Eco volunteering

Eco-Volunteering brings people together to remove rubbish from parks, streets, forests, coastal areas and waterways in Helsinki and Espoo.

The activities are practical and focused on a specific location. Volunteers can see the direct result of their work and help prevent waste from remaining in nature or reaching the Baltic Sea.

Our main Eco-Volunteering activities are litter-picking sessions and clean-ups carried out from kayaks.

Litter picking

During litter-picking activities, volunteers follow an agreed route and collect rubbish from public and natural areas.

Before beginning, the coordinator explains the route, meeting points and safety instructions. Equipment such as rubbish bags, litter pickers and protective gloves is provided when available.

At the end of the activity, the collected rubbish is taken to an appropriate waste collection point.

Participants should wear comfortable clothes and footwear suitable for the location and weather conditions.

Kayak clean-ups

When weather, water conditions and equipment availability allow, IYC Suomi also organises clean-ups using kayaks.

Volunteers collect floating rubbish and waste found close to the shoreline. Participants receive instructions before entering the water and must wear a life jacket throughout the activity.

Kayak places are limited and require advance registration. A session may be changed, postponed or cancelled if wind, rain, water temperature or other conditions make the activity unsafe.

Volunteers who do not wish to kayak may usually participate from the shore by collecting litter, helping with equipment or receiving the rubbish brought back from the water.

When does it take place?

Eco-Volunteering is normally organised every two weeks when weather conditions allow.

Activities are more frequent during spring, summer and early autumn. A regular schedule cannot always be maintained during periods of snow, ice, heavy rain, strong wind or unsafe water conditions.

Dates and locations are announced separately. Participants should always check the latest information before attending.

Suggesting another activity

IYC Suomi is open to suggestions for additional dates and locations.

Individuals, schools, companies, associations and community groups may contact us to propose:

• A litter-picking activity in their neighbourhood
• A clean-up in a park, forest or coastal area
• An additional volunteering date for a group
• A location where rubbish has become a visible problem
• A collaborative environmental volunteering activity

Before confirming a new activity, IYC Suomi considers accessibility, safety, transportation, available equipment and how the collected waste will be removed.

Who can participate?

Previous environmental volunteering experience is not required.

Participants must follow the safety instructions and should not touch needles, chemicals, broken glass or unidentified hazardous objects. Any potentially dangerous waste must be reported to the coordinator.

Children and younger participants may join suitable activities when the event allows it and the necessary supervision has been arranged.