xVolunteering Opportunities at Säynätsalo Town Hall, Finland
Would you like to volunteer at an iconic building and help to showcase it to the world?
Lue artikkeli vapaaehtoismatkailusta!
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: Pay the application fee https://tavolobianco.com/fi_FI/volunteerin-application-fee
Step 2: 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 3: On-line interview with Mr Harri Taskinen, Director of Tavolo Bianco
Step 4: 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
Details of accommodation will be provided in due course.
How to get here: you can explore routes by train and bus from Helsinki on Google Maps and the following websites: https://www.vr.fi/en and https://www.onnibus.com/home
From our social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram https://www.facebook.com/saynatsalotownhall/ https://www.instagram.com/saynatsalotownhall/
From our website: (https://tavolobianco.com/)
Local life, free time
Tap into student life in the university city of Jyväskylä - at the University of Jyväskylä (https://www.jyu.fi/fi/palvelut/studentlife) and the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences (https://www.jamk.fi/en)
Spend your free time exploring nature - there are forest trails and lake activities around Lake Päijänne ( https://www.saynatsalo.info/en/nature_eng/) with opportunities for cycling, hiking, swimming, and, e.g., petanque
Spend some time in Jyväskylä city with its Alvar Aalto architecture (https://visitjyvaskyla.fi/en/alvaraalto/), parks, art galleries, museums and shops (https://www.jyvaskyla.fi/jyvaskylan-kaupunki)
Visit nearby Alvar Aalto buildings at Muuratsalo and Muurame.
Legal Aspects
https://www.tyosuojelu.fi/web/en/safety-and-health-in-workplace/volunteering
