More information
Description
The aim of the project is to strengthen and improve the activity of "Jaunatne smaidam" in the Bauska region as an important resource in the sustainable development of local communities.
The implementation of this project will give a significant impetus to the work started for the long-term development of the organization. We will continue targeted work to ensure the visibility of the organization''s activities at the local level. We want to talk about what has been done at the local level - in local communities. The project''s activities will give an opportunity to significantly improve the recognition of the organization in the Bauska region, telling about our values, offers, and achievements. Our mission is to be a resource in the local community, to realize this we as an organization must be a part of the local community - involve new members and volunteers in the work of the organization.
The most important activities of the project are the development and implementation of a new management model, ensuring communication with society and strengthening the organization''s activities in the existing cooperation networks.
The target group of the project activities are members and volunteers of the organization.
Summary of project results
The project''s aim is to strengthen and enhance the activities of "Jautane smaidam" in the Bauska region as a significant resource for the sustainable development of local communities.
The implementation of this project will provide a substantial boost to the ongoing efforts for the organization''s long-term development. The focus will remain on increasing the organization''s visibility at the local level. The goal is to communicate achievements within the local communities. The project''s activities will significantly improve the organization''s recognition in the Bauska region by highlighting its values, offerings, and accomplishments. The mission is to be a resource for the local community, which requires the organization to be an integral part of it—by involving new members and volunteers in its work.
The project''s key activities include the development and implementation of a new management model, ensuring communication with the public, and strengthening the organization''s operations within existing cooperation networks.
The target group for the project''s activities includes the association''s members and volunteers.
During the project, various think tanks were used as a key activity to address crucial issues for the organization. The think tank format provided an opportunity to collectively seek solutions to the organization’s management and public communication challenges. Four think tanks were conducted.
The organization has initiated a process of change in its management. The goal is to create a sustainable and effective management model involving all members of the organization. A member handbook has been developed, integrating communication guidelines to ensure that every member is informed about essential processes and decision-making methods. The member handbook is an open document that will continuously evolve alongside the organization. To promote member engagement, a support program will be established to align members with the organization''s values and goals.
The think tanks provided an opportunity to explore more effective solutions for public communication. A new website was developed, and a unified vision for visual identity use was created. The implementation of the communication plan was tested.
Six communication workshops were held. The first workshop focused on the role of social media in communication. Participants analyzed their social media habits and explored how the association could use social media to reach its target audience. The second workshop introduced the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence in communication. The third workshop was dedicated to learning the Canva platform for creating visual content, providing practical skills for more effective content creation and the ability to plan social media communication directly on the platform. The fourth workshop focused on public relations, seeking answers to identify the target audience and the most effective ways to reach it. The fifth workshop addressed communication with the press and media, including media literacy and the identification of fake news. The sixth workshop was dedicated to the organization’s public image at events. The first five workshops were held in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation, while the sixth workshop was conducted exclusively online. The most valuable aspect of these workshops was the opportunity to gain practical insights from the invited experts. Overall, the workshops provided organization members and volunteers with a broader perspective on communication through practical examples.
The new website was created on a new platform, enabling even non-specialists to easily modify its content and appearance. The previous website required programming specialists for updates and was based on an outdated system, leading to frequent maintenance issues and a complex content administration platform. The new website structure has been established to meet current needs. Content updates are in progress, and existing issues are being gradually resolved. The organization has activated its participation in cooperation networks to diversify offerings for member development.
Special attention was given to strengthening the organization’s presence in the international network Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations during the project. The think tanks developed the international volunteer work direction as one of the organization’s focus areas. Participation in the Technical Meeting allowed for a deeper exploration of opportunities to more actively engage in Alliance activities and promote the achievement of common goals in the organization’s projects and activities.
To inform members about participation in various cooperation networks, an infographic was created and placed on the organization''s website under the "COOPERATION NETWORKS" section. A video message was produced about the Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations, and an informative material was created for members regarding the Alliance.
The implementation of the project provided a significant impetus for initiating the organization''s change process.
In the short term, it is evident that regular work has begun on planning communication with the public. In the long term, the aim is to streamline processes to effectively manage public communication and gather and analyze data on communication impact.
The development of a new strategy has commenced, focusing on targeted activity planning for the next three years. Alongside the strategy development, regular evaluation indicators are being implemented concurrently.