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Description
The project promoter believes that long-term voluntary work is one of the core elements for sustainable democratic society. Very few people engage in civic activities and initiatives compared to other Western democracies, and people in Latvia often engage in activities that tend to be self-assertive but not for the common good, especially in the 25-45 age group.
The idea of the project is to promote regular and long term voluntary work, the target audience of the project being general public that will benefit from the voluntary work in the long run.
The project will include the following activities:
- Developing and strengthening voluntary work at local level by opening new scout and guide units and making them as role models of volunteering in local communities. By growing scouting and guiding in the country, youth democracy is growing as well.
-Networking - supporting network of NGOs that organize work with volunteers - by giving time and space for good practice exchange, also exchanging experience with a Slovakian partner about IT systems for better management of volunteers, as well as data gathering.
-Ensuring regular advocacy activities, as well as adopting and implementing the formula of how to calculate economic value into the concept of social capital.
-Communication – three campaigns about volunteering and regular communication about volunteering in the social media as well.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the following challenges:
- A low number of people participating in civil society activities and initiatives compared to other Western democracies. There was a need to expand the scope of civil society activities and strengthen engagement in regional areas through the scouting and guiding movement, which could inspire local communities and foster positive initiatives in children''s and youth education. These activities were crucial for motivating and providing experience to young people and local residents, thus strengthening the development of civil society and democracy at the local level.
- A growing trend of individualism over collective well-being. People engage in activities focused on self-assertion rather than the common good. There was a need to develop and promote activities that not only met individual needs but also created societal benefit, particularly for youth and volunteers participating in various organizations. The importance of voluntary work was emphasized to encourage people to engage in activities that have a greater impact on society.
- Insufficient collaboration and exchange of experiences among organizations working with volunteers. There was a recognized need to create platforms and networks to facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices between organizations. This would improve volunteer management principles and ensure a positive experience for a larger number of volunteers, thereby promoting greater engagement in volunteer work and better collaboration among organizations.
- Insufficient public awareness of the importance of volunteer work for community development. There was a need to conduct informational campaigns and events to raise public awareness about the significance of volunteer work and its impact on community development. These campaigns aimed to show how important it is to participate in volunteer activities to improve quality of life and foster a positive attitude toward society.
- Insufficient advocacy and support for the development of volunteer work at the national level. There was a need to develop algorithms to calculate the contribution of volunteer work to economic development, based on the experience of other countries. Additionally, regular advocacy and support for youth work, volunteer work, and civil society issues were necessary to ensure sustainable political support and resources for these efforts.
National scout camp. The large-scale national scout and guide camp brought together regional units, volunteers, and partners from across Latvia. Despite delays and uncertainties due to COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, 268 youth participants and volunteers engaged in the event. The camp emphasized democratic practices, environmental awareness, collaboration among NGOs, and cross-sector networking. It served not only as a gathering but also as an incubator for new civic ideas and practices. The event contributed significantly to long-term volunteer engagement and strengthening of the civil society network.
Social media campaign “What Good Will You Do This Week?”. A national awareness campaign promoted weekly volunteer work through the release of 30 video stories themed “2h” (What would Latvia be like if everyone contributed 2 hours to volunteering?). The campaign reached over 173,000 people and is still being used for awareness-raising, even though the formal campaign has ended. It highlighted the diverse impact of volunteerism and inspired broader engagement.
Introductory seminars for adult engagement in scout movement. Due to the pandemic, large-scale seminars were replaced with smaller group and one-on-one sessions in locations such as Liepāja, Engure, Jēkabpils, Cēsis, and online. These introductory meetings served to motivate and onboard potential adult volunteers. As a result, new individuals became involved in local units, and preparations were made for future seminars in other regions.
Follow the network – involvement of CSOs in advocacy activities. Publicly available information and policy updates related to youth, civic participation, especially, volunteerism were monitored. When needed, the organization participated in advocacy activities. In total, 25 regional units and 10 other civil society organizations were engaged in advocacy-related communication and processes during the reporting period.
Support for local volunteer network. A support and networking structure was maintained for scout and guide regional volunteers, ensuring regular communication, mutual support, and alignment with the organization’s civic mission. New scout units in Liepāja, Engure, and Brussels, while also providing support to new scout units in Jēkabpils. Additionally, progress were made in establishing units in Mārpule, Ādaži, Cesvaine, and Cēsis. Monthly online leadership gatherings (7 sessions held) enabled exchange of ideas and joint problem-solving. Informal networking also took place through WhatsApp groups and in-person meetings during camps.
Capacity-building activities: good practice network and volunteer trainings. Structured training sessions were delivered for new and experienced volunteers, focusing on civic education, leadership, non-formal education methods, and inclusion. The trainings helped increase competence, retention, and confidence among volunteers, and supported the expansion of local initiatives. The network held regular meetings and collected good practices into shared resources, fostering a culture of reflection and mutual support.
Strengthening community engagement in voluntary work
During the project, the involvement of society in regular volunteer work was strengthened and promoted (e.g., by social media campaign). Although the methods and target audiences did not exactly align with the initial plans due to various unforeseen factors (such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine), alternative audiences were reached, and new methods were adopted. Over the three years, the collaboration was strengthened with refugee support organizations and other youth sector organizations. Additionally, Ukrainian volunteers were engaged in voluntary activities, further broadening the scope of our efforts and fostering cross-border solidarity.
Expansion of volunteer units and regional reach
The project resulted in the creation of three new scout units in Liepāja, Engure, and Brussels, while also providing support to new units in Jēkabpils. Additionally, we made progress in establishing units in Mārpule, Ādaži, Cesvaine, and Cēsis. These efforts helped strengthen civil society in the regions by providing more opportunities for involvement in local initiatives.
Influencing policy and document development
The policy documents influenced included amendments to the Voluntary Work Law and the Youth Law, alongside changes to the Education Law defining non-formal education. Additionally, input was provided and comments were submitted on several key documents, including the Summer Camp Program for Refugee Youth, the conceptual framework for the EU Recovery Grant, and the set of conditions for supporting refugees through the "I Want to Help Refugees" letters. Contributions also influenced the NGO Fund Concept for 2023, helping to shape its outlined funding priorities for non-governmental organizations.
Beneficiaries:
The project had a direct impact on various groups:
- Local communities through the establishment of new volunteer units and increased participation in civic activities.
- Youth and volunteers, who gained social capital and personal empowerment.
- Partner organizations benefiting from strengthened networks and shared experiences.
- Policy-makers through the enhanced advocacy efforts that influenced policy development and legislation.
- Ukrainian volunteers, who were integrated into the volunteer network, contributing to cross-cultural exchange and support.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership with the Icelandic Boy and Girl Scout Association evolved differently than originally planned. While the initial focus was on local initiatives and experience sharing through online platforms, these activities were less effective due to digital fatigue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the collaboration found success through a study visit involving three young participants and active cooperation within international working groups — including joint engagement in global scout and guide participation platforms and leading national contingents at the World Scout Jamboree in Korea. Strong foundations have been laid to continue and expand this collaboration beyond the project’s conclusion.