19/09/2024
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On 18 September, during his visit to Estonia, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, visited the Estonian Refugee Council's office in Tallinn and met with refugees living in Estonia at Teacher's House (Õpetajate Maja).
According to Eero Janson, Head of the Estonian Refugee Council, hosting the UN High Commissioner is a significant honour. "During the meeting, we discussed our work in Estonia and elsewhere, as well as various joint advocacy efforts aimed at protecting the rights of people forced to flee their homes," Janson said.
Representatives from the Estonian Human Rights Centre and NGO Mondo also participated in the meeting on behalf of civil society.
Later, Filippo Grandi met with members of the local refugee community at Õpetajate Maja to hear their stories, experiences, and concerns regarding integration into Estonian society. After listening to their accounts, the High Commissioner emphasised that language barriers often pose one of the biggest obstacles to settling into a new environment, regardless of the country. He highlighted that language education is an area requiring joint efforts and thanked the Estonian Refugee Council for its work in assisting and supporting refugees.
Filippo Grandi has been the UN High Commissioner for Refugees since 2016, leading the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which coordinates international protection and assistance for more than 100 million displaced people worldwide.
08/11/2024
Art for healing and self-development: The story of “Kachur” online school
Art for healing and self-development: The story of “Kachur” online school
Ms. Nataliya Kachur comes from the city of Soledar in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. Due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Nataliya and her family moved away from the frontlines and to the central region of Cherkasy. It was not easy for Nataliya’s family to suddenly uproot their lives and settle in a completely new place far from their social network and previous jobs. Having 20 years of experience in teaching art, Nataliya decided to begin offering online drawing lessons, leveraging her love for art to earn a living in an unfamiliar area.
06/11/2024
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in October
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in October
A donation campaign in Estonia is still active to provide humanitarian aid for people affected by the conflict in Lebanon.On 7 November, we are organising an international humanitarian conference in Tallinn, which focuses on ethical dilemmas, preventive action, and the use of artificial intelligence.In Ukraine, we continue to distribute winter support to cover heating costs for 4,500 households during the upcoming winter season. Assistance will be provided in cash, or alternatively, firewood or coal will be delivered directly to those in need.A financial assistance programme was launched in Ukraine to increase food security and self-sufficiency for vulnerable households and communities by improving the winter living conditions of livestock and poultry.In Armenia’s Lori region, a women’s livelihoods programme started.Our Armenia office has signed an agreement with the Estonian University of Life Sciences to help three schools in the Tavush region implement water- and energy-efficient agricultural solutions developed in Estonia to alleviate water scarcity and promote environmental education.In Georgia, a cash assistance programme has been launched to support Ukrainian refugees living there through the winter months. For more information, visit the Estonian Refugee Council´s website.
04/11/2024
Estonian Refugee Council’s International Humanitarian Conference Focuses on the Sector's Future and Ethical Dilemmas
Estonian Refugee Council’s International Humanitarian Conference Focuses on the Sector's Future and Ethical Dilemmas
Eesti Pagulasabi korraldab 7. novembril Tallinnas, Fotografiskas rahvusvahelise humanitaarkonverentsi, mille keskmes on eetika, ennetav tegutsemine ja tehisintellekti kasutus humanitaarabis.
15/10/2024
ERC supports vulnerable households with livelihoods in the Poltava region: the story of Mykhailo Semesenko
ERC supports vulnerable households with livelihoods in the Poltava region: the story of Mykhailo Semesenko
Mykhailo and his wife have been keeping cows for over 30 years. They started with one cow to have milk for themselves. Then they got more cows and delivered milk to the dairy. After losing their main job, keeping and breeding cows became the main source of income for the couple. A husband and a wife independently take care of animals, sell milk, as well as sour milk cheese, sour cream and fermented baked milk (ryazhanka) of their own production at the local market.
09/10/2024
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's activities in September
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's activities in September
We launched a donation campaign in Estonia to provide humanitarian aid for people affected by the conflict in Lebanon.On 7 November, we are organising an international humanitarian conference in Tallinn, which is still open for registration. This year's conference will focus on ethical dilemmas, preventive action, and the use of artificial intelligence.The third season of the "Empowering Women" programme has begun in Estonia.We have launched a nursery school counselling programme in Estonia to strengthen inclusive learning environments.As part of Mental Health Month, we are organising a Mental Well-being Day in Tallinn on 12 October.In Ukraine, we have begun distributing winter support to cover heating costs for 4,500 households during the upcoming winter season. Assistance will be provided in cash, or alternatively, firewood or coal will be delivered directly to those in need.In Armenia’s Lori region, we launched a women’s livelihoods programme.
08/10/2024
Estonian Refugee Council Supports the Creation of Inclusive Learning Environments in Kindergartens in Ida-Viru County and Tallinn
Estonian Refugee Council Supports the Creation of Inclusive Learning Environments in Kindergartens in Ida-Viru County and Tallinn
The Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) is advising specialists in kindergartens in Ida-Viru County and Tallinn to help create more integrated and inclusive learning environments. The programme, which runs until the end of January 2025, is supported by the British Council in Estonia. This is the fourth year the ERC has provided such consultation for kindergartens.
07/10/2024
Emergency in Lebanon: ERC collects donations to respond to the humanitarian crisis
Emergency in Lebanon: ERC collects donations to respond to the humanitarian crisis
The situation in Lebanon is critical and people need immediate help. Estonian Refugee Council is collecting donations to support people affected by the hostilities with emergency response.
03/10/2024
A third-wave coffee shop in Poltava region as a symbol of the strength of the individual spirit
A third-wave coffee shop in Poltava region as a symbol of the strength of the individual spirit
In the small town of Kobeliaky, Poltava oblast, Iryna (33) opened a coffee shop, which immediately gained the favor of the locals. Iryna tells the story of its creation as follows: “Our TaTySho cafe appeared as a result of the desire to move further while I was on maternity leave. In addition, it was at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In a short time, I developed a plan to open a cafe. My husband had the premises and materials, and at the end of February 2022, my parents and brother, who was a builder, fled from Kyiv for shelter. Thus, together we managed to open a decent place, which was quite unusual for such a local community”.
26/09/2024
October is Mental Health Month: Rejuvenate Yourself on Mental Wellbeing Day
October is Mental Health Month: Rejuvenate Yourself on Mental Wellbeing Day
Estonian Refugee Council is organising a Mental Wellbeing Day on October 12th from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Tallinn Central Library’s Foreign Literature Department as part of Mental Health Month. The aim of the event is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to provide practical opportunities for supporting wellbeing through yoga classes, creative therapy, and individual counselling.
13/09/2024
International Humanitarian Assistance Conference: Ethics, Foresight & Innovation in Humanitarian Action
International Humanitarian Assistance Conference: Ethics, Foresight & Innovation in Humanitarian Action
The Estonian Refugee Council’s International Humanitarian Assistance Conference returns for its second year, taking place on November 7, 2024 in Fotografiska, Tallinn. The conference brings together a diverse group of experts and panellists from international humanitarian organisations to delve into the evolving challenges faced by the humanitarian sector.