SMALL COUNTRY WITH VAST SOCIETY
IV Estonian civil society conference
November 24-25, 2005
Tallinn, Estonia
Sokos Hotel Viru Conference Center
“Estonia is a small country with a vast society,” stated Kumi Naidoo, one of the main speakers at the conference of Estonian nonprofits four years ago. New challenges to be met today – what are they? How to face them? These are the questions that will be asked at the IV Estonian civil society conference.
National conferences for Estonian nonprofits are held every two years and it attracts hundreds of participants. Main topics of the event have been chosen based on the current issues of the civil society that need attention of the public. First conference, “Society at Crossroads” (1999) analyzed the identity of nonprofits; the second, “From Vision to Change” (2001) drew up multiple visions for development; third conference in 2003 was on Good governance, stating the principles of accountability. The main focus of the fourth conference is on advocacy and policy-making. How to increase the role of nonprofits in society in general? From this point forward the conferences are to be referred to as civil society conferences, reflecting the need to change the general processes in the whole of society.
Representatives of the biggest nonprofits, umbrella organizations, media, public sector, politicians and entrepreneurs will be invited by NENO (Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organizations) and BAPP (Baltic-American Partnership Program).
NENO and BAPP have wonderful partners in this conference: Sokos Hotel Viru, Ministry of Interior, Open Estonia Foundation, Unesco programme, Estonian Fund for Nature and newspaper Green Gate, British Embassy, Estonian National Television.
The main language of the conference is Estonian. Main presentations and workshops with international speakers are also working in English (please see *). Detailed information on the Estonian civil society conference can be found www.ngo.ee/konverents.
PROGRAMME
* With Estonian-English translation
I DAY, November 24, 200512.30 / REGISTRATION, FIRST COFFEE AT 13.00
14.00 / OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE *
Lagle Parek, Chair of NENO’s Board, Chair of Caritas Estonia, and Kristina Mänd, Executive Director of NENO
14.20 / OPENING KEYNOTE SPEECH *
Eri Klas, Conductor, Council Chairman of Estonian National Culture Foundation
14.40 / DISCUSSION “What are the recent developments of the small county?” *
Tarmu Tammerk (observer of the previous conference) moderates the discussion with the representatives from the public sector, third sector, entrepreneurs and media. Overview of the recent changes and trends will be given and key aspects of advocacy and policy-making will be analyzed.
Participants in the discussion: Ilmar Raag, Chairman of the Board on Estonian Television; Jaan Õunapuu, Ministry of the Interior; Mall Hellam, Open Estonia Foundation, Member of NENO’s Board; Tarmo Kriis, Estonian Employers’ Confederation;
16.00 / COFFEE BREAK
Slide show of the glossary on civil society will be shown in the conference lobby (in Estonian).
16.30 / KEYNOTE SPEECH “Could small country have an impact on the world?” *
David Vseviov, professor of Estonian Academy of Arts, and Kristina Mänd, Executive Director of NENO
The results of the previous discussion and notices of general processes in the society give input for the presentation – could Estonia be so great as a society to have an impact on the whole world?
17.15 / KEYNOTE SPEECH “Take it personally”
Salil Shetty, Director of Millennium Campaign, United Nations
The UN Millennium Campaign informs, inspires and encourages people’s involvement and action for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. Working at both thenationaland international levels, the ambition of the Campaign is to inspire a global movement to achieve the Goals and eradicate extreme poverty by 2015. Salil Shetty joined the United Nations in October 2003 from ActionAid. He joined ActionAid in 1985 and played a leading role in more than 30 programmes in Africa, Asia and across other regions, and made an exceptional contribution toits growth and development, playing a key role in reorienting the organization's focus on advocacy at the grassroot and policy-making levels.During his presentation Salil Shetty introduces the Millennium Campaign as one great example of advocacy, policy-making and publicity involvement, stressing the personal viewpoint.
RECEPTION FOR THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE CONFERENCE
Cinema on demand! Short film and anima films on civil society and human issues made by children and youngsters will be presented. Program is provided by NGO Kinobuss (Cinemabus). The purpose of the "Kinobuss project" is to distribute for the Estonian public the art of cinema and knowledge of filmmaking. Traveling from town to town Kinobuss shows Estonian and European films and organizes workshops. See www.kinobuss.ee.
II DAY, November 25, 2005
09.30 / MORNING INTRODUCTION
Sustainable consumption working group of Estonian Green Movement will carry out an active workshop presenting hints on environment-friendly lifestyle. November, 25 this year is celebrated in Estonia as By-Nothing-Day to call people to think over their consumption habits.
10.00 / WORKING GROUPS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
Participation and involvement
Rait Talvik, BioSpinno2 project manager of Estonian Biocentre, consultant of NENO
Urmo Kübar, membership program director of NENO
Very often in Estonian nonprofits only few people are active and new leaders do not surface easily. In the working group the following themes will be discussed: how to activate more people in the everyday work of the NGO; how to promote voluntary work amongst citizens; and how are the nonprofits to involve more members and get more involved in the general policy-making processes.
Funding mechanisms
Kalle Jürgenson, expert on funding mechanisms of NENO
Tiit Riisalo, project manages of NENO
Funding from the public sector is a key issue for most nonprofits. This working group will contribute to creating accountable funding mechanisms for nonprofits and discuss various advocacy possibilities: how independently can nonprofits stand for their interests while being financed by the public sector?
Sustainable and balanced development
Tuuli Rasso, Audit Manager of IV audit department, the State Audit Office, together with Estonian Institute for Sustainable Development, Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Centre (SEI-Tallinn).
Good examples of environmental-friendly nonprofits who have been successful in policy-making will be presented – it is vital for the nonprofits to develop their activities both in a sustainable and economically balanced way.
Workshop on active participation
Linnar Viik, Board of Open Estonia Foundation
Mai Kolnes, assistant of Kodukant Training Centre
Special training module has been worked out for the village leaders and activists in order to analyze the local situation and to advocate the local interests on the national level. During the workshop a modified scheme of the training can be attended.
Ethics
Kristina Mänd, Executive Director of NENO
Agu Laius, Executive Director of Public Understanding Foundation
Values, especially ethics and their role in the everyday life of nonprofits are discussed.
12.00 / LUNCH BREAK
At 12.30 key results of the discussions from the morning working group session will be presented in the conference lobby.
13.00 / SUBGROUPS ON VISIONS
Social entrepreneurs *
Artur Taevere, Director of Charities Foundation
Rob John, Oxford University
Social entrepreneurship and venture philanthropy will be presented as new ways for associations to get involved in the processes of civil society development.
Civic education
Hannes Voolma, Tallinn University
Democracy should be learned and practiced on an everyday basis as a life-long process! 2005 is the European Year of Citizenship through Education. The subgroup discusses ways of increasing young people’s participation in public and political life through everyday activities of the nonprofits.
Social capital in different regions
Monika Salu, Member of NENO’s Board
Alari Rammo, communication manager of NENO
Differences between regions of Estonia and issues raised will be analyzed and overviewed. In autumn 2005 evaluations of the sustainability of Estonian associations were carried out in all counties. The main results will be presented at the working group.
15.00 / COFFEE
Contemporary dance performance Mängu-uni (Gamedream) will be presented by the student dance theatre Tee Kuubis (Tea Cube).
15.30 / KEYNOTE SPEECH
Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive, NCVO
Second keynote speaker of the conference is Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations in Great Britain. NCVO is a membership organisation which represents the interests of charities and voluntary bodies. In the presentation learning points of British associations will be discussed and different expectations towards the organizations will be analyzed.
16.00 / GREETING *
Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister of Estonia
16.20 / PRESENTATION OF THE CONFERENCE OBSERVERS *
Ivi Proos, director of NGO Estonian Institute for Open Society Research,
member of Board of BAPP, and Aivar Roop, Area Manager EU and Structural Funds of Corporate Banking, Hansabank
Two people are going to observe the whole conference and underline the accents
17.00 / CLOSING *
Kristina Mänd, Executive Director of NENO
GENERAL INFORMATION
Date and place
November 24 – 25, 2005
Sokos Hotel Viru Conference Center, Viru väljak 4, Tallinn
Registration desk
The Conference Registration Desk is your gateway to the conference. Here you can collect your materials, check your name, receive your name tag and ask questions. The Registration Desk is located on the second floor at the stairs and it is open at the following times:
· 12.30 – 18.00 Thursday, November 24
· 09.30 – 17.30 Friday, November 25
Participation fee
The participation fee includes two days of conference, materials, coffee breaks, lunches, entertainment program and a reception. The prices are as follows:
· Registered and paid before 01.11.2003 – 300 EEK (≈ 19 EUR)
· Registered and paid before 21.11.2003 – 400 EEK (≈ 26 EUR)
· Paid in cash on the spot– 500 EEK (≈ 32 EUR)
Please note that the last day for preliminary registration was November, 21.
Working languages
The main language of the conference is Estonian. Main presentations and some workshops are also working in English (please see *). Earphones are available at the big hall. Please return the earphones.
Display area
All participants are invited to bring materials and publications to the audience of the conference. Tables are made available.
Cancellation
Please note that there will be no refunds.
Internet access
There is wireless internet connection available in the conference centre. In order for access please call to 19131 or send text message to 19131 via your cell phone (text „Wifi pilet”); user name and password will be sent that is the access to the internet. The rate is 10 EEK/24h. Outgoing mail server is mail.elisa.ee.
Accommodation
Sokos Hotel Viru (www.viru.ee) is glad to offer favorable rate to participants for accommodation. For that purpose, please contact: Ahti Nigol, Sales Manager of Sokos Hotel Viru, phone +372 6809 306
Conference coordinator
Elina Kivinukk
e-mail:
cell: +372 51 33 607
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SMALL COUNTRY WITH VAST SOCIETY –
IV Estonian civil society conference
November 24-25, 2005 Tallinn, Estonia