THE WOmEN’S VOLUNTARy DEfENCE ORGANIZATION INNOVATES IN AN UNSTABLE WORLD

The Women’s Voluntary Defence Organization (WVDO) recently organized a fourday basic training camp for more than 100 participants, in which everyone could take three basic training modules. It’s a pilot project that has no precedent in the organization.

By: ELISA JAKSON , Women’s Voluntary Defence Organization development specialist

In the WVDO, basic training usually consists of five modules: organizational study, first aid, food service in the field, basic soldier skills and safety. As a rule, each defence district across Estonia organizes basic training itself for several dozen members. Generally, one and one-half days is allotted for each module.

In early 2022, the WVDO had about 2700 members. After Russia attacked Ukraine on 24 February, interest in national defence grew in leaps and bounds – more than 1000 applications for membership poured in over the next few months. In comparison, usually100–200 women join each year. We quickly realized that we would have to think outside the box about how to integrate such an unexpected stream of new members and had to get to work. Simple math showed that if we continued in the same rhythm, we would not be able to fit all new members in basic training. So what was the solution?

INNOSPRINT – INTENSIVE DESIGN THINKING DEVELOPMENT

A team assembled by WVDO chairwoman Airi Tooming leapt into a “design sprint” project that started in April and spanned two months. Innosprint is an intriguing approach to design thinking where in just five days, teams go from defining a problem to a solution that has been tested on users. Innosprint is meant for the public sector and is organized by the Government Office’s “Innotiim”, or innovation team. It welcomes teams that have a problem that needs to be solved or who need different types of solutions in changing situations. Innosprint offers skills and an efficient cooperation method to get the best of the problem.

To find the best possible solution, the recommendation we got was that the team be diverse, consisting of people of different backgrounds. Contributors to the WVDO’s Innotiim were chairwoman Airi Tooming, Rapla district chairwoman and WVDO development specialist Nele Pernits, WVDO development specialist Elisa Jakson, Harju districts instructor Lana Toomvap and volunteer WVDO members Triin Tõnsing from the Tartu district, Jane Koitlepp from the Sakala district and Aivi Murd-Murulauk from the Tallinn district. “Sherpa” Kadi Raudsepp, who provided support to us on the Innosprint side, also gave us lots of feedback from a pair of eyes outside our own organization.

For five days, we engaged in intensive development work, where everything was built on understanding the needs of the new member, then elucidating the problem and choosing a focus.

At the end of the process, the question that was left on the table was: how could a new member complete basic training in a year and thus become a knowledgeable, motivated and dedicated member?

Innovative thinking – brainstorm about what you could do if there were no financial constraints or human resources limits and then also dream about what you could do if you didn’t have any funds at all. And finally, how to nudge people to take action in your desired direction.

Innosprint was like a wild carousel that led us to many good realizations and ideas.

Hacking the problem, we arrived at our initial solution – we decided to turn back to our roots – hold a big camp where 100 members could all take three modules: A major advantage of the camp format would be the vibe, a better orientation for participants –new friends and new experiences that would forge a bond that will last years. Since the person best poised to assess the solution is the end user herself, the Innosprint project also envisioned test- ing the developed solution on the right target group.

We prepared a plan with a detailed schedule, contacted the new members and asked for their opinion. Upon testing the initial prototypes, members gave us useful information about topics that we had taken for granted but brought up questions for them. We were also able to supplement the initial timetable and other details.

First Course In The University Of Life

The idea developed in the course of Innosprint went into action right away – the first WVDO basic training camp in history took place from 14 to 17 July 2022 in Alu, Rapla County. The target group consisted of the new members of the Northern territorial defence district – the Tallinn, Harju and Rapla districts: the problem of not enough slots for everyone in basic training was keenest in Tallinn and Harju.

The final number of participants in the innovative basic training camp was 115 and nine basic training modules were held – in other words, three modules simultaneously. Participants slept in squad tents in the courtyard of Alu Manor, and the training was held indoors and outdoors.

According to Triin Tõnsing, one of the participants at Innosprint, basic training is like the first course in the university of life for every WVDO member, where they get the knowledge and skills for their service in WVDO.

“Actually, basic training also confers many skills needed for real life – ranging from how to increase your and your family’s crisis readiness to how to apply a pressure bandage,” added Nele Pernits, the head organizer.

The days of the basic training camp were full of fascinating learning and participants had hands-on time, being able to contribute ideas and have a say. “Camp participants were in situations where they had to tend to an injured person, turning them on to their side, stirring soup in an outdoor kitchen, extinguishing an unexpected fire or searching for a well-camouflaged friend,” said Pernits.

Feedback from participants was positive. Participants felt that everyone could push their limits, gain much new knowledge and make great new friends. The assembled group was diverse, as it is in other WVDO training courses, and participants valued this. Participants said it was exciting to share impressions with their tent mates, who included ex- perienced outdoors people and alpinists and total beginners.

The organizational side drew particular praise – the whole plan and workings of the camp were skilfully structured and kept smoothly functioning. Participants said the instructors were brighteyed and professional specialists who explained even the most complicated topics in an experienced manner – even after lunch, when the learning process usually slows down a little.

“We have not seen such a great, cohesive bunch of people for a long time. The fact that I was in the right place and I wanted to belong here only fuelled my enthusiasm.”

“The whole camp was an amazing experience; I have never seen such an impressive bunch of women in one place at one time. Thanks you for the wonderful experience and the synergy!”

These are just a few titbits from the feedback. Thus, the idea of the camp developed with Innosprint proved its worth completely. In addition to the fact that a number of people could complete a number of the basic training modules, the camp had an indescribably high value for participants, instructors and organizers.