Valentin’s project in Estonia – Mental health training

While being a volunteer of the European Solidarity Corps in Estonia, Valentin put in place his own initiative of solidarity with his mental health training !

For his CLIC personal project of solidarity, Valentin organised a series of activities across Paldiski, Padise, Klooga, Laulasmaa, and Rummu to raise awareness about mental health and foster social connection among young people aged 6 to 25.

The programme included weekly French tutoring, a mental health workshop with specialist Helena-Karoliina, stress ball making sessions, and a multi-location chess tournament supported by the Estonian Chess Centre. Creative activities such as a carnival mask workshop in Padise led into a Dixit party in Rummu, which encouraged communication and play across language barriers. In total, more than 90 children and young people participated in the various events.

The project successfully combined education, creativity, and games to engage participants and open conversations about mental health in an informal way. It strengthened community bonds, inspired her hosting organisation to repeat activities such as the chess tournament, and improved collaboration with volunteers.

Organising the events helped Valentin develop skills in project planning, communication, negotiation, and adaptability. He learned to create appealing promotional materials, manage activities across multiple locations, and adjust plans when faced with challenges. Overall, he feels proud to have created a series of inclusive and meaningful events that promoted well-being while enhancing her personal and professional growth.

This initiative was supported along the CLIC project. C.L.I.C. for “Coordinating Locally in order to Increase More Changes with  the European solidarity Corps” is a cooperation partnership we participate  in with 9 other like-minded organisations from 9 European countries. Together, we want to increase the impact and the visibility of the European  Solidarity Corps in our communities, while providing young people with a  strong educational value along their volunteering projects.