Created by: NGO Changemakers
Description
Abstract:
Changemakers Academy was a two-month competition where youngsters (ages of 14-22) were divided into teams and partnered with a social enterprise (SE). The goal was to come up with marketing solutions for their SE. All participants received workshops about teamwork and marketing. Additionally, they received a personal mentor who created a comfortable yet productive environment for the entire team.
General purpose and aims:
- Youth have the skills to meaningfully participate in democratic society – they have been engaged into constructively thinking about and creating positive solutions / improvements for the society they live in.
- Diverse communities work together around common agendas, building trust and positive perspectives – Estonian and Russian youth have been experienced and reflected upon cross-cultural teamwork while striving for common objectives and acquiring 21st century skills.
- The concept of social enterprises and their role in Estonian communities have been introduced to Russian and Estonian youth, including the use of communication outputs prepared by the youth themselves.
- Institutions connect with diverse communities and build social cohesion – Adult leaders and team members of Estonian social enterprises have taught and learned from the members of the next generation.
Who can be included in it:
Changemakers Academy had different parties involved:
- Participants – youth aged 14-22 from all around the country. Around 100 youngsters were involved.
- Mentors – people aged 18-26 with the background of marketing or youthwork.
- Social enterprises – preffered were small to medium sized enterprises as then youth have more freedom and ability to help and influence the marketing plan.
Special needs tackled:
Changemakers Academy had a goal of integrating Estonian and Russian speaking youth together.
Needs for specific tools / hardware / supports:
As Changemakers Academy was organized with a bigger scope, the help of a technical event enteprise was needed. Although the program could have been done without it as well, it was a nice added value and maintained good quality and experience.
How is this activity inclusive?
Changemakers Academy involved various different parties and as it was learning-by-doing program, the youth themselves designed their experiences the most. Organizers and mentors were just giving some structure or guidance, but otherwise youth themselves in a way created the program.
How do you think it could be further developed / improved in terms of inclusion?
There could be even more parties involved, especially from the formal education. So far some schools were collaborating and accepting Changemakers Academy to be as an elective course for students, but no further collaboration was done.
For more information please contact:
Merili Ginter, merili@changemakers.ee
