World Heritage Volunteers camp in Suomenlinna

Suomenlinna hosts an annual international volunteer action camp as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Initiative. The annual action camp has been organised at Suomenlinna since 2015 with approximately 15 participating young adults who have an interest in the conservation of cultural heritage. The camp provides the participants with a unique opportunity to see what kind of work is done to conserve and present the cultural heritage of the Suomenlinna UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Volunteers help us to protect world heritage

The participants spend two weeks performing duties related to the maintenance, conservation and presentation of Suomenlinna. The volunteers will also learn more about the daily lives of the people who live and work in Suomenlinna.

The volunteer work programme includes duties such as landscaping, maintenance of the fortress structures, guiding visitors and helping with preparations related to events at Suomenlinna. The contributions of past action camp participants have had significant results. For example, fortifications and gun emplacements have been cleaned of the surrounding vegetation.

Who can participate

The participants are typically aged 18–30 years and they represent many different countries. Similar UNESCO volunteer action camps are organised in dozens of locations around the world. The camp at Suomenlinna is intended for international participants. Finnish young adults may apply to volunteer at UNESCO action camps organised in other countries.

The purpose of the camps is to increase awareness of World Heritage and to provide young people with opportunities to participate in its conservation. During the camp, the volunteers will also have time to tour Helsinki. For many of the participants, the camp is their first visit to the Nordic region. According to the feedback received from past participants, the volunteer activities and camp weeks at Suomenlinna are perceived as a positive experience that will benefit them in the future.

Camp organisers

The camp is organised by the Governing Body of Suomenlinna and Allianssi Youth Exchanges in cooperation with their partners. In 2019, also the City of Rauma was hosting the camp and part of the camp was arranged at the World Heritage Site Old Rauma.

For more information on the volunteer camp at Suomenlinna, please contact the Event Coordinator at the Governing Body of Suomenlinna tapahtumat@suomenlinna.fi.

More information on international volunteer action camps at UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

More information on Allianssi Youth Exchanges.