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Description
In Estonia, the potential of volunteers is underutilized. Estonian NGOs need good examples, knowledge and skills to involve volunteers more successfully than before. On the other hand, many volunteers are looking for short-term opportunities to contribute. Invisible Animals has many plans for the future and new campaign directions; the continuation of the existing system in the field of volunteer coordination and involvement is a prerequisite for the success of these campaign directions. Therefore, the aim of the project is to strengthen civil society, promote civic awareness and increase civic engagement, by the application of these new directions. We are updating the well-thought-out system of coordination and involvement of volunteers in Invisible Animals and sharing the experience of our volunteers with Estonian students. We empower and train both the organization''s current volunteers and those recruited during the project period, so that they can have a say in policy-making, take care of their own well-being as a volunteer, and understand the possibilities of directing social processes. This is how we contribute to the sustainability and capacity of Estonian civil society. We also aim to popularize volunteering as a form of civic initiative. Therefore, the target groups of the project are current and potential volunteers of Invisible Animals and Estonian students. We also include hitherto under-involved groups such as youth, men, the elderly, families and non-speaking residents. To achieve these goals, we offer the Estonian people the opportunity of micro and periodic volunteering. We train volunteers on effective activism, implementation of social change, effective use of time, etc. By covering volunteer portrait stories in the media and social media and by introducing Estonian students to opportunities in the field of volunteering, we encourage Estonian people to contribute as volunteers and empower civil society at large.