- Language level required:
- Location: Cinema Club&Lounge, Viru pst 2, Sillamäe
- Time: 19.11.2026 kell 18:00 - 20:30
- Format: Citizen Academy
- Organizer: MTÜ Ida-Viru Noorteakadeemia
MODULE 1. Study Visit and Discussion in Sillamäe
Have you ever thought about how you could make a difference in your local community? How can you find like-minded people and take the first steps? Do you need a large organisation to help others, or can a good idea and the willingness to get involved be enough?
On 19 November 2026, the Civic Academy invites you to a study visit in Sillamäe entitled “How Can You Get Involved in Your Community?” We will explore the activities of the NGO Ida Südamete Soojus and learn from the experiences of the Ida-Viru Future 2050 initiative.
The event will take place at Cinema Club & Lounge, bringing together local volunteers and community activists. We will discuss their activities, grassroots initiatives and how a small idea can grow into an undertaking that brings people together and makes a positive difference in our surroundings.
Anna Rehema will introduce the work of the NGO Ida Südamete Soojus and share her experience of how civic organisations bring people together, strengthen mutual support and a sense of belonging, and create positive change in community life. We will learn how charitable and environmentally friendly initiatives come about, how volunteers are engaged, and what opportunities there are to get involved.
We will also watch a short film produced by the organisation's team, “Человеку нужен человек” (“People Need People”), which won first prize in the Shoot Shorts competition. The film tells the story of a young woman who grew up at the Lootus children's home and later became a volunteer with the organisation.
Irina Skubi represents the Ida-Viru Future 2050 initiative and will share her personal journey towards becoming actively involved in community life. Drawing on the project “Двор объединяет” (“Neighbours United”), she will explain how residents of apartment buildings can be encouraged to work together to improve their immediate surroundings.
We will discuss what can be achieved collectively, even with limited financial resources, and how a local initiative can inspire people to take a more active role in shaping the future of their wider region.
During the meeting, we will get to know one another and work in small groups to develop our own ideas for community-building, integration or charitable initiatives. Through these two different experiences, we will explore how small first steps can develop into sustained volunteer engagement.
You will also have an opportunity to find out how to join the volunteers of Ida Südamete Soojus and get involved in the activities of Ida-Viru Future 2050.
The working language of the event is Russian.
📍 Cinema Club & Lounge, Viru pst 2, Sillamäe
🗓 Thursday, 19 November 2026
🕕 18:00–20:30
The meeting will last approximately 2.5 hours and include a coffee break. Participation is free of charge, but places are limited and advance registration is required.
Registration: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/18009
Questions? For further information, please contact Vladislav Eglet at egletvladislav@gmail.com.
The event is part of the Citizen Academy’s first module, “Being a Citizen”. The programme is run by the Ida-Viru Youth Academy on behalf of the Integration Foundation.
The event is funded through project No. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006, “Activities Supporting Estonian Language Learning and Civic Education”, supported by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
Registration: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/18009?lang=en
NB! You can register for the events through the Integration Foundation's self-service, which you can enter using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. Please see the user guide:https://integratsioon.ee/iseteenindus