What challenge inspired this recipe?
Estonia is not a “cheap” country to live anymore. Costs of electricity, water consumption, Internet are far from being low. On the top of that there are costs of apartments heating in the cold season which last around 7 months, sometimes even longer. Taking into account low size of ESC grant we are forced to save. But this also gives a good practical ground to practice some sustainable living principals.
So, whether volunteers ESTYES coordinates around the country live individually or as a collective sharing the same apartments, we explain and encourage them to use sustainable living practices. Some of them are enforced by apartment lease agreement. Herewith we would like to introduce some of those.
Ingredients :
Step by step guide
The accommodation rules, which are introduced to the volunteers in the info-pack and are addressed again after their arrival, set some sustainable living standards. They are based on the years of our practice arranging accommodation for volunteers and common sense. And they are aimed to encourage young people to reflect on their habits and, if needed, switch to a more sustainable one which help to save, energy, water, heating and to avoid over consumption and wasting food.
Volunteers are asked to be moderate in electricity and water consumption trying to save. We have been using eco electric bulbs for years. We set in the apartments local spot light instead of a general one. We use domestic machines and equipment with good saving parameters. And we set limits for consumption of water per person and electricity. If monthly consumption goes beyond agreed limit, which is 4m3 per person, ESTYES has the right to take money from monthly allowance to cover extra costs. By this volunteers are really encourage to follow their daily consumption and to reduce it if needed. For many young people, who did not live independently yet, this is a totally new approach but quite useful for future life.
Obviously, we monitor the situation around use of water and electricity, and when we see extremes we go there to check what is going on, why it is so high this month – to find our if something is broken and has to be urgently repaired or to explain (once again) the importance of moderate consumption and energy saving.
We encourage volunteers to practice recycling by getting necessary things for themselves and to the apartments from second hand shops. In Estonia we have a very good and handy chain of shops with lengthy name Uuskasutuskeskus (Center of Reusing) where you can get all kind of things, which people donate, at a very low price. Actually, a lot of things can be donated or purchased for symbolic price from mentors and hosting projects staff. Also there are Facebook groups to get inexpensive but very good things. And of course we very much follow such practice ourselves when equipping apartments.
Sorting garbage is another important element we explain volunteers to do. It is actually set by Estonian law and therefore has to be respected and followed. Garbage is separated as organic, paper and cardboard, glass, packages and the rest.
As we cooperate with Food Bank in Tallinn (which used to be one of our hosting projects) we engage our contact to explain our volunteers how to avoid food waste but save food by using products which are near to expire. Actually, if best before date has expired it does not mean that the product cannot be used. On a contrary, for few more days it is actually the same good. Such products are sold in the shop with reduction 30-50%. Knowing and using it can help volunteers to save their food money as well as help generally fighting food waste.
Usually after info-meeting at Food Bank volunteers are asked to help there by preparing packages for families in needs. Thus we give a possibility to do something practical too.
Another way of contributing to nature protection and sustainability is to join working weekends/ actions for protection of endangered species or removing invasive plants or restoring natural landscape with Estonian Nature Fund which is our good cooperation partner for Workcamps and other actions. This opportunity is offered to ESC volunteers.
Also ESC volunteers are invited to join our Workcamp taking place at eco-farms to get the experience of sustainable life style in rural areas and give hand to Estonian farmers.
Important to highlight!Although these practices are simple, logic and self-explanatory, they are really needed to be set, well explained and followed. This is what our long experience, sometimes quite painful one, taught us. The more you explain and agree the less problems and conflicts you will have later. Still better to be ready to have some. Regular visits to the accommodation and meetings with volunteers are of a great help and are really advisable. The new challenge and up-scaling would be to encourage volunteers to come up with their ideas of how to make their living more sustainable. This is something we should certainly encourage them to do! |
Before you start cooking, keep in mind…
It is not easy to convince volunteers to follow these rules, to be honest. And to make sure it has been followed, we need to monitor electricity and water consumption on monthly basis. Visiting apartments once in a while may be needed too. But it is not always easy to find a time for it. For many of volunteers sorting garbage is something totally new. All these things need thorough explanation, monitoring and patience.
