Avatud Ühiskond

Open Society is a non-profit organisation devoted to the inclusion of youth and educators from a wide array of socio-economic backgrounds enabling them to become front-runners in civil society insusceptible to any and all animosity towards concurrent societal adversity. Open Society believes that the key to competence is the youth with bold leadership skills in cooperation with a penetrating insight into non-violent communication, rhetorical argumentation and modern civilization itself.

Our organisation strives to use methods of non-formal education in order to further the aforementioned competencies in our target group. Our mission is to gain recognition as the choice youth organisation in Estonia with accredited trainers, a multitude of partnerships on an international level and the means to fulfil the potential of every young person that reaches out to us. Open Society envisions being a representative organ for youth and educators through the implementation of youth councils and assemblies in rural areas and the further substantive development and support of the latter in larger communities with such institutions already in place. The subject matter at hand is of crucial importance to us.

Open Society aims to support the active involvement of young people in various areas of public life; to promote personal development and democratic citizenship, volunteering and youth mobility; sport and healthy lifestyle; to support the development of the abilities and potential of young people from different social and ethnic groups, and young people with disabilities. The path to this is participation in various national and international projects, implementation of joint activities in partnerships with other organizations or networks; organizing advocacy campaigns; development and implementation of strategies and programs at local, national and international level. Members of the organization are
involved in developing, evaluating and managing various programs and projects in the social sector, education and the media.

One of the main priorities of Avatud Ühiskond is developing international partnerships with similar organizations, active exchange of ideas and best practices, creating a rich network of European partners.

The year 2019 In Review
- 286 individuals sent abroad
- 61 mobilities abroad
- 68 new “Youth Club” members
- 8 simulations and lectures for high/vocational school students
- 4 new long-term international strategic partnerships
- 24 different countries and 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites visited
- Acquisition of a computer class & office.

Achievements of 2019

- Facilitating cooking lessons for more than 1000 children under our project "Cooking Roadshow", together with a VET school Tallinna Teeninduskool.
- Facilitating training courses under Governmental Training Procurement
- Co-hosting Opinion Festival with more than 10 000 visitors
- Giving 16 computer-sets for a charitable cause in the municipality of Kose and Rapla
- Member of roundtables and workgroups hosted by the Ministry of Education.

On a transnational standard, we aim to facilitate the buildup of youth empowerment. Organisational objectives for 2020 - 2024 will categorise into three main topics: Youth development, happy community and empowering growing leaders. We aim to open up a training centre, be partners for 100 international projects annually and engage more than 30000 people every year. To keep our community running, we aim to involve 100 active
volunteers, organize social activities monthly to strengthen the bond between members & hosting annual Summer Camps and Winter Schools of Avatud Ühiskond.

The organisational development plan involves establishing and preserving cooperation with governmental institutions, creating an international cooperation incubator combining representatives of students, VET schools and municipalities. .