Power Lies in Simplicity

CSO: MTÜ TERRA teemapark
Area: Low-tech solutions
Location: Tartumaa, Southern Estonia

Type of project

The project strengthens awareness and practical skills in low-tech solutions that help mitigate climate change while enabling communities to adapt in a resilient and cost-effective way. Through the TERRA low-tech theme park, people gain hands-on experience showing that a comfortable, meaningful life is possible with a significantly smaller environmental footprint.

Target (Disengaged)

The project engages disengaged young people by offering hands-on, low-tech workshops that provide a practical and accessible middle ground between high-tech solutions and climate fatalism. By framing activities around making, experimenting, and everyday problem-solving, TERRA reaches those who have not previously participated in environmental action but are motivated by doing and learning through practice.

Science-based

The project is grounded in scientific literature demonstrating the effectiveness of low-tech approaches for climate mitigation and adaptation, including peer-reviewed research and internationally recognized publications. This knowledge base is complemented by practice-based expertise from academic and professional partners, ensuring that workshops and solutions are both evidence-based and field-tested.

Gender

The project promotes gender equality by democratizing technology through inclusive, gender-neutral communication and by actively encouraging girls and women to acquire building and engineering skills traditionally dominated by men.

Planned activities

• Equip at least 90 participants with practical skills in low-tech energy solutions through 6 hands-on workshops (solar, wind, and pedal power).
• Produce and refine at least 3 open-access guidance materials to enable participants to share and replicate solutions beyond the workshops.
• Contribute to the wider adoption of low-tech energy solutions in Estonia, supporting reduced reliance on fossil and high-tech energy systems and increased community climate resilience

Action model

• The project’s action model is a learn–test–share cycle: context-specific guides are developed, validated through hands-on workshops, and then openly shared so participants and visitors can replicate low-tech solutions in their own communities, strengthening climate resilience.