NGO THINK ESTONIA

Prof.emeritus Leo VõhanduIn Turkish: Leo Vɪhandu

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START in 2002

Tallinn University of Technology had a Centerfor Rehabilitation tehnologies. I was the head of it.We participated in EU PanBaltic Project to helpdisabled persons(DP) to study at the University level.Every small country had to make extensive psychological and educational tests to choose after a full year work only 5 DP-s to be educated!?

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THAT WAS MADNESS

Hopeless task with no practical results (Latvia and Lithuania)

Brussels had hopes that those 5 get enough salary to organizea new office. Nonsense!

We organized a free admission of students without asking forany educational papers. Brains are important, not papers!We had about 150 students and 56 of them did take all 21 examinations in computer technology after 2 years. The level of study was controlled by University's Methodical Commission and every student got usual Credit Points. Officially we did belong to our Open University Department.

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RESULTS

Many lucky people got the final document from the hand of our ViceRector for studies. We had nice talks and music made by our first doctor in Informatics DP with heavy handicap Kaido Kikkas (he is now associate professor teaching informatics in 2 universities and one college).

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Learn About Finding Jobs for the disabled

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FOLLOW UP NGO THINK ESTONIA

As there was no additional money from Brussels or University we had to create in 2004 our institution NGO THINK Estonia headed by Külliki Bode.At that moment we did not find any support from Disabled Persons Center as they were afraid of us: one more organisation asking for money from same pot.We tried to get money from Estonian Scientific Foundation, but the answer was for us very surprising. The review of our project was short and deathly. As the organizers at TTU have not had any education in logopedy and special pedagogics they have to be arrested instead of giving them money to waste!!

OUR ANSWER

We did ask the highbrowed scientific commission how would they educate such a person as our acting director Meelis Lukswas and is. He can't speak, he doesn't have hands and sits in an wheelchair. He writes and paints with his feet and uses computers synthesizer for communication.Instead of being a helpless person in his family he is an active artist and computer programmerand brings in his share of family income.There is no answer from that comission up to now!

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OUR SHORT HISTORY

We did live many years on a very lean budget. Mostly somesmall projects through the initiative of Külliki Bode. After some years the DP organisation gave us a small office in their center and Külliki could create tighter contacts with Estonian Social Enterprises Association.

We have organised a lot of new courses: along with english language also finnish language

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OUR ORGANIZATION

•The THINK Work and Educational Center has been created for disabled persons all over the Estonia.

•The goal of the Center is to help with continuing education courses and practical work the subsistance of Disabled Persons.

•The school licence 6817HTM was handed out by Ministery of Education and Science on 13.11.2012 Doc. 587.

•We all are DP-s!

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OUR TASKS

•To find in the open work market new possibilities for DPs selfrealization.•To enable DPs take part in refresher courses.•To ensure DPs with suitable technological ressources for work and learning.•In coordination with partners to make easier the process of careers guidance for DPs.

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OUR GOALS

•To develop NGO THINK Estonia as an organization and ensure its sustainability.•To create good relationships with international organi-zations for coordinated work.•Our goal is to bid different exciting courses and refresher courses for disabled persons mostly in subjects connected with DP world.•Naturally our educational center is open to other people who want to replenish their education.

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WHAT ELSE OUTSIDE THE CENTER?

•We have an Internet Shop to sell our members handycraft products ( www.think.ee / shop)•We have in the deep South of Estonia (only ca 250 km from Tallinn!) a stationary shop selling handycraft and all kind of small conveniences for living.•Other DP organizations have also tried to create their own shops but they all have died out.

WHAT KIND OF GOODS?

•Handicraft (hosiery, handwear,mittens, shawls, jewellery, etc)•Original artistic postcards (greeting cards, Christmas cards, gift and money tokens, condolence cards etc)•Artistic stamps and envelopes.•Ice,sweets, refreshers, etc.•Many different types of carrier bags for all occasions

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SERVICES

•High-level work from Disabled Persons!•We have in our organisation THINK Estonia many persons who know how to do excellent work efficiently.•We have repeatedly proven that being a DP is not a hindrance.•We offer excellent work and propose high-level service.•F.e. Our unlucky head first divers sitting in wheelchairs•created an Estonian Atlas with maps of all bigger•settlements where the houses allowing wheelchair entrance are marked.

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STANDARD SERVICES

•Data input•Accounting•Design of logos, business cards and of different forms and sheets•Different computer tasks and solutions•Organization of courses•Video processing•Organization of events

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CONTACTS WITH VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

•We have visited and had seminars in all Estonian Regions' Vocational School Centers. Such schools are well equipped in Estonia. They are ready to teach Disabled Persons and their houses suit Dps.•Important is that they have also dormitories for students. If in one school there are more than 5 disabled students, the school organizes for them a separate learning group. Local Government helps also a DP with an individual support person if needed. Transport.

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MORAL

•Don't worry, be happy!•Life is for living, not for complaining!

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LIST OF OUR COURSES

•Computer ABC •Mimer Desk handling•Text Processing•Excel•Work Law•Document Management,Office work•Foundations of Enterprising

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LIST OF OUR COURSES 2

•How to create Home Pages•Web Design•Marketing•Linux•How to write projects•Accounting•English I and II•How to succeed on your work

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LIST OF OUR COURSES 3

•Home Pages II•English for Hard Hearing People•PHP programming•Corel Draw•Dynamic Web•Selfcontrol Methods•Accounting ucing MeritAktiva Package•How to sell

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LIST OF OUR COURSES 4

•Finnish language•Sign language•How to contact with DP•Time management•Estonian language for Offices•Hear Power

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THANK YOU!

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