More information
Description
The aim of the project is to set up a well-functioning and sustainable national advocacy organization for the visually impaired young people in Estonia. The organization will protect the interests of the vulnerable target group. The Estonian Blind Union, together with the organizations belonging to its co-operation network, will seek out active young people with visual impairment all over Estonia and encourage them, by means of joint activities and trainings, to work together to protect the interests and rights of visually impaired young people. The project includes organising trainings that are accessible to visually impaired young people. The aim of the trainings is to teach them the principles of citizens’ initiatives - how they are run, how the public is informed, how policy making is done, which organizations are there to protect their interests, how to find funding for their ideas and how to write project applications. The participants will learn about the functioning of Estonian business landscape, including legislation on non-profit organizations. As practical work, young people with visual impairment will organize accessible meetings, a workshop, and a summer seminar.
The desired outcome of the project is the formation of an advocacy organization that is created and managed by the young people themselves, through which they will start to protect the interests of visually impaired young people, providing input at the national and European Union levels to advocate for young visually impaired people.
Summary of project results
The Estonian Blind Union plays a key role at the national level in advocating for the rights and interests of visually impaired people. Its focus includes influencing legislation, ensuring accessibility, and promoting equal treatment. Additionally, the Union is actively involved in the work of the European Blind Union, participating in various task forces.
Both nationally and within the European Union, the Estonian Blind Union is increasingly approached for input on issues affecting visually impaired youth, such as their rights, interests, and equal opportunities. Members of the European Blind Union have invited Estonia to participate in projects aimed at involving young visually impaired individuals in organizational activities.
However, Estonia currently lacks an active youth organization specifically for visually impaired individuals. As a result, many relevant and engaging projects have not included young people from Estonia. Another challenge is the limited input the Union can provide on behalf of visually impaired youth. This input often comes from a small group of individuals, reflecting a narrow set of experiences and opinions. Communication among visually impaired youth in Estonia is fragmented, making it difficult to share information, gather collective feedback, and represent their views effectively.
To address these issues, the Union recognizes the importance of creating a platform to unite visually impaired youth, facilitate better communication, and gather broader and more representative input to advocate for their interests.
Throughout the project, the organizers worked actively to raise awareness and connect with visually impaired youth across Estonia. This outreach was crucial because most visually impaired young people study in mainstream schools and are often unaware of or uninvolved in activities organized by the Estonian Blind Union (EPL) or its member organizations. The awareness campaign was highly effective, bringing together 25 young participants from across the country, many of whom were previously uninvolved in the visually impaired community. Importantly, the project also successfully reached Russian-speaking youth, with three participants from the Ida-Virumaa region.
As part of the project, a webinar titled “Civic Initiatives in Society” was organized, featuring speakers from the Estonian Blind Union, the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People, the Office of the Chancellor of Justice, and the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority. The webinar explored how civic initiatives and advocacy function in Estonia. Additionally, four two-day training sessions were conducted, focusing on public speaking, project writing, media, and social media skills. These sessions included practical assignments and were designed to be fully accessible to visually impaired participants. Feedback indicated that the participants found the topics engaging and relevant to their needs.
The training sessions also allowed time for informal interaction and experience-sharing among participants. During the final seminar, which summarized the project outcomes, participants emphasized the importance of such open and relaxed opportunities for communication. They expressed a desire for even more time dedicated to informal discussions in similar initiatives.
One key output of the project was giving the youth an opportunity to plan and organize a summer school independently. This involved designing activities, coordinating with service providers, and creating a schedule. While the organizational tasks were handled successfully, teamwork posed some challenges. However, participants viewed these difficulties as valuable learning experiences, and the summer school itself was highly praised for its quality and the practical experience it provided.
During the concluding seminar, discussions focused on the continuation of advocacy efforts. Rather than establishing a separate nonprofit organization, the participants decided to form a youth council within the Estonian Blind Union to continue their work and build on the project’s achievements.
The project aimed to establish a well-functioning and sustainable advocacy organization for visually impaired youth aged 16 to 35 across Estonia. This organization, led by the youth themselves, would focus on advocating for their rights and interests at both the national and European Union levels. Through the creation of a collaboration network and a youth council, the project significantly improved advocacy efforts for this vulnerable group in Estonia.
As a result of the project, visually impaired young people gained essential knowledge and skills to lead and sustain the newly formed network. These skills, acquired through the training sessions, are also applicable in their daily lives, supporting their personal initiatives and professional activities. Participants learned how citizen-driven organizations operate and how to manage them effectively, including strategies for public outreach, policy advocacy, and collaboration with relevant organizations. They were also trained in securing funding, writing project proposals, engaging with the media, and leveraging social media to amplify their visibility.
To apply these skills, the youth organized accessible working meetings and a summer seminar under the guidance of leaders from the Estonian Blind Union. These activities provided practical experience in collaboration and project execution. The two-day format of the events also facilitated networking and interaction among participants, fostering a sense of community.
One of the key outcomes of the project was the creation of a communication network among visually impaired youth. This network enables them to share experiences and strategies for overcoming challenges related to education, employment, and independent living. Through these connections, participants can support one another in addressing obstacles associated with visual impairment.
At the concluding seminar, the youth decided to operate as a youth council within the Estonian Blind Union rather than forming a separate nonprofit organization. This youth council will serve as a partner to the Estonian Blind Union, as well as to youth organizations of Nordic blind unions and the European Blind Union. By taking this step, the project established a lasting structure for advocacy, ensuring that visually impaired youth in Estonia have a platform to voice their concerns and collaborate on solutions at both national and international levels.