Civic Society & Community development
In 2017 WATERGRATT expanded its areas of operation and expertise through participation in local and international programs, such as Erasmus+, Integration Foundation of Estonia, National Foundation of Civil Society, Police and Boarder Guards of Estonia, Rescue Department of Estonia and other programs. Nowadays our areas of expertise include such directions, as the development of civic society through the creation of educational programs, training courses, seminars and events covering a variety of topics: campaigning, media and communication, project management, intercultural dialogue, inclusion, migration issues, stimulation of the creativity, development of personal professional competencies, prevention of violence and discrimination, peacebuilding and community development. The main target group: young people and adults, interested in acquiring new skills and self-development. We also work with vulnerable groups at risk of marginalisation and social exclusion, such as migrants and refugees, people facing economic difficulties, cultural and religious differences and others. Our staff has relevant education, experience, and skills in project and event management, environment and sustainability, youth work, media, inclusion, communication and PR, branding, community development, cross-sectoral cooperation, campaigning and non-formal education. Staff is experienced in design and delivery of educational programs with a proven history of organisation of educational activities on a local and international level.
KÜSK NGO development programm (Vabaühenduste Arenguhüppe programm)- Watergratt Pirita NGO new educational service development
Project duration: 1.12.2022-31.07.2024
The aim of the project is to increase the development of Watergratt Pirita NGO and reach greater financial stability thanks to the launch of our new service - the implementation of a water safety education program aimed at Harjumaa schools students and youth centers visitors aged 14-18 y.o.
Idea: We have developed and piloted a unique water safety program for young people. The program includes the most complete and at the same time voluminous course and includes 16 hours (4 in each season). In the first year of starting the program, we plan to organize 15 courses for 12 school classes (3 schools) and 2 youth center groups.
Target group - young people aged 14-18 years - visitors of youth centers and school students.
Problem: low awareness of safe behavior in and near the water sources and ща correct action in a critical situation among young people. Carrying out the program at schools and youth centers will increase the level of safety and informed behavior of young people, which we hope will reduce the statistics of drowning and accidents among young people. Carrying out the program also helps our organization achieve greater financial stability, move forward in achieving statutory goals (achieving a higher level of safety in Harju County), increase the number of team members and create jobs within the team.
Financed and supported by KÜSK National Foundation of Civil Society (kysk.ee)
Thanks to the project we've managed to acheive greater financial stability and sustainability of the organisation. We wanted to diversify our sources of financing and increase the share of income from promoting our own services (not only from project activities). 3 workplaces have been created (2 permanent employees and 1 project based worker).
As for the statutory objectives, we see the need to develop a culture of safety in Estonia. Initially we only focused on water safety, but now we have expanded the scope of the organisation to include inland safety and especially safety in crisis situations. By working with experts within the framework of the project, we saw the need for an in-depth analysis of the organisation's external and internal environment and the development of a strategy for the next 5 years, which is what we are currently doing.
Thanks to the growth of the team we have been able to reduce the response time to maritime rescue calls from 1 hour to 30 minutes, which has brought more emergency calls to our organisation, which are now handled also by our new team members, who have already received special training. Thus, Tallinn Bay becomes a safer place for recreational water activities.
Regarding important changes during the project, we managed to make an important partnership agreement with Estonian Rescue Department becoming an important partner in providing training in crisis education programme for civillians, which will last at least until 2027, which also helps us to expand our audience and ensures stable income for the organisation for at least 3 years.
Over the course of the project we have trained over 1000 people who have participated in our educational programmes, courses, trainings and info days. Among others, training was conducted in 13 schools and 3 youth centres and youth organisations in Harjumaa (about 150 trainings).
As for the water safety programme for schools and youth centres, its development continues. We have received funding from the Interreg Central Baltic Partnership programme, and now, in cooperation with our colleagues from Latvia, we continue to work on improving and implementing the programme in schools. We are assisted in this by a number of organisations that act as experts, including Police and Boarder Guard Department, Rescue Department, Ministry of Education and others.
We have established cooperation with a number of public and private companies and organisations, including local municipalities, youth organisations, LTDs, which also provide us with sponsorship.
With the creation of a media team, our organisation has become not only more visible in social networks, but also in the media: during the 1.5 years of the project there were 47 mentions of us and our activities in local media.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
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