May Update - Ukrainian Refugee Fund

To date EERO has sent MTÜ Eesti Pagulasabi (Estonian Refugee Council) $320,000 (228,000 €) to support Ukrainian refugees in Estonia.

This has supported the evacuation of refugees safely to Estonia from the Ukrainian border and related expenses, initial consultations, workshops, assistance in obtaining long term housing, education support for children, and mental wellbeing support groups.

To date the education support fund has helped almost 1,500 children. They expect the total number of children to be more than 5,600 children when schools reopen in September. Those children currently not accommodated in Estonian schools participate in online Ukrainian school classes. There are many reasons why not all children have been accommodated yet, but the main reason is overcrowding or lack of space.

There are mental wellbeing support group meetings in Tallinn and there are plans to increase these groups throughout Estonia. Many of the psychologist who facilitate these support groups are also Ukrainian refugees who have the necessary training and educational background. Pagulasabi also provides counselling to refugees in their Tallinn center, runs a counselling hotline phone number, and assists people via e-mail, Viber and other online channels. Counselling services provide assistance on finding housing, finding a job or a school, legal issues, and other concerns.

At the moment the Refugee Council has organized group activities for children in accommodation centers, which will continue in the fall. During the summer, the Estonian Refugee Council also plans to organize three overnight camps and two day- camps for about 100 refugee children this summer. The total budget for Children/Youth activity groups and summer camps is 50,000 euros. Similar camps have been organized by the Refugee Council in both Estonia and the Ukraine in the past, and these refugee camps will be expanded and focus on the mental wellbeing of children and include Ukrainian psychologists. The Estonian school in New York is currently raising money to support 20 children going to summer camp through the Estonian Relief Committee USA (Eesti Abistamiskomitee USAs). EERO may also support this initiative, as it supports other activities for youth and Ukrainian refugees. Those donating in the US can donate at http://www.estoreliefusa.org/donate_eng.html

There are more than 40,000 Ukrainian refugees in Estonia. Refugees can be found in almost all municipalities in Estonia. Most refugees live in Harjumaa. Hence the housing shortage is critical in larger urban centers, and especially in the north. Over the past month, refugees are arriving mainly via Narva from Mariupol, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. These are refugees that Russia (evacuated) or deported to Russia and have somehow made their way to Ivangorod and then crossed the bridge to Narva. Most are en route to other countries. Although the number of refugees seems to have stabilized, it is difficult to determine how long the refugees will remain in Estonia.

Please continue to support the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund and visit the EEROcanada.com website.

Mari Ann Tammark

Thank You, Vancouverites!

LET’S DO IT TOGETHER!

In the past two months, the Estonian Ecumenical Relief Organization in Canada (EERO) has received an unprecedented number of donations from many different organizations, whose members have stepped up to assist Ukrainian refugees sheltering in Estonia.

Congratulations to the Vancouver Estonian community for raising over $4000 for the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund on Sunday, April 10th! A live lecture event was organised jointly by the sorority Filiae Patriae (C!FP) and the Society for Advancement for Estonian Studies in Canada (SAESC/EKÜK). “Arvo Pärt - Modern Estonian Master” was presented by Thomas Kirves, beloved conductor of the Läänetuul (Western Wind) choir. 45 people attended in person, while other community members participated virtually. Our heartfelt thanks go to Ingrid Solde, Lilian Oljum, Kati Nõmme and Viive Alexander for their hard work. In addition, several generous donations came from Vancouver directly to EERO for which we are very grateful.

Many Estonians have grown up hearing the harrowing stories of parents or grandparents, who arrived in Canada as war refugees from 1944 onward. Some are choosing to donate in their memory. EERO has received in memoriam donations to the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund, honouring Mare Roomets, Lilli Pill and Irja Mägi.

“One the main objectives of ERC (the Estonian Relief Committee in Canada) has been to collaborate with other Estonian organizations like EERO to provide help wherever it’s needed in the Estonian community”, says Kristina Valter, Board Member. ERC is donating $10,000 to the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund, to help communities, towns and schools in Estonia cope with the critical needs of Ukrainian children fleeing daily across the border.”

Wild Flowers For Ukraine, Urve Manuel (2022)

In its 55th year of operation, Toronto’s Kotkajärve Metsaülikool or University of the Forest (MÜ), has also committed its support. MÜ has launched a newsletter campaign to encourage all past participants to donate to the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund. “ MÜ has always received assistance from the Estonian Republic for our summer camps and other cultural programs”, says Maimu Mölder, MÜ Director. “Now it’s our turn to support Estonia!”

Thanks to all the individuals and organizations, who continue to fundraise and donate to support Ukrainian refugees in Estonia, EERO will be able to transfer a further $30,000 to Estonia.

That brings our total to date to over $181,000 or 140,000 euros.