Internationellt arbetsläger

Under två veckor i juni 2007 ordnades ett internationellt arbetsläger i Verners Park (KVT-leiri). Ungdomar från Tyskland, Frankrike, Afganisthan, USA, Ryssland, Japan och två lägerledare från Finland jobbade i parken. Arbetsuppgifterna bestod bl.a. av att plantera en granhäck vid nya badmintonplanen, så solrosor, göra skyltar, rensa ogräs och flytta äppelträd, förbättra grillplatsen och skapa en meditationsplats, måla lekstugan och grindar. Lägret av avslutades med en midsommarfest och ett 70-tal personer deltog i firandet.

Ungdomarna besökte Jakobstad; Fäboda, Nanq museum och Aspengrens trädgård. De deltog Kronobys 400 års jubileum program (invigning av hospitalkyrkan, arkeologisk rundtur), scoutbesök, de besökte Hästöskatan och en finländsk villa. Värd för lägret var Ingela Wikman.

International work camp

During two weeks in June 2007 an international work camp was organised in the park (KVT-camp). Youth from Germany, France, Afganisthan, USA, Russia, Japan and two camp leaders from Finland worked in the park. Work included planting of spruces along the new badminton court, planting of sunflowers, constructing parksigns, pruning weeds, moving appletrees, uppdating the fire place, constructing a meditation place, painting the playhouse and gates. The camp finished with a midsummer party about 70 persons took part in the celebrations.

The youth visited Jakobstad/Pietarsaari; Fäboda (a beach), Nanq (artic museum) and the Garden of Aspengren. They also took part of the celebrating of Kronoby´s 400 years programme (opening of the leprahospital church, arceological tour), tour to  a scouting camp, visited Hästöskatan (a summer resturant) and a Finnish summer cottage. Camphost was Ingela Wikman.

FI-KVT 9.1 Verners Park

Kruunupyy 11.06 – 24.06 2007

10 volunteers + 2 camp leaders

DEAR VOLUNTEER,

You are very welcome to participate at the international volunteer work camp in Kruunupyy! We, your camp coordinators Noora and Sami as well as the camp host Ingela, are happy that you are interested in this camp and we are looking forward to meet you. In this letter you will find some important information on what to bring with you to the work camp plus how to get there.

KVT and SCI

KVT is the Finnish branch of Service Civil International (SCI). SCI is a voluntary service organisation with 33 branches and groups world-wide. The aims are to promote peace, international understanding and solidarity, social justice, sustainable development, and respect for the environment. SCI believes that all the people are capable of living together with mutual respect and without recourse to any form of violence to solve conflicts. The organisation was founded in 1920.

The main activity of KVT is organising volunteer work camps in Finland and sending volunteers abroad. KVT was established in 1947 when first volunteers came to Finland to help to rebuild Finnish Lapland after the Second World War. KVT celebrates its 60^th anniversary in 2007 with many festivities throughout the year.

PROJECT

Verners Park is a culture park situated in the centre of Kruunupyy on the Western coast of Finland. It will open officially in August. The aim of the park is to organise different activities including dance, theatre, music and poetry events. It will create a common place for inhabitants and help to develop a sense of community. Verners Park have been built by a working group, Friends of Verners Park. Ingela Wikman has been its project leader since 2005.

The idea of the camp is for local youth and international volunteers from around the world to get to know each other and allow the volunteers to get acquainted with the Finnish-Swedish minority and the countryside of the Pohjanmaa region. The volunteers will also carry out activities which will be useful for the whole Kruunupyy community. The camp will help to strengthen Verners Park's profile as a community project with its green and environmental ideology and recycling of materials.

WORK

Work includes gardening – planting of various plants, pruning of apple trees, removing rocks, mowing the lawn, clearing, weeding. Volunteers will also help to organise the traditional Midsummer party, which takes place at the end of the camp. Local youths will also participate in the work.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD

Project manager Ingela Wikman has rented a small villa for volunteers' accommodation in the centre of Kruunupyy. Breakfast will be eaten at the villa and the volunteers will prepare a picnic basket for lunch at the park. Dinner will be prepared together at the end of the working day.

FREE TIME

A barbecue will be organised with local youth and excursions and trips will be made to Kruunupyy and the nearby towns.

CAMP LANGUAGE

Camp language is English.

WHAT TO BRING

You need to take clothes and shoes suitable for working outdoors and in variable weather. The weather in Finland in June can be chilly and rainy, but if we’re lucky we’ll enjoy sunshine and high temperatures. Warm and comfortable clothes are needed! It’s necessary to take some waterproof clothing. Take also gloves for the work.

We’ll sleep in a house on beds or on mattresses. You don’t necessarily need to bring bedclothes but it’s better if you take your own sleeping bag.

And of course, take all personal stuff you need. Bring information about your country, photos, musical instruments, poetry in your own language, songs, games, food items, etc. for the evenings. We especially encourage you to bring some food recipes.

INSURANCE

All volunteers are covered by SCI's insurance during the work camp. SCI's insurance only covers accidents and sudden illness during the camp. It does not cover loss of luggage or other personal belongings. Please note that SCI's insurance is only valid for the period of the camp, so it does not cover the period of travel to and from the camp. We strongly recommend that you get your own travel insurance as well. Citizens of EU can also get the EU health card (former E111-form) from their national social insurance office for the cheap health services in Finland.

ATTENTION! It is against Finnish laws to possess, use or sell drugs!

TRAVEL DIRECTIONS  

The arrival day is Sunday 10 June and departure day is Sunday 24 June. It's also possible to arrive on Monday 11 June if you cannot make it earlier. Please inform the camp coordinators (Sami & Noora) of your exact arrival time.

Getting to Verner’s park in Kruunupyy is very easy; the best way is to take a train from Helsinki to Kokkola. The train journey takes about 4 hours and costs approximately €50 (depending on which train you take). On 10 June there are trains departing Helsinki Central Railway Station at 09:33, 10:06 and 13:06. From Kokkola railway station it’s about twenty minutes drive to Kruunupyy. If you let us know when you’ll be arriving at Kokkola, we’ll pick you up from the station!!

There’s also an airport in Kokkola but we recommend you take the train.. 

Please contact us also if you have any questions or anything else in your mind! Have a good and safe trip! See you soon!

Pippi Långstrump i parken

Under sjusovardagen den 28.7.2007 besökte Pippi Långstrump och Lilla Gubben parken. Cirka 30-tal vuxna och barn deltog i evenemanget. Skattjakt i parken och skatten fanns i Pippis kappsäck i sädesboden; en guldpeng av choklad och en leksak i Pippis blåa soffa. Sockerdricka dinglade från träden och kex bjöds till barnen som avslutning. Lekar för barnen arrangerades av arbetsgruppen bestod av Minna Lillvik, Satu Zittra, Mira Tallgård, Malin Jåfs och Ingela Wikman.

Pippi Longstocking in the park

During 28.7.2007 Pippi Longstocking visited the park with the horse Little Old Man. About 30 adults and children took part in the event. Treasurehunt in the park and the treasure was found in Pippis suitcase in the grain storage house; golden choclate coins and a toys in Pippi´s blue sofa. Red lemonade were hanging from the trees and buiscuit were served to the children in the end. The games for the children was arranged by the planning comitée consisting of Minna Lillvik, Satu Zittra, Malin Jåfs, Mira Tallgård and Ingela Wikman.

Praktisk biologi och tv

Elever i årskurs åtta i praktiskt biologi vid Ådalens skola hjälpte parken att av  färdigställa utescenen inför invigningen av parken i augusti 2007. Vi klippte och rensade ogräs. Tack för hjälpen! Kanske vi tar det på nytt något annat år?

Tv-programmet Strömsö var filmade samma dag som parken skulle invigas. Tyvärr fick vi inte se programmet på tv på våren. Bildkvaliteten lär ha blivit dålig. En annan gång kanske?

Pratical biology and tv

The pupils from the upper secondary school in the course practical biology helped the park to make the music estrade ready for the opening of the park in august. We also lawnmoved and pruned the weeds. Thank you for the help! Maybe we do it again another year?

The tv-programme Strömsö was filming the same day that the park should open. Unfourtnatley we didn´t got to see the programme in tv in the spring. The picture quality was said to been bad. Perhaps another time?

Invigning av Verners Park 24.8.2007

Program

Trumpetmusik                         Hans Brunell

Hälsningsord                           Ingela Wikman

                                            Projektchef för Verners Park

Festtal                                   Jarmo Matintalo

                                            Rektor Mellersta Österbottens Landsbygsinstitut

Sång                                      Rolf Wikman

Kronoby Kommuns hälsning         Tage Torrkulla

                                            Teknisk direktör

Minnen av farfar Verner Wikman  Gunnel Wikman

Musik                                     Jim Videgård

Kaffe & Tårta

Opening of Verners Park 24.8.2007

Programme

Trumpetmusic                                        Hans Brunell

Greetings                                              Ingela Wikman

                                                           Projectcoordinator for Verners Park

Speach                                                 Jarmo Matintalo

                                                           Principal of Central Ostrobothnia Rural Institute

Song                                                    Rolf Wikman

Greetings from Kronoby Municipality            Tage Torrkulla

                                                           Director of Technology

Memories of grandfather Verner Wikman      Gunnel Wikman

Music                                                    Jim Videgård

Coffee & cake