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Volunteering

Volunteering Opportunities at Säynätsalo Town Hall, Finland

Would you like to volunteer at an iconic building and help to showcase it to the world?

Read here also an article about volunteering!

Introduction to Säynatsalo Town Hall

Säynätsalo is a small forested island on the northern shore of Päijänne in central Finland. It is the idyllic site of one of the icons of 20th-century architecture, Säynätsalo Town Hall, designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and completed in 1952. It is one of the masterpieces of modernism and is listed as a national monument of Finland. It is also on the UNESCO Tentative List for World Heritage status, along with 12 other Aalto buildings. When the Town Hall ceased to function as an administrative centre for the area, it was saved from decline and disuse by the City of Jyväskylä and the Tavolo Bianco Company (https://tavolobianco.com/).

Volunteering Opportunities

Tavolo Bianco is offering volunteer opportunities at the site of Säynatsalo Town Hall. This would suit anyone interested in and knowledgeable about modern architecture, Finnish architecture and design, and architects Alvar Aalto, Aino Aalto, and Elissa Aalto.

  • You can come for a minimum of one week and up to two months

  • Accommodation is provided nearby or off-season time in the Town Hall apartments.

  • You will pay for your return transport, food and living expenses, and health insurance.

  • You contribute your energy, knowledge, and expertise by giving guided tours and helping to manage the site.

  • You gain knowledge of world-class architecture in a picturesque setting within easy distance of city facilities in Jyväskylä.

  • You gain experience developing and managing such a site for a sustainable future.

  • The site gains from your inputs and ideas, which feed into making it more inclusive and accessible.

  • You will receive a certificate of your volunteering.

Price per 1-2 person

High season: June-August
One week stay (7 days): 400 €
Two weeks stay (14 days): 700 €
One month stay (30 days): 900 €

Mid-season: May, September
One week stay (7 days): 200 €
Two weeks stay (14 days): 350 €
One month stay (30 days): 450 €

Low season: October-April
Free accommodation (from one week to two months), application fee of 200 €.
The application fee must be paid before confirming the dates.

Requirements

  • Spoken and written English

  • Other languages are a benefit

  • Finnish is not required

  • Good presentation and guiding skills

  • Accept the values of our company (https://tavolobianco.com/)

How to Apply

  • Step 1: Apply by email to info@tavolobianco.com with why you want to volunteer, what you can offer through your volunteering, and the dates on which you are available to come to Finland.

  • Step 2: On-line interview with Mr Harri Taskinen, Director of Tavolo Bianco

  • Step 3: Confirmation of dates.

Volunteer Tasks

  • The volunteering period is flexible; it can happen at any time throughout the year for various durations. The season is from May to September.

  • While the Town Hall is open daily during the season from 11 am to 5 pm, you will have flexibility regarding the number of days you volunteer, thus giving you time for your research in the Aalto archives and beyond and visiting the local area.

  • Off-season opening hours are flexible - only Saturday from noon 12 to 3 pm is fixed. Meanwhile, having a volunteer worker, the opening hours can be extended.

  • Daily tasks could include guided tours, ticket sales, staffing the shop, cleaning, opening and closing the Town Hall with your keys, and assisting the visiting guests with the local services.

  • You will have free access to a bicycle.

Living Expenses and Costs

While it is difficult to give exact costs for living expenses and other costs because everyone is different, we provide some guidelines below:

  • Public transport costs: Buses in the Jyväskylä region are operated by Linkki https://linkki.jyvaskyla.fi/, and you can use a contactless card to pay on the bus. In 2023, for zones A and B covering Säynätsalo, Muuratsalo, Muurame, and Jyväskylä, for example, a single ticket is €2.95, and the daily cap is €8.85.
    A monthly ticket for two zones costs €69; for students and seniors €48.

  • Food and eating out: Weekly food costs could be from €50/week upwards. A fast food meal would be around €9, a basic meal at an affordable restaurant around €12, and a coffee around €3.

Find Out More

Legal Aspects

https://www.tyosuojelu.fi/web/en/safety-and-health-in-workplace/volunteering