Connections – E-tanoda/E-mentoring Community-Building Program

Within the framework of the Stronger Roots – Social Base-Building Program

Our program has been selected as one of the supported initiatives of the NIOK Foundation “Stronger Roots – Social Base-Building” call. This opportunity represents not only financial support for us, but also opens a development pathway in which professional mentoring, trainings, and the guidance of experienced experts help shape the next phase of E-tanoda’s growth.

This is particularly important for us, as in recent years the organization has undergone significant professional and geographical expansion, making the conscious strengthening of our social embeddedness both necessary and timely.

Project duration: January 2026 – June 2027 (18 months)
Objective of the project:

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen and expand the social base of the E-tanoda program in order to ensure that mentoring for disadvantaged students operates within a stable, sustainable, and broadly supported framework. Our aim is for the program to become a widely recognized and supported social cause—one that does not rely solely on individual grants, but is sustained by the strength of a cohesive and engaged community.

Our specific objectives are therefore that the program:

- increases community engagement among mentors, mentees, and their families,
- expands the circle of supporters and donors of the organization,
- further strengthens and develops its partnership network,
- reinforces the organization’s operational and institutional capacities,
- and enhances the social visibility of the program.

Target Groups

The project is built on the involvement of several interconnected target groups:
- Mentors (high school and university students) – one of the primary target groups of the program; university students also act as implementers.
- Mentee students – disadvantaged young people who receive academic and community support.
- Parents and family members – key actors in expanding the program’s community base.
- Volunteers and prospective volunteers – supporters of organizational and community activities.
- Professional partners (schools, NGOs) – strategic actors in extending the program’s reach and development.
- Private donors and supporters – contributors to the financial sustainability of the program.
- The wider public – engaged to help position the initiative as an important social cause.

What do we aim to implement within the framework of the program?

In the coming period, we will place a strong emphasis on strengthening and expanding the E-tanoda community.

Our mentors and students live in different parts of the country, yet they are united by a shared intention: to ensure that, alongside the digital space, genuine personal connections can also develop within the community. To support this, we will organize two large mentor–mentee gatherings and six thematic workshops, where participants will not only learn from one another but also share their experiences and strengthen their sense of belonging to the community.

It is especially important for us that families also become part of this process. We will therefore organize five larger events – both online and offline – involving at least 150 parents and family members, so that they can become more closely connected to the program and actively support their children’s development.

We also aim to make the work of E-tanoda more visible to the wider public. On a monthly basis, we will produce online content – posts, short videos, and stories – and launch at least three major communication campaigns so that more people can learn about the program and its impact.

To ensure long-term sustainability, we will also organize fundraising campaigns aimed at reaching 150–200 new private donors. Through this, we hope to strengthen the financial stability and independence of the program.

At the same time, we will continue to expand our professional partner network, establishing at least 10 new collaborations with schools and civil society organizations so that we can reach even more students. As the growing community also requires increased organizational capacity, we will involve a new part-time staff member and university students in operational tasks to help implement our programs in a more structured and efficient way.

Finally—and perhaps most importantly—we want to shape the future together. On three occasions, we will bring together mentors, students, and parents for values and vision workshops, where we will collectively reflect on the direction in which the E-tanoda community should develop in the coming years.

Amount of the grant: 36.075 EUR

With the professional and financial support of the NIOK Foundation, we now have all the tools we need to build an even stronger E-tanoda together. An exciting and inspiring year and a half lies ahead—join us on this journey!