Crisis stocks include knowledge and relationships with others, in addition to the inventory in the cupboard. It will discuss why believing that ‘the state will come and help everyone now’ is a myth, as well as how personal and community preparedness can influence whether or not you can cope in a crisis. The textbook was published with funding from the National Foundation for Civil Society and the Estonian Ministry of the Interior as part of the Väike-Õismäe community-based civil protection K-24 project.                                                                       

🟧🟦 The National Foundation of Civil Society and the Estonian Ministry of the Interior have funded the K-24 civil protection project in Väike-Õismäe, which is supporting this episode.

Since 2014, the conflict in Ukraine has had an impact on local communities and civil society organisations. Dr. Tyschenko pointed out that full-scale warfare by Russia in Ukraine began in 2022, when society had a realistic understanding of what it was like to live in a war. She revealed that the war had weakened society in general, with children and other vulnerable groups, including those with special needs, suffering the most.

We discussed the practical and tangible solutions that the NGO Poruch (Ukrainian for standing shoulder to shoulder), which has nearly 800 volunteers, has used to bring positive change to various regions of Ukraine after more than a decade of war. One of their most important projects right now is the Schools of Peace initiative, which aims to provide children and young people with safe, peaceful, and conflict-resolution locations throughout Ukraine. These places are also artistically engaging because children can create their own learning environment.

The overall goal of the project is to reduce the trauma experienced by a new generation growing up in a traumatised society, as well as the potential for violent conflict resolution. “Putin might have benefited from attending the School of Peace as a child,” Dr. Tyschenko said in the broadcast. She also thanked the Estonian people for their support for Ukraine, saying that they now have hope thanks to the help of various countries. The programme also covered how to keep yourself and your team mentally healthy by assisting vulnerable groups on the front lines or in the back. This is a critical issue for the voluntary sector. This time, the episode is in English!

🟧🟦 The National Foundation of Civil Society and the Estonian Ministry of the Interior have funded the K-24 civil protection project in Väike-Õismäe, which is supporting this episode.

The training, which began on April 5 at 11 a.m., was held in the Järveotsa settlement of Väike-Õismäe community garden under the guidance of Women’s Voluntary Defense Organization instructors and focused on practical training. Despite the cold weather, community members gathered to receive training in realistic conditions similar to those found in Ukrainian urban areas, where vital services are disrupted and fragile.

Participants were taught practical basic survival skills necessary to deal with a serious crisis in an urban setting. The training focused on the three most important aspects of survival: water, food, and warmth. In addition, the principles of crisis planning and evacuation codes of conduct were reviewed.

The weather conditions made the training more realistic, giving participants a better understanding of the actual challenges faced in a crisis. The experience gained allowed the participants to understand how to apply their theoretical knowledge and skills in real life, including in difficult and unpredictable situations.

The Crisis Research Centre’s podcast, Crisis Skills, delves into the knowledge and skills required to prepare for and deal with crises. We feature experts in their fields and provide scientific information.

Among other topics, the Crisis Research Centre presented the crisis skills training programme of 2024. This was a project supported by the National Foundation of Civil Society and aimed at increasing awareness and preparedness of the local community for different crisis situations. The focus of the project was on community-based learning and practical skills to cope with unexpected events.

The training programme focused on three areas: first aid, mental health first aid and survival skills development. Participants learnt how to provide assistance in case of physical trauma, how to provide mental health first aid and how to purify water, prepare food and keep warm in the case of disruption to essential services. There was also a strong emphasis on strengthening the ties between members of the community, as this plays an important role in building community resilience.

Andre Pichen, a master of the makerspace, shared his experience in setting up and running the makerspace. The makerspace is a place where residents can get hands-on and learn practical skills, from simple repairs to more complex projects. But the workshop is not just a technical space; it is also a meeting ground, with the potential to build a sense of community.

The visit gave students the opportunity to understand how grassroots initiatives can provide effective solutions to societal challenges. Community hubs like Kopli 93 are platforms where local initiative, social innovation and practical skills meet – also for developing crisis skills.

Photo: Tallinn University students visit Kopli 93 community centre (School of Governance, Law and Society, 2025).

On a sunny Saturday, March 15, nearly 50 Kohtla-Järve community members gathered at the Wiru Sports Centre for a training session. They all shared a common goal: to improve their crisis skills, which could be accomplished in two ways: mental health first aid crisis training and first aid training. The goal of the crisis-focused Mental Health First Aid training was to give the community a chance to learn basic psychological first aid techniques and principles for crisis situations.

Practical exercises were also used to improve listening, noticing, and helping skills. The training focused on psychological support for self and community members to maintain their ability to think and act rationally during a crisis. Furthermore, the training emphasised that providing mental first aid in a difficult situation reduces the need for professional help later on. The Mental Health First Aid training, led by clinical psychologist Kadi Parve (NGO Peaasjad), will continue as an online training, with participants gathering for another day of learning.

During the first aid training, members of the Kohtla-Järve community learnt how to administer first aid using practical tools, and common first aid myths were debunked. Participants were able to practise CPR on a resuscitation manikin (some for the first time), and the proper use of an AED resuscitator was discussed together. Andrus Lehtmets, a paramedic and first aid trainer with extensive practical experience, provided participants with examples of both good and bad first aid.

Saturday’s trainings include first aid (by paramedic Andrus Lehtmets), mental health first aid in a crisis (by clinical psychologists from the NGO Peaasjad), as well as the Women’s Voluntary Defence Organisation survival trainings, which will take place in Väike-Õismäe. There will also be online trainings – you can learn how to prepare a family crisis plan from instructors from the Tallinn Municipal Police, and online trainings by paramilitary Women’s Voluntary Defence Organisation will focus on smart evacuation.

“The trainings are a good opportunity to brush up your crisis skills. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity, we have top-class trainers and the training is free of charge for the participants,” said Hannes Nagel, Head of the Crisis Research Centre. “More broadly, the project aims to raise the level of crisis preparedness of people in our area. If we each have a broader skill base, we can be prepared for the unexpected and help our family, friends and community,” he said.

A total of 25 training sessions will take place between February and May on a variety of topics. The first groups are already full! The project team thanks the Haabersti district government for contributing to the project.

For registration, please visit www.kruk.ee/oismae.

🟧🟦 The activities of the K-24 project will be carried out by the Crisis Research Centre, and the implementation of the project activities is supported by the Civil Society Foundation through the Ministry of the Interior.

The Crisis Research Center has been preparing Kohtla-Järve’s first civil protection project since May 2024.

“We would like to thank all our partners who have helped make this project possible. Special thanks go to the Kohtla-Järve City Government, the Rescue Board, the National Foundation of Civil Society, and the Estonian Ministry of the Interior. However, the most important contributors are, of course, the community members themselves—without them, this initiative would not be possible,” said project manager Anne-May Nagel.

The goal of the Crisis Research Center’s civil protection and crisis skills training program is to provide essential knowledge and skills to help people cope in crisis situations. The opening seminar provided an overview of the upcoming program and how to register for the training sessions.

“This is the first civil protection project in both Kohtla-Järve and Ida-Viru County, focusing on empowering the community through various training sessions conducted in collaboration with experienced professionals. By April, we will have trained over fifty apartment association members and residents on how to handle different types of crises. Additionally, we will have established basic emergency supplies for the community and local government, which can be used in various crises and for setting up resilience centers,” added Hannes Nagel, head of the Crisis Research Center.

1. Mental Health First Aid During a Crisis (in Estonian, trainers from NGO Peaasjad clinical psychologists):