- The Tallinn Humanitarian Conference, organised by the Estonian Refugee Council, will take place on 5 November at Fotografiska. This year’s global conference will focus on three key themes: system reform; protecting people in data-driven humanitarian action; and the division of roles in humanitarian planning and implementation. More information and registration are available on the ERC’s website. The project is funded by ESTDEV – the Estonian Centre for International Development.
- The final cultural awareness training session will take place in Võru on 24 September, supporting local authorities in addressing migration and integration-related issues. Register on the Estonian Refugee Council platform.
- In August, we visited the Voloske transit centre and the support centre in Dnipro, in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, to see how donations raised in Estonia this spring have helped people there.
- A new project has got underway in Armenia, aiming to empower women, strengthen the resilience of border communities, and support climate adaptation, environmental protection and economic independence.
- We established an official presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Ukraine
We provide cash assistance, which allows people affected by the war to purchase food, medicines, hygiene products, and other essentials. In August, we assisted nearly 4,250 people. As of now, we have provided cash-based assistance to 346,468 conflict-affected people. Cash assistance is provided for 3–6 months. Registration is carried out through Estonian Refugee Council's local registration points or via the online application platform. Currently, our focus is on assisting those in need in frontline areas in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumska, Dnipropetrovska, Mykolaivska, Odeska and Khersonska oblasts. The programme is supported by the European Union, the US Government, the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Estonian Refugee Council is the lead partner for the European Union funded project, while Acted is the lead for the US Government funded consortium.
We support livelihood activities related to agriculture, livestock, food production, and various services through emergency assistance, with the aim of strengthening people’s self-reliance. The support amount is around 700 euros. In August we shared 14 grants in Kharkivska oblast. Since February, we have shared more than 840 grants altogether. The programme is funded by the European Union and the US Government.
We run entrepreneurship programmes to help people affected by war create sustainable sources of income for themselves. We support new and existing businesses in Poltava, Cherkasy, Dnipro, Kirovohad, and Kharkiv oblasts. So far, we have distributed a total of 347 grants for both existing and new businesses. The project is developed in partnership with Acted and supported by the US Government
In August, we visited the Voloske transit centre and the support centre in Dnipro, in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, to see how donations raised in Estonia this spring have helped people there. We distributed toys, books, board games and arts and crafts materials for the children’s spaces, helping children who arrive there feel a little more supported and safe during difficult times. Read more on the Estonian Refugee Council’s website.
Estonia
Through the Language Ladder programme, we support Ukrainian refugee youth in language learning and social integration. In August, a three-day youth camp was held in Kloogaranna, where participants played games and sports, went on a forest hike and explored the Arvo Pärt Centre. The young people also practised teamwork by taking on challenges at Nõmme Adventure Park, took part in a language immersion programme at PROTO Invention Factory and expanded their knowledge of nature at Sagadi Nature School. A total of 83 young people took part in the language camp at Avatud Kool, while the final language-learning group for young people aged 13–18 also completed its activities in Tallinn. The project is being implemented in collaboration with Tallinn University and the Polish organisation Dobra Fabryka. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.
The refugee youth-led project Youth Pulse has been launched, focusing on building a community in Tartu where both young people and older residents come together. Through a range of activities, the project develops and strengthens intergenerational relationships to help newcomers adapt more easily. In August, during a canoe trip at the Aidu quarry, the young people learned how the area’s canals were formed, which species live there and much more. We also visited the park of Saka Manor. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
We conduct monthly adaptation support training sessions on various subjects, including use of e-services, parenting, education system, adaptation of pensioners, legal matters, entrepreneurship, medical and social system, labour market, as well as legal foundations and residence permits. In August, 128 people took part in training sessions. The most popular were training sessions on legal rights and artificial intelligence, where we introduced the basics of AI and discussed how modern AI tools can support everyday life and help people adapt to life in Estonia. Since 2022, more than 14,700 people have taken part in the training sessions.
We organise regular group activities and community events across Estonia. The Language Roulette programme continued to bring together Estonian speakers and people with a refugee background for informal language practice. Our active programme for older adults also continued, providing a safe and welcoming space for socialising, sharing experiences, and gaining practical knowledge. With support from donations collected among members of the British-Estonian Chamber of Commerce, we continued organising activities that strengthen community connections and support the integration of people with a refugee background.
In cooperation with the Integration Foundation, we are giving seminars to strengthen the capacity of local governments in the fields of migration and integration. In 2026, seminars took place in Haapsalu, Pärnu, Võru, Valga, Kärdla, Põlva, Põltsamaa, Kuressaare, Tallinn and Tartu. Cultural sensitivity training sessions have been held in Pärnu, Tallinn and Tartu. In total, 14 seminars and training sessions have been carried out across Estonia in the first half of the year. The final cultural awareness training session will take place in Võru on 24 September, you can register on ERC’s platform.The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Ministry of the Interior.
In cooperation with the Integration Foundation, we began organising various events across Estonia to increase the civic engagement of third-country nationals, including beneficiaries of international protection. The aim is to strengthen mutual understanding and trust, and to help third-country nationals cope better with everyday life and participate more actively in society. In August, we visited Pärnu, where, in cooperation with the Rowing Base and the Women’s Voluntary Defence Organisation, participants learned about rowing and safety requirements and had the opportunity to put their new knowledge into practice. The Women’s Voluntary Defence Organisation also provided first aid and crisis preparedness training. Project no. AMIF.1.02.23-0005 “Cooperation activities to increase the civic engagement of third-country nationals, including beneficiaries of international protection” is co-funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
As part of the Refugee Councils United for Youth project, we are developing international cooperation in youth work with the Finnish Refugee Council, the Irish Refugee Council and the Danish Refugee Council’s youth organisation. In August, we took part in a joint study visit to Denmark, where we gained valuable insights into the local organisation DFUNK’s approaches to youth work, volunteer engagement and working with young people from refugee backgrounds. We also met with the Danish Refugee Council and learned more about the challenges faced by civil society organisations working with refugees in Denmark. An overview of the study on youth engagement and sense of belonging, conducted in winter, is available on the Estonian Refugee Council’s website. The project is funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme.
We provide counselling by appointment at the Estonian Refugee Council office (Vambolo6, Tallinn) every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Our information hotline is open to all refugees, as well as institutions and individuals assisting them, at +372 5881 1311 (Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm), and via email at counselling@pagulasabi.ee.
Armenia
Thanks to funding from the European Union, we have launched four community councils so people with refugee backgrounds can voice their concerns and take part in decision-making processes that affect them. In August, the Yerevan, Gyumri, Dilijan, and Yeghegnadzor Community Councils held their final sessions, reflecting on their one-year operation. Additionally, all groups finalised the implementation of their initiatives and launched the recruitment of the second round of community councils. Also, in August, the Sevan and Goris self-help groups completed the 8-day programme. Grants receivers were selected and monitoring visits were conducted. The programme is funded by the European Union.
We aim to strengthen Armenia’s green business ecosystem and promote circular economy principles through non-formal entrepreneurship education in public schools. In August, together with our partners, we developed an interactive educational game introducing children to how agriculture works. We are also planning to create an extracurricular programme that will be used in schools across the country. The programme is funded by ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for International Development.
We kicked off a new project contributing to women’s participation in decision-making, gender-responsive climate adaptation, environmental governance, disaster risk reduction, economic empowerment, and strengthening the resilience of border communities. This project is funded with UK International Development from the UK government and is implemented by Estonian Refugee Council within the framework of the Building Resilience in the Eastern Neighbourhood programme, carried out by the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR).
Occupied Palestinian territory
The Estonian Refugee Council established an official presence in the occupied Palestinian territory to expand its humanitarian and livelihoods programmes in both Gaza and the West Bank, with a focus on cash assistance and supporting people to rebuild their livelihoods. Read more on the ERC website.
Sudan
The Estonian Refugee Council began operations in hard-to-reach areas of Central and South Darfur, providing cash assistance to conflict-affected families and establishing safe referral pathways to protection and other essential services. In the first phase, we aim to reach around 270 families, or 2,700 people. Read more on the ERC website. The project is implemented in cooperation with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) and local partners and is supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).