
Photos
