Tag Archives: Estonia hub

Leadership skills for young citizens – October 2024 update from Estonia

Leadership skills for young citizens – October 2024 update from Estonia

In our sixth digital hub meeting, we went into discovering what leadership really means. It wasn’t about fancy titles or big speeches—it was about discovering the kind of leader each of us can be in our everyday lives.

 

We started the session with a simple question: What does leadership mean to you? The answers were as unique as the participants. For some, it was about taking charge in tough situations; for others, it was about quietly supporting others. We agreed on one thing: leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all role. It’s about stepping up in ways that feel authentic to who you are and making a difference where it matters most.

 

Next, we turned the focus inward. Through a self-assessment activity, everyone got a chance to think about their own leadership style. Some people discovered they’re natural communicators, great at bringing people together. Others realised they shine when making thoughtful decisions under pressure. It wasn’t about being perfect—it was about recognising our strengths and areas to grow. Once we had a clearer picture of ourselves, we defined the skills that every leader needs: communication (how to speak clearly and listen deeply),  decision-making (learning to weigh options and act thoughtfully),  team-building (creating trust and a sense of belonging), conflict resolution (turning disagreements into opportunities for understanding).

 

We wrapped up the meeting with stories of leaders who’ve made a real difference, many of them young people just like our participants. These stories reminded us that leadership isn’t about age or status, but it’s about courage, resilience and staying true to your values.

Active Citizenship – September 2024 update from Estonia

Active Citizenship – September 2024 update from Estonia

This meeting of our digital hub was all about active citizenship—what it means, why it matters, and how each of us can embrace it in our own lives. It was a lively session filled with insightful discussions, personal reflections, and some “aha” moments that left us thinking deeply about our roles as members of a community.

 

We began the meeting by exploring the basics—understanding how political and social systems actually work. It’s easy to feel disconnected from these structures, but as we talked, it became clear that knowledge is power. Participants shared their experiences of learning about how decisions are made in their local communities and beyond. Some mentioned the challenges of navigating complex systems, while others spoke about moments when understanding these structures helped them make a real impact. By the end of this segment, there was a shared sense of how important it is to know the “rules of the game” if we want to play an active role in shaping the future.

 

Next, we focused on the skills that help turn knowledge into action. From critical thinking to effective communication and even the art of organising, we looked at what it takes to participate meaningfully. This part of the session was hands-on and practical. Participants discussed times when these skills helped them solve problems, whether it was organising a community event, navigating a group project or simply speaking up in a meeting.

 

Finally, we turned to the heart of active citizenship: the values and attitudes that make it all work. Tolerance, respect, responsibility— the habits that shape how we treat each other and work together. Through small group discussions, participants shared personal stories of moments when these values were tested—whether it was handling a disagreement or standing up for what they believed in.

 

This meeting was a reminder that active citizenship isn’t about waiting for someone else to lead the way—it’s about stepping up, together, to build the kind of communities we all want to live in.

 

At the end of the meeting, participants also received information about upcoming LTTA event in France that is taking place in the first half of October.

Pilot workshops by Learning Library

Pilot workshops by Learning Library

In September 2024, as part of the EYT project “Do You Know Your Democracy?”, Learning Library conducted a pilot workshop with youth leaders to gather feedback and finalize the handbook titled “Democracy: Its Importance and Our Local Communities as Democratic Societies.”

 

This handbook was initially developed in June during an international training session in Struga, North Macedonia. It comprises of ten educational workshops covering topics such as the meaning of democracy, utopian versus real-world democracy, grassroots activism, democratic values, building democratic communities, civic engagement on democratic issues, the significance of democracy, and the role of young people in fostering more democratic societies.

 

After all partner organisations complete their pilot workshops, the final version of the handbook is scheduled for publication in October 2024.

 

Keep an eye on the project website, to stay up to date with the news on this project

Global perspectives of democracy – August 2024 update from Estonia

Global perspectives of democracy – August 2024 update from Estonia

The meeting began by reminding on the results of the previous meeting and additionally exploring the backbone of Estonia’s governance – its political structure. Using an engaging mix of visuals and interactive discussions, the participants navigated the country’s branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. They explored Estonia’s parliamentary system, examining the role of the Riigikogu (parliament) and the presidency. The group was particularly intrigued by Estonia’s digital voting system, which led to an interesting conversation about technology in governance and the future of electoral systems worldwide.

 

Next, the focus shifted to how democracy takes shape in everyday life. Participants brainstormed key indicators of democracy, such as voter participation, freedom of the press, and civil liberties. One participant highlighted Estonia’s high internet penetration as a tool for promoting freedom of information, while another pointed out the challenges of ensuring equitable access to such resources. The discussions became personal when participants shared stories about what democracy meant to them, creating different perspectives that deepened everyone’s understanding of democratic pluralism.

 

The final segment brought a contemporary lens to Estonia’s democracy. Participants worked in small groups to analyse recent news articles and reports, uncovering updates on the country’s democratic processes. Topics ranged from the increasing role of youth in politics to Estonia’s stance on global democratic issues. This segment inspired participants to think critically about how current events shape the broader democratic landscape. This meeting wasn’t just a deep dive into Estonia’s democracy but it was a journey into the heart of what it means to live in and contribute to a democratic society.

How Estonian political system functions: July 2024 update from Digital Hub Estonia

How Estonian political system functions: July 2024 update from Digital Hub Estonia

On July 16, 2024, Learning Library from Estonia hosted its third digital hub meeting, engaging 19 participants in a deep dive into the Estonian political system. The session covered the structure of government, electoral processes, and the innovative concepts of E-Government and E-Democracy, culminating in discussions on local community involvement and online voting.

 

 

The third topic-based meeting of digital hub hosted by Learning Library in Estonia took place on 16th of July 2024, in duration of 120 minutes. In total 19 participants were present, out of wich 11 female and 8 male participants.

 

The topic of the meeting was understanding the Estonian political system. In the first part of the meeting, participants had a chance to explore overview of the Estonia’s government structure, learn more about electoral processes in Estonia, explore functions and roles of municipalities in Estonia. After the short break, participants learned and discussed about E-Government and E-Democracy in Estonia and voting online. In the last part of the meeting, participants discussed and shared their previous involvement in decisions-making processes at different levels and got practical information about possibilities to get more active in their local community.

Fostering youth participation: May 2024 update from Digital Hub in Estonia

Fostering youth participation: May 2024 update from Digital Hub in Estonia

Learning Library from Estonia hosted its second digital hub meeting on May 17, 2024, gathering 16 participants to explore the concept of youth participation. Through interactive activities and discussions, attendees delved into Roger Hart’s Ladder of Participation and examined the Estonian election system, paving the way for future engagements and initiatives.

 

 

The second topic-based meeting of digital hub hosted by Learning Library in Estonia took place on 17th of May 2024, in duration of 120 minutes. In total 16 participants were present, out of which 13 female and 3 male participants.

 

At the very beginning of the meeting, we prepared short energiser and getting to know each other exercise as we had new participants joining regular meetings of the digital hub.  Then, participants got a task to brainstorm what does “youth participation” means for them, by using Word Cloud Generator option in Mentimeter. After discussing their inputs, participants then got introduced to Roger Hart’s Ladder of participation with description of each of the 8 steps. Then, they shared real-life examples when they were part of different youth-led initiatives and tried to recall how much they were actually involved in the decision-making processes, and trying to put those examples in the rungs on the ladder.

 

In the last part of the meeting, participants got introduced to the upcoming European Elections. Together we analysed election system in Estonia and possibilities for voting online (as one of the rarest countries in the whole Europe). At the end, participants shared their feedback on the meeting and together we made plans for the upcoming meetings and activities inside the digital hub, as well as face-to-face LTTA in June taking place in North Macedonia.

Establishment of digital Youth Leader’s Hub in Estonia

Establishment of digital Youth Leader’s Hub in Estonia

In April, Learning Library established a digital Youth Leader’s hub that will serve as a platform for young people aged 18-25 to learn, discuss and plan actions related to the topics of democracy and media literacy.

 

Youth Leader’s hub is implemented as part of the EYT “Do you know your democracy?” project, co-financed by the Europan Union and implemented with our partners from Croatia, North Macedonia, France, and Sweden.

 

During the first meeting, participants had a chance to learn more about the project, get to know each other through several ice-breaking exercises, and already make plans for the upcoming meetings. At the end of the meeting, participants also received small homework tasks in order to prepare for working together during the next month and starting to dive deeper into envisioned topics.

 

This article was originally posted on the partner’s website. This is the link to the post on partner’s website.