The Ida-Virumaa Vision project brings together local leaders, civil society and citizens to imagine a new future for one of Estonia’s most complex regions — one that has long relied on oil-shale but is now searching for new energy, new skills, and new opportunities.
Over the past year, Nidus Balticus has worked with community representatives, cultural figures and entrepreneurs to co-create a shared vision for the region’s transition. The process included leadership group workshops, study visits to Visaginas and Silesia, and a series of focus group discussions to test how local residents perceive the Vision’s ideas and priorities. These conversations helped ensure that the final document truly reflects people’s hopes, concerns, and sense of identity.
This autumn marked an important milestone: the Ida-Virumaa Vision document was finalized and presented just as Estonia’s local municipal elections took place. With all members of the leadership group remaining actively involved, the project continues to demonstrate strong local ownership and credibility. The next goal is to translate the Vision’s ideas into practice — and to see some of them integrated into local development strategies and policy agendas.
The Vision process has already achieved what once seemed difficult: bringing together Estonian- and Russian-speaking communities around a shared discussion on the future. As Nidus Balticus moves forward, the project will keep building bridges between citizens and decision-makers, proving that real change begins when local voices shape their own tomorrow.