The Integration Foundation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, is looking for proposals on who among Estonian people and organisations should be awarded for their activities supporting integration. Candidates can be submitted in four categories until 18 September 2023.

This year, the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of Culture will be giving awards to people and organisations that are developing integration for the 24th time. The integration awards were first given in 1999.

‘The integration awards are a recognition of those who help to find and value the common ground between different Estonian cultures and communities. In other words, those who contribute to increasing and maintaining the cohesion of our society. As with integration, recognition is based on everyone’s contribution – everyone’s suggestion of who deserves recognition,’ explains Ave Härsing, Head of Cultural Diversity Activities at the Integration Foundation.

Integration awards are given in four categories: Building Blocks of Integration (raising awareness of Estonia’s cultural diversity and long-term targeted activities to promote integration); Bridgebuilder of the Year (implementation of cooperation projects aimed at residents with a mother tongue other than Estonian); Spark of the Year (outstanding activities of a person or organisation in the field of integration); Messenger of the Year (shaping attitudes supporting integration through the media).

The recipients of the integration awards will be honoured by Minister of Culture Heidy Purga at a ceremony in December. The best among all candidates will be selected by a panel of experts in the field. Each of the award winners will receive a €1,000 prize.

‘Candidates for Bridgebuilder of the Year, Spark of the Year, and Messenger of the Year should be people and organisations for their activities that they started last year and will finish this September. In the Building Blocks of Integration category, we welcome those who have contributed to integration over a longer period of time. Detailed instructions on how to submit candidates can be found on the website of the foundation,’ said Ave Härsing.

Proposals for the candidates for the Integration Awards can be submitted until 18 September 2023. To do so, fill in the form published on the website of the Integration Foundation and send it to taotlus@integratsioon.ee with the keyword ‘Integration Awards 2022–2023’.

The winners of the integration awards of the last five years:

Building Blocks of Integration*

2022 Jelena Skulskaja and Marju Lauristin

2021 Not awarded

2020 MTÜ Eestimaa Rahvuste Ühendus

2019 Society of Tatar Culture of Ida-Viru County

2018 Ida-Virumaa Integration Centre

Bridgebuilder of the Year

2022 Shiftworks OÜ, led by Helen Sildna

2021 MTÜ Eesti Instituut

2020 MTÜ Eesti Pagulasabi

2019 Rahvusvaheline Maja MTÜ

2018 MTÜ Eriline Maailm Sillamäe Lastekaitseühing

Spark of the Year

2022 Anu Luure and Natalja Mjalitsina (Ukrainian School of the Tallinn Lilleküla Gymnasium)

2021 The Estonian women’s épée team, MTÜ Sofiit Klubi

2020 MTÜ Changemakers

2019 Logistika Pluss OÜ

2018 Anna Mironova

Messenger of the Year

2022 Public Relations Department of the Estonian National Museum

2021 Tiina Pärtel

2020 Arkadi Popov

2019 Andrei Hussainov

2018 Not awarded

* Cultural Promoter of the Year until 2021

Photo: Winners of the 2022 integration awards (Integration Foundation/ Sven Tupits)

On Sunday, 20 August, nearly 200 singers and dancers and more than three thousand spectators gathered at the Singing Picnic in the Joaorg area of Narva to celebrate the day of the restoration of Estonian independence together. The big sing-along was organised by the Estonian Language House in Narva of the Integration Foundation.

The first big sing-along took place in Joaorg, Narva in 1937 and this tradition was restored on the initiative of the Estonian Language House in Narva on 20 August 2021.

‘The sing-along received a very warm welcome two years ago, so we decided to continue it. This year’s Singing Picnic once again confirmed that singing together unites people – residents of Narva and Ida-Viru County really enjoy celebrating, singing, and dancing shoulder to shoulder,’ said Anna Farafonova, Head of the Estonian Language House in Narva.

Several choirs and folk dance ensembles from Ida-Viru County performed at the Singing Picnic: the tandem choir of the Estonian Language House in Narva, choirs of the Narva Music School, choir of the Narva Rahvaste Maja, Narva folklore ensemble Suprjadki, and the runic singing ensemble Silmaline from Iisaku. Dancers included the folk dance group Jun-Ost and the dance group Värtnad of the Estonian Society of Narva. In addition to local singing and dancing groups, singers and dancers from Paldiski and Tartu joined the party, too.

At the Singing Picnic, spirited songs were sung in Estonian, Ukrainian, Russian, and Votian. Several songs from programme of the 13th Youth Song Celebration were also performed. ‘The aim of singing together is to bring together people of different nationalities who speak different mother tongues and live in different regions,’ said Anna Farafonova.

In addition to the choirs, the Singing Picnic also featured performances by Kelli Uustani and Atlan Karp, soloists of the community rap opera Karma created by the Estonian Language House in Narva, and Anne Kalinen, a singer from Narva. Uku Suviste performed as the special guest.

The Singing Picnic was organised by the Estonian Language House in Narva of the Integration Foundation. The creative director was Anna Farafonova, the head of the Language House; the script was created by Pille Maffucci, Julia Viirsalu, and Signe Viilop, teachers of the language school; and Alo Puustak provided consultation to the creative team.

The Singing Picnic was supported by Narva Linna Arendus, Live Agentuur, Narva City Government, Narva Museum, Event Media, Rahvaste Maja, Narva Music School, folk ensemble Suprjadki, and Alex Kohvik & Catering.

Photos: Singing Picnic in Joaorg, Narva (author: Integration Foundation/Anastassia Volkova) – link to photos.

Live broadcast of the Singing Picnic: link to the recording.

Jana Tondi, head of language education at the Integration Foundation, answers questions that we are often asked.

What kinds of Estonian language courses does the Integration Foundation offer? We offer Estonian language courses for adults (starting from the age of 18) at levels A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1. In addition to regular language courses (120 academic hours), we also offer shorter special courses (40–80 academic hours) which are dedicated to developing a specific skill set, such as writing, listening, pronunciation, or speaking. Estonian language courses are provided by the Estonian Language House and the partners of the Integration Foundation, i.e. language schools.

Who can register for an Estonian language course? Adults starting from 18 years of age can register for free Estonian language courses. The courses are meant for residents of Estonia who have an Estonian personal identification code. To register, please log in to the self-service portal of the Integration Foundation.

When and how can I register for a language course? You can register for free Estonian language courses on levels of A1, A2, B1, B2, and C1 and special courses twice a year (in January and August) in the self-service portal of the Integration Foundation.

Who is prioritised during admittance? First, we offer a spot to people who have graduated successfully from a course, then to people who have attended a consultation based on a general waiting list and whose accurate data is available in the self-service portal.

Where can I find information about the courses? Information about the courses is available on the ‘My services’ page in the self-service portal and via the search option for services. When you click on a course, the schedule of the course, a short description along with the name of the teacher and the language school, and the email address of the organiser will be displayed. Ask for detailed information about the contents of a course from the organiser of the course, whose contact details are provided by the content description of the specific course in the self-service portal.

How can I search for a language course in the self-service portal (choose according to the starting time, level, or location, find an online course etc.)? You can select courses according to the time that a course starts (such as from 1 August), level, and location, as well as find online courses in the self-service portal.

Does the Integration Foundation offer any other options for learning Estonian? In addition to language courses, we offer various activities that support language learning, such as language clubs, language cafés, and other events for learning and practising Estonian.

Language cafés start from level A2: language cafés support the learning and practise of Estonian before taking a course, because here, you will be more aware of your level of proficiency in Estonian and are therefore able to select a language course that is better suited for your needs. Moreover, you get an opportunity to discuss everyday topics with other learners at the café in a casual environment.

Language and culture clubs for levels B1, B2, or C1: clubs encourage fluent communication in Estonian and the continued learning of the language because club meetings include joint activities, such as field trips and workshops, in addition to language training.

We also organise Estonian language courses meant specifically for people who are applying for citizenship, newly arrived immigrants, and people who have been granted international protection in Estonia.

Various materials for independent study are available on the website of our foundation, including an Estonian language course at https://www.keeleklikk.ee/.

Our consultants will introduce the courses and explain how to use them.

Can I be compensated for participating in a paid course? How? The option to learn Estonian independently and be compensated for the study expenses is already available at the Estonian Education and Youth Board. Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund also offers language courses. 

Where can I find more information about the activities? Information about various activities is available in the calendar of the Integration Foundation and you can register in the self-service portal.

Why does the Integration Foundation no longer organise public registration for courses? The Integration Foundation maps the needs of the clients, plans and provides the necessary services in cooperation with partners (courses, special courses, clubs, cafés and activities that support language learning, such as field trips, workshops, and other similar events). Language courses, including clubs and cafés, are available for people who have attended a consultation and those who want to take follow-up courses. After them, all others who are interested can pick a service that suits them in the self-service portal.

What kind of changes have been implemented? A consultant helps to select the best form of language training. Consultants analyse the language-learning needs and the experience of each person and propose individually suitable options for language learning. People who have attended a consultation will be offered a spot in a suitable language course, café, or club. To register for a consultation, please email us at info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or call our free number 800 9999. The consultation is free of charge.

The self-service portal is accessible for clients around the clock. You can explore various options for learning Estonian independently, at a relaxed pace, and at a fitting time for you, register for a suitable service (such as a club or a course) and study group, or add your name to a waiting list of a service and keep track of your studies.

Please note! If you have not attended a consultation yet, we highly recommend you do that. To register for a consultation, please email us at info@integratsiooniinfo.ee or call our free number 800 9999. The consultation is free of charge.

Why have these changes been made? With the consultations and the self-service portal, we want to ensure the better availability of services as well as simplify learning the language for our clients and increase the quality of language training. Through these changes, we are offering a suitable study format on the necessary level based on the needs and proficiency of the learners.

The Ministry of Culture handed over the organisation and development of the national welcoming programme Settle in Estonia to the Integration Foundation. Britta Saks, Head of the respective field, explained the innovations that have taken place, the work in progress and the plans for the near future.

What other tasks are entrusted to the Integration Foundation? The Integration Foundation carries out activities related to integration, including adaptation, with the aim of supporting the development of a cohesive society in Estonia. This spring, our tasks also included the organisation and development of the national welcoming programme Settle in Estonia and related communication.

What is a welcoming programme? Who is it for? The welcoming programme Settle in Estonia helps foreigners that have arrived in Estonia to settle in more smoothly. It consists of free courses which, as a whole, provide an overview of life in Estonia, support in everyday matters and teach Estonian. At the same time, newcomers can build up contacts to help them cope with the changes.

Foreigners who have been living in Estonia for less than five years can take part in the welcoming programme. In particular, foreigners who have come to Estonia on the basis of conventional migration (e.g. for study, work, family reunification) and who have a temporary residence permit or right of residence will take part in the courses offered. They can take part in the welcoming programme for up to five years from the moment they arrive in Estonia and it is voluntary for them. The courses consist of six thematic modules (basic module, family module, work module, study module, science module, entrepreneurship module) and Estonian language courses at A1 and A2 level. It is this part of the integration programme that is currently fully managed by the Integration Foundation.

Participation in the welcoming programme is mandatory for beneficiaries of international protection and temporary protection. In the courses offered, they will get an overview of the Estonian state, society, and culture, and learn Estonian. The course work load varies somewhat depending on the status of the individual.

Why was there a change in the organisation of the programme? How are the roles now distributed? The programme was originally organised by the Ministry of the Internal Affairs and in recent years it has been run by the Ministry of Culture. As this is a programme consisting of courses, it was appropriate to move the practical delivery of the service from the policy-making to the implementation level. Therefore, the Ministry of Culture decided to entrust the implementation of the programme to us – the Integration Foundation. Every day we provide services and organise activities in the field of integration. Adaptation is the first stage of the integration process, so offering a welcoming programme fits very well within our remit.

The activities of the welcoming programme will be implemented with the support of the European Social Fund. Policy development in the field of integration will continue to be the task of the Ministry of Culture, as well as the development of the information platform Settle in Estonia and the organisation of adaptation courses for beneficiaries of temporary protection.

What does all this mean for the people for whom the services are intended? With what questions and how can they contact us? For the people targeted by the welcoming programme, not much will change. Information on the courses of the welcoming programme is still available at www.settleinestonia.ee, where you can also register for courses. We will gradually add information on the website of the Integration Foundation. If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact us by writing to info@settleinestonia.ee.

How have we organised the work? We provide services to the target group primarily through partners who are experts in their field and have long experience in providing these services.

What is our target for services and people? Our principle is to put the person at the centre of the services we provide. We want to provide high quality services and information based on people’s needs to support a smooth transition when settling in Estonia. So, feedback from service users is very welcome!  

Are there any adaptations expected in the near future and what are they? In the near future, we would like to update the information on the website of the Integration Foundation so that potential participants in the welcoming programme are aware of the services available to them. We will also work with our partners who come into contact with potential participants in the programme to ensure that the exchange of information on adaptation is as systematic and thought-out as possible.

Next year, there is a plan to start offering B1 level language courses for people arriving in Estonia on the basis of conventional migration. Video courses will also be made available, allowing participants in the welcoming programme to organise their learning in a more flexible way and thus complete the course in a more convenient way.

If you have any questions about services or cooperation, who should you contact? Questions and suggestions related to the welcoming programme should be directed to the Head of Adaptation: Britta Saks – email britta.saks@integratsioon.ee.

Photo: the Head of Adaptation Britta Saks