Support for Ukrainian Refugees in Estonia

Estonians have offered their help and made donations to support Ukrainian war refugees. Many in Canada know what it means to be a refugee from war and military occupation. In 1944, over 80,000 Estonians fled the country, hoping to return. Shockingly, we now find Ukrainians in a similar situation.

Estonia has received between 25,000 to 30,000 Ukrainian war refugees to date, 40% of whom are children. About 20,000 of these refugees have decided to stay in Estonia for the foreseeable future. These refugees need safe, long-term housing, help in adjusting to life in Estonia and much more.

It is wonderful to see such overwhelming support for the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund from so many individuals and families, and from the following organizations:

• The Toronto Estonian Baptist Church

• Ööbik, the Academic Societies’ Choir in Toronto

• Northern Birch Credit Union (which waived banking fees for transfers to Estonia)

Over 100,000 euros have been raised by EERO to date and delivered to the Estonian Refugee Council (Eesti pagulasabi) which is helping Ukrainian refugees in the following 5 areas:

• Financial aid for children’s education: provided to families with children– to enable them to start school, without cutting into their subsistence allowance

• Mental health support: always part of Eesti pagulasabi’s service and includes trauma therapy, provided to both adult and child refugees individually and in groups

• Advice and counseling: via telephone and email, as well as in person, in its Tallinn office

• Long-term housing: Eesti pagulasabi serves as the intermediary for offers of housing to the war refugees

• Support groups: Eesti pagulasabi has developed information sessions on specific themes–work, children and school/daycare, adjustment, mental health and practical digital/e-skills, which are being delivered across Estonia

Funds from the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund are directed primarily towards children and mental health support, which includes trauma therapy. Your donation is tax deductible, greatly appreciated and goes to use within days, thanks to modern technology and dedicated staff. None of the money donated to EERO or the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund is used for salaries, either in Canada or Estonia.

We thank you for continuing to donate through our website www.EEROcanada.com, via e-transfer eerolaekur@gmail.com or by cheque: to EERO Ukrainian Refugees, 17 Tufton Crescent, Toronto, Ont. M4A 2E2

Donations by credit card or PayPal can be made on the EERO donation page at Canada Helps. These donations receive a tax receipt from Canada Helps, who transfers the donations to the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund weekly. Link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/70820

Stay tuned for more news shortly.

HELP Ukrainian refugees

As of March 9, 2022, 10,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Estonia. 3,000 are in transit to other countries and half of those remaining in Estonia are children. EERO is working with MTÜ Eesti Pagulasabi to help Ukrainian refugees with whatever they need most. Please donate to the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund.

Esto Children’s Fund – Women’s Shelters in Estonia

One in three women around the world have experienced violence at least once in their life. This tragic percentage applies to women in Estonia, Canada and the United States. Emergency women’s shelters offer temporary shelter and support to women and their children who have suffered psychological, physical or sexual violence. These shelters also act as support centers and provide outreach services to women not living in shelters. These services include: emotional support and resources for professional guidance for these victims and are provided 24/7 free of charge and a telephone help line is staffed by fully trained personnel.

Both Canada and Estonia have national programs to support Emergency Women’s Shelters and transitional support with assistance managed by provincial and/or local governments. In Estonia since 2012, over 1,500 women per year have approached women’s shelters for help. About 10% of these women in Estonia have requested shelter. According to Andrea Kink, Victim Services Manager at the Ministry of Social Services, in 2019 the total number of women seeking help in Estonia was 2,176 of which 155 women and 103 children were given emergency housing. In the first six months of 2020, these womens shelters have provided a total of 917 crisis counselling sessions. These women’s shelters are only temporary and funded by the government of Estonia, help is needed to transition women and their children to independent living. Government funding is limited and based on family income, child support or spousal support, other needs such as: glasses, winter boots, special needs, unexpected expenses such as repairs to household appliances, internet access and other costs are beyond the means of a single working mother earning about 600 euros a month.

EERO established a Children’s Fund in January 2020 to assist children living in poverty in Estonia. In conjunction with the Estonian Relief Committee based in New York and Toetame.com based in Florida, we continue to collect money in support of these women and children during their transition to independent living. These funds are coordinated by Eesti Naisliit (Women’s League) directed by Mailis Alt to our pilot project at the Pärnu Womens Shelter. Plans are to expand this project to transitional programs at other shelters, if there are adequate donations.

The Esto Childrens Fund project is focusing their efforts to support those women with children who are transitioning to independent living and are facing dire hardship because of the pandemic crisis. Their incomes, including any financial support they receive, do not cover prescription glasses, special medical dietary needs and are insufficient for the balanced

nutritional needs of children. According to Margo Orupõld, Project Coordinator in Pärnu, this is particularly a concern in those situations where there is no spousal support, even when court ordered or other family support. As winter is approaching, in addition to nutritional and special needs, we would also like to ensure that these families are able to acquire winter boots and clothes. Currently there are 22 women and 38 children who are transitioning to independent living in Pärnu.

Please support these women and children by donating as follows: If in Canada, you can donate by email money transfer to eeroesimees@gmail.com, transferring your money through the Northern Birch Credit Union to the EERO account or by mailing a cheque to EERO (ECF) at 17 Tufton Cres., Toronto, ON M4A 2E2. EERO, a registered Canadian charity #89233 8369 RR0001, issues tax receipts for donations in excess of $25 in February for the previous tax year. If in the U.S. please forward your tax deductible donation to the Estonian Relief Committee at 243 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016-4852 or via PayPal at www.estoreliefusa.org. Estonian Relief Committee will issue a tax-deductible receipt for all donations of $250.00 or greater. Estonian Relief Committee in USA is a registered 501(c)3. Smaller donations may also be made through www.toetame.com via Pay Pal or by mailing a cheque to Toetame at 160 W Camino Real, #179, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Please ensure that you note in your donation, that you are donating to Esto Childrens Fund (ECF) and whether you wish to remain anonymous or whether we can publicize your name (but not amounts) as a donor. On behalf of EERO, the Estonian Relief Committee and Toetame.com, we would like to thank those who have already donated to the Esto Children’s Fund and we would like you to know that these much-needed funds will be transferred to Estonia shortly.

Mari Ann Tammark, EERO

Toomas Kilm, Estonian Relief Committee Rein Luning, Toetame.com