Who are we?

Tasaarengu Eesti Organisatsioon (affectionately known as TEOkoda) was founded to introduce and guide degrowth (tasaareng in Estonian) in Estonia. In a degrowth Estonia, central to life are meaningful existence, social relations, a more equal society and sufficiency, achieved through democratic processes.

We follow the same values in our organisation's everyday work, organising ourselves sociocratically and using collective intelligence principles in decision-making.

To move towards a degrowth Estonia, we promote thematic education in society and publish various informational and educational materials. We also run a reading club and organise community events (e.g. summer schools, winter days) to explore the many dimensions of degrowth and develop the community of degrowth enthusiasts in Estonia.

Tasaarengu Eesti MTÜ follows the code of ethics for civil society organisations in its work.

vision

We work for an Estonia that is degrowth. Central are meaningful life, social relations, a more equal society and sufficiency, achieved through democratic processes. People have collectively reached wellbeing while staying within planetary boundaries.

Values

Evidence-based

We base our work on international research in social, environmental and other fields. We participate in global networks connecting researchers and practitioners, such as Research & Degrowth International, Wellbeing Economy Alliance, Democracy R&D.

Courage and ambition

We develop new narratives and encourage everyone to think about a future where humans and nature exist without harming each other and where the elementary needs for wellbeing are guaranteed for all members of society.

Cooperation

Degrowth is a cross-sectoral and transnational goal. We support and bring together degrowth practitioners and value carriers. We base our activities on the principles of deliberative democracy and knowledge.

Practice

We follow communities around the world who already live sustainably, try to learn from them and practice what we work for.

Empathy

We understand that above all, the system must change and people will follow. It is understandable that it is difficult for people to step out of their habitual everyday practices and thought patterns. We do our best to make degrowth understandable and accessible to those who are ready for it.

Structure

TEOkoda was founded in 2023 and built on sociocratic principles. Our activities are divided between three working chambers and several project-based working groups:

Internal chamber
Communications chamber
Vision chamber / board
Read here about our various projects

Activity leaders meet weekly to reach shared goals. Chamber and project representatives meet monthly in the central chamber, which is the organisation's executive body. Representatives rotate, questions and decisions are communicated to all members, and we base our activities on trust and transparency.

Organisation members are divided into so-called active and sleeping snails. Active members contribute to working groups and the central chamber and to shaping work processes according to the organisation's current needs and capacities.

Activities

Our activities reflect our people and are quite diverse, but all contribute to the theory of systemic change. We are currently working towards the following goals:

Promoting degrowth education: we have taught degrowth courses at Rakvere Gymnasium, University of Tartu and Viljandi Culture Academy, given lectures, initiated media debates and communicated our activities and thematic knowledge and practices. Our main sister projects — the reading club, podcast Küllalt, Aegraja publishing house and TERRA low tech park — are also educational.
Developing cooperation and alternatives: we organised Estonia's first Beyond Growth conference and strengthened international relations in degrowth projects, conferences and summer schools abroad, including in the European Parliament-initiated security project New Idealism for a Disrupted Europe. We support other degrowth organisations with our knowledge and activities and are establishing ourselves in the entrepreneurship landscape through the New Economy Incubator. We advocate for wider adoption of wellbeing indicators instead of GDP.
Building community and expanding interest: we organise community events to explore the many dimensions of degrowth and develop the community of degrowth enthusiasts in Estonia.

Read more about our initiatives on the activities and projects page.

Community

Maiko Mathiesen

DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE

Maiko is a political ecologist, degrowth expert and trainer, civil society activist with private sector experience, and a systemic thinker in Estonia and internationally. Enthusiast of beach volleyball and winter swimming.

Farištamo Eller

COMMUNICATIONS LEAD

Farištamo is a spokesperson for nature and animals, a pianist who works as a host, advocate and communications manager.

Teele Pehk

MEMBERS, COMMUNITY, WELLBEING COALITION

Teele is a passionate democracy promoter who has organised four citizens' assemblies in Estonia. In her free time, Teele is a mother of two sons, a life partner, a folk singer and loves to dance.

Mayri Tiido

BOARD LEAD, PODCAST KÜLLALT!

Mayri is a trainer with an economics degree, events manager and circular economy expert. At TEOkoda she leads the podcast Küllalt!. In her free time she reads a lot and dances ballroom.

Riinu Lepa

SOCIOCRACY MENTOR

Riinu is a sustainability trainer and consultant whose main work is as a junior researcher at the Ragnar Nurkse Institute of Innovation and Governance. She also guides organisations and communities in collective intelligence governance.

Imre Treufeld

WELLBEING AMBASSADOR

Imre studied chemistry to doctoral level in the US. Working on technological problems, he has come to understand that the solutions to global problems (climate change, ecosystem destruction, pollution, health issues, etc.) lie not in technology but in human behaviour.

Aet Annist

COLUMNIST, CONSULTANT

Aet is an anthropologist and committed editorial spirit who studies post- and pre-collapse societies from both scientific and personal interest. Has led degrowth-themed columns in Sirp and Müürileht since the early 2000s.

Mattias Veller

NEW ECONOMY INCUBATOR

Mattias trained as an artist, works as an art technician, and is interested in developing the skills needed in a post-growth world, at both the individual and collective levels.

Maria Muuk

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Maria is a graphic designer and book designer who researches the history of Estonian print design, uses various craft methods in her professional work, and co-founded the TERRA simple technology theme park together with TEOkoda founding member Madis Vasser.

Several supporting members have also contributed to TEOkoda: Madis Vasser, Mariliis Kõuts, Jaanika Põld (Altraja), Kaisa Jõgeva, Maris Pedaja, Andra Jelle, Henri Kõiv, Merlyn Dunderdale, Aljona Karlõševa, Martin Altraja, Tõnn Viik and others.

Funding

We are a young NGO and have so far worked mainly on a voluntary basis. We are constantly looking for project funding and cooperation partners — if interested, contact Maiko at maikomath@outlook.com. Other contacts can be found here.