Seiklejate Vennaskond

Seiklejate Vennaskond is youth and civil society organization, which connects active adventurous people together. We work mainly with young people, but also with youth workers, trainers and teachers and organizations active in non-formal education field and lifelong learning. Our members have participated and organized different youth exchanges, seminars and training courses concerning equality, fight against racism & xenophobia, human rights, mobility and migration, environment protection, healthy lifestyle, no hate speech movement, refugees and other issues. Our volunteers gather every month to take up new ideas and think how to put them into practice. We sincerely believe that young people today can make a difference and we all work for this purpose. First activities of the organization date back to the year 2003 when group of active young people got together to organize a youth exchange. After that there have been many local regional activities concerning integration, adventure tourism and different interest specific activities. Since 2010 Seiklejate Vennaskond has become from non-formal youth group to a registered non-profit organization. Seiklejate Vennaskond has been active in the framework of Youth in Action (before 2007 in “Youth”): 2004 youth exchange “Environment and Nature: What Can Youth Do To Make World Better?” was organized, in 2005: “Integration: Nations and Ethnic Groups: Conflict or Cooperation?”, 2008: “ From North to South, From East to West: All Unique – Yet So Similar!” , in 2010 regional branch Saaremaa Seiklejad organized youth exchange “One World – Our World! (2010 Estonian winner or Charlemagne youth prize competition) and in 2011 Hiiumaa branch Hiiumaa Seiklejad organized youth exchange: “Catch the Opportunity!" and in 2012 Valgamaa Seiklejad organized youth exchange "Active Caring!". In 2013 several youth exchanges were held. Valgamaa Seiklejad organized project about healthy lifestyle "Life in Action!", Tartumaa Seiklejad organized exchange on topic of safe party "(Safe) sex, (No) Drugs and Rock n' roll(?)" and Põlvamaa Seiklejad took up project on identity called "Explore Yourself!". Seiklejate Vennaskond has carried out training courses “I share, I care!” (2011) and “Stop Labeling Yourself!” (2012) (nominated for one of the best projects promoting intercultural learning by Estonian national agency in ), PBA "Partnership Building Seminar in Estonia: think rural, feel global, act international!" (2012), PBA "Ten Steps from Idea To Application!" (2013) and study visit "Discover the Youth Work in South-Estonia!" (2014). In Seiklejate Vennaskond coordinated EVS project "Voices of Creativity - From Youth to Youth!" which involved 12 volunteers from Estonia, Turkey and Spain and takes place in Indonesia, Nepal and Mozambique. In 2015 in framework Erasmus+ Seiklejate Vennaskond coordinated capacity building project in the field of youth “Use your creativity, take initiative and be the change!“. It involved a youth workers mobility which took place in January/February 2015 in Indonesia, and European Voluntary service project, which took volunteers from Estonia, Spain, Macedonia and Indonesia to Kenya, Cameroon, Indonesia and Spain to fight youth unemployment through creativity. Seiklejate Vennaskond also coordinated () EVS projects „Be the Change of Tomorrow“ and „The Nature of Change“ which took Estonian volunteers to Kosovo and Portugal. In 2015 Valgamaa Seiklejad organized youth exchange „Overcome your fears, be self-confident!“ and PõVa Seiklejad organized „Health is Wealth!“ which consisted of training course and 2 youth exchanges. In December 2015 Seiklejate Vennaskond organized partnership building activity „Be Gentle – Explore Gender!“. In 2016 Seiklejate Vennaskond organized training course „Stop Feeling Sorry, Start Acting!“ about no hate speech and human rights and seminar „Can I Come in?“ about refugees. Additionally 2016 Seiklejate Vennaskond started strategic partnership „Include! Involve! Improve!“ to include and involve more young people with fewer opportunities and raise the quality of youth projects in general. Project will last until August 2018 and involve several national and local activities. In 2017 Seiklejate Vennaskond organized partnership building activity “Quality EVS 4 Inclusion” in cooperation with 21 organizations from programme and partner countries. In 2018, youth exchange “No Regrets! No Limits” was organized on topic of active lifestyle and self-confidence by regional grouping Valgamaa Seiklejad. Mobility of youth workers “ABC of Inclusion” helped youth workers across Europe to build new strategies to include youth with fewer opportunities. Members of Seiklejate Vennaskond have taken part in several projects in programme countries, neighboring regions and also in Africa and Asia. Seiklejate Vennaskond is the biggest sending organizations in Estonia. Seiklejate Vennaskond is a sending and coordinating organization for Solidarity Corps (formerly European Voluntary Service). Members of Seiklejate Vennaskond meet regularly to put their ideas into practice and develop new projects and activities. There are members all over Estonia in the organization and there are even regional grouping in 5 counties. The main age group of members is from 14 to 35 + people working with young people (without age limit). Many members come from rural/remote areas, so Seiklejate Vennaskond has also young people with fewer opportunities involved in the organization.