Training Capacity Project
Developing the professional training capacity of the DD Foundation
The DD Foundation has a long history of training activities (such as events, workshops, student development program, consultations, etc.), but we have not created professional training competence. This prevents us from participating in larger training procurements and training projects, which would enable us to systematically bring our consulting experience as well as knowledge of democracy and civic education to the Estonian NGOs.
In this project, we will develop the training skills of our employees and create the prerequisites in order to start offering training activities empowering NGOs in the future. We are also creating a system of internal trainings to ensure that in the future DD will also bring and pass on new developing topics to Estonia through trainings and other activities (e.g. consultation).
The size of the grant is 19 996€
What we plan to do?
The goal of the project is to increase the capacity of Estonian NGOs and to help raise the next generation of NGO activists through the training activities offered by DD. To achieve this, we need to develop the professional training capacity of our people as well as ensure the sustainability of our activities.
Skills
At least 4 of our employees acquire professional training skills under the guidance of an external trainer. If possible, they also apply for a trainer's certificate to prove their skills.
Trainings
We develop training aimed at the development needs of NGOs as well as civic education online training for high school students. We pilot both trainings during the project.
Internal training system
We create our own internal training system based on the concept of a learning organization. This is how we ensure the ability to train on new topics and the continuous self-development of our people in the future.
WHAT WE DID IN THE PROJECT:
TRAINING PROGRAM
Five of our employees acquired basic adult training skills during a six-month training program. Two employees continued their journey by applying for a professional certificate as well. An exciting and developing program was organized for us by the trainers of the Innowise training and development center.
HYBRID WORKPLACE TRAINING FOR NGOS
We developed and piloted a new hybrid workplace training with 6 NGOs. During the 3-day hands-on training, the participants' goals and needs for a hybrid working environment were clarified, a plan for developing the working environment was created and the first steps to implement the changes were agreed on.
DEMOCRACY ONLINE COURSE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
We developed a new democracy course for high school students, which we piloted in the Edumus online school. In the course, we explored the topic of democracy in more depth, including its historical development and existing systems, and discussed why such systems have emerged and what we can learn from them in developing democracy today.
DEMOCRACY SHORT COURSE ON YOUTUBE
As part of the online course, we also filmed 5 videos on the topic, which are freely available on YouTube for anyone interested. In the videos, you can find out more about theories, thinking about democracy, the foundations of democracy, sectors of society and the main threats to democracy.
APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES OF A LEARNING ORGANIzATION
We took a deeper look at the concept of a learning organization, deconstructed it for ourselves and created a new model to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills within our organization. One part of the model is our internal training system as well.
INFORMATION EVENT
In cooperation with the Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organizations and BE MORE. student movement, we organised an educational event for NGOs and student organizations to find ways to transfer knowledge within their organization. We also introduced the concept of a learning organization and DD's experience as possible solution.
Contact:
Triin Mirjam Tark
Project manager
triin (at) domusdorpatensis.org
Triin is the head of Human Resources in DD and manager of this project.
