Volunteer work

Welcome to the volunteers!

Valamo has a long tradition of volunteer work. The monastery can be said to have developed into its current form through the joint efforts of the brotherhood and employees, as well as volunteers from all over Finland and abroad. The monastery welcomes everyone interested in volunteering, regardless of denomination or religion. Volunteers are only required to respect the spirit of monastic life. Volunteering offers you the opportunity to get to know monastic life a little more deeply than a regular visit. The monastery is grateful to everyone who wants to help the monastery with their work.

The monastery works for the glory of God. There are many types of work tasks, and all of them are equally valuable.

Each volunteer must fill out an application form before coming for the volunteer period. Application forms are available from the volunteer coordinator and from the monastery reception.
You can also fill out the application follow this link to open the form.

The volunteer coordinator will process the applications and agree with the applicant on the time and place of the volunteer period.

New volunteers are generally accepted for one or two-week periods, especially during the summer.

Volunteers can work, for example, at the Trapse restaurant, the Tuohus souvenir shop, the Valamo college, the library, as a gate guide, as a church guard and exhibition guard, in garden and yard maintenance, and in various construction jobs. The average daily working hours are 7-8 hours, six days a week. The working schedule varies for different volunteer positions.

As a rule, volunteer periods start on Sunday (arrival day) and end on Monday (departure day).

During the quiet season from the beginning of September to the end of May, volunteers are only accepted for some project-based tasks. However, those interested in volunteering can contact the volunteer coordinator by email and tell them when and for what tasks they would be available during the off-season, for example, Christmas and Easter.

Interested?

More information about volunteering:

volunteer manager and head guide Vkm Stefanos

stefanos (at) valamo.fi

Interested?

More information about voluntary work in the Monastery:

Father Stefanos

stefanos (at) valamo.fi.

Volunteer work

Volunteers have long been an integral and important part of the Valamo Monastery community. The monastic milieu has in effect developed into its current shape with the joint efforts of the brotherhood, staff and volunteers, coming from Finland and all over the world. The Monastery welcomes everyone interested in voluntary work, independent of religious affiliation or beliefs. However, from our voluntary workers we expect respect for the monastic tradition and life. Volunteer work gives you an opportunity to better understand the monastic life than would be possible through a more customary visit. The Monastery is grateful to everyone who wants to help the Monastery by giving their time and effort.

Work in the Monastery is done for God's glory. Duties are of many different kinds and are equally valuable.

Every voluntary worker must fill out an application before arriving at the voluntary work period. You can ask application forms from the voluntary work Coordinator or from the Monastery's reception.

Voluntary work Coordinator goes through the applications and then agrees with the applicant the time and duties of the voluntary work period.

Generally, new volunteers will be taken for one or two week period.

Working assignments and duties vary, including e.g. work in restaurant Trapesa, souvenir shop Tuohus, Lay Academy, library, different kinds of customer service duties, yard and garden work and different kinds of construction work. The daily working hours are approximately 7-8 hours, six days a week. The working schedules in different assignments vary.

The voluntary work period generally starts on Sunday (arrival day) and ends on the following Monday (departure day).

During the low season, from the beginning of September until the end of May, the opening times will be reduced, and voluntary workers will be accepted only for some limited projects.