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Description
Kuusalu is home to the international human rights organization Little Black Fish and to the grassroots organization Roheline Kuusalu which has spent the past years increasing the impact of civil society and activism in the community. Kuusalu is a typical Estonian rural area. Its population is spread over a large region, and for decades the same people have run the local. For these reasons, the region is not attractive to the young and its “activism” is limited to hobby groups. As the leaders of civil society, LBF and Roheline Kuusalu feel isolated. Human rights and the environment are uncomfortable subjects. They challenge existing power relations and the traditional ways the community has always functioned. Project K.A. is a unique 12-month partnership between 20 active citizens, 2 local organizations, 5 specialists from Estonian NGOs, a researcher, the municipality and the community. Project’s first phase will map the community''s active citizens and organizations. Then LBF will adapt its “artivism” (activism through art) model to the local setting. In phase two artivism, co-design workshops, a social media campaign and a public event will increase citizen participation, create a better power balance, increase youth engagement and improve the visibility of local civil society in the community. In the third phase, we will create working support systems that can be used elsewhere.