Starting this autumn, the Integration Foundation will continue to hold free information sessions introducing the conditions for applying for Estonian citizenship, opportunities for free Estonian language studies, and other state-provided support services.
You can register for online sessions in Russian and English at integratsioon.ee/kodanik.

“The spring pilot sessions brought together nearly 300 participants and clearly showed people’s strong interest and need for information on acquiring citizenship. Therefore, we decided to continue the sessions in the second half of the year as well, to support those who need clarity and encouragement on the topics of citizenship and language learning,” said Jekaterina Gvozdeva, Head of Civic Education at the Integration Foundation.

The first autumn sessions will take place in Russian on 24 September and 30 October, and in English on 9 October. Participants can join online by choosing a suitable time and language.

“We are doing our best to ensure that the number of Estonian citizens continues to grow. For example, nearly 60,000 residents with undetermined citizenship live in Estonia, and a recent survey shows that many of them are interested in becoming Estonian citizens. To support them – as well as others interested in citizenship – we offer a range of services, including the possibility to start free language learning until the end of the year. We will provide more detailed information about these services during our information sessions,” said Dmitri Moskovtsev, Head of the Integration Foundation.

“Often, people interested in citizenship only need to reach the required level of language proficiency. Our task is to support them in taking this step – offering language courses, encouragement, and practical help in preparing for the exam. This opportunity is provided by the language study contract programme funded by the Ministry of the Interior,” added Jekaterina.

At the information sessions, participants will receive details, for example, on how to complete free Estonian language courses up to the required B1 level, attend trainings on the Constitution and the Citizenship Act, receive compensation for study leave, register for exams, submit a citizenship application, and access other important information.

More information about the Integration Foundation’s services and information sessions can be found on integratsioon.ee/kodanik, where you can also register for the sessions and keep up to date with upcoming events, which will take place until the end of this year.

The partners of the Integration Foundation work every day to ensure that newcomers living in Estonia receive the support they need and feel at home. In this story series, we give them a voice to share their professional joys, challenges, and lessons learned. This time, Marion Tamberg, Social Welfare Manager at the Estonian Refugee Council, shares her thoughts.

‘The information is available, but people often have trouble finding the correct and reliable answer from the whole range of services and information,’ says Marion Tamberg, Social Welfare Manager at the Estonian Refugee Council, describing one of the key issues that almost all newly arrived immigrants face. Her daily work focuses on ensuring that people who have arrived in Estonia feel cared for, seen, and supported here.

Marion’s journey into the field of adaptation began in 2016 when she moved from youth work to the Estonian Refugee Council to coordinate support services for beneficiaries of international protection. A brief stint in the public sector helped her learn about the field from a new and broader perspective. At the Ministry of the Interior, where she first started, Marion’s colleagues developed, among other things, the original national welcoming programme Settle in Estonia. When the area of adaptation was transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Marion also moved there, this time to help prepare the ESF+ measure, which supports local governments in assisting new immigrants. This is a measure currently being implemented by the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities.

Today, enriched by many experiences, Marion has come full circle and is back where she started – at the Estonian Refugee Council. She has now been managing the social welfare field there for two years. 

‘I am particularly drawn to working with particularly vulnerable target groups, such as children, young people, and older people with a (forced) migration background,’ Marion points out. ‘And it is very gratifying that the field has developed so much and changed significantly over these nine years, while the people in the field have remained largely the same.’

People, stories, and needs

The Estonian Refugee Council offers services and activities to newly arrived people to help them successfully adapt to their new country and feel at home. The target group is diverse, but the common factor uniting these people is mostly their refugee background. Of course, Ukrainians have been the focus in recent years, but according to Marion, efforts are being made not to overlook other target groups. ‘In 2018, we knew all the refugee families in Estonia by name and face. Today, of course, this is no longer the case,’ she notes about the different situation.

The inquiries that the Estonian Refugee Council employees receive on a daily basis cover a wide range of topics, from applying for temporary protection and language learning to family reunification issues. At the same time, it is noticeable that a larger number of people want to participate more meaningfully in society and give something back. ‘Many who have arrived here are at a stage where they are looking for more meaningful opportunities to participate and join the conversation, and want to contribute to society,’ she has observed in many people seeking assistance.

A people-centred approach and reliable information

Marion emphasises that the most important thing is to be able to direct people to the right place to get answers to their questions, without making them run around too much. Sometimes, simply listening is enough – during the conversation, deeper concerns or questions may emerge that the person was initially unable to articulate.

The Estonian Refugee Council also contributes to the availability of information by organising information seminars and training courses in several languages. ‘The topics of the seminars are determined according to current needs. In addition, we organise community events and workshops across Estonia in cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency, which offer people the opportunity and motivation to step outside their homes and meet others with similar experiences, which I believe is extremely important. Social adaptation does not necessarily happen on its own; suitable conditions and a safe space need to be created for it.’

Small observations lead to big changes

According to Marion, the greatest joy is seeing the tangible results of her work. ‘One specific recent example is when a mother referred her teenage son to our youth group, and it was heartwarming to see him open up at each subsequent meeting.’

She also gives an example from two summers ago, when amateur footballers from Estonia and Ukraine were brought together and several tournaments were organised. ‘From there, a team formed, which initially began playing in the national league, and today, three Ukrainians from the same social group have reached the UEFA B-level coaching course. We see that our work has real meaning and value; sometimes a small gesture or a seemingly insignificant action can change someone’s life,’ she says.

Challenges and strengths

Marion considers the biggest challenge of the past year to be the reduction in funding, which has forced her to make difficult choices. ‘While we see every day how great the need for support is, financial resources have diminished,’ she points out as a major concern. ‘Mutual support and flexibility have been key to moving forward from difficult moments.’ As an NGO, the team is fortunately able to adapt quickly to unexpected situations and change plans if necessary.

She considers empathy and a people-centred approach to be her and her team’s superpower. ‘We have tried to create a safe space for people where they can express themselves freely and feel that they are being listened to and understood. We are proud that we have been able to empower people by providing them with reliable information, encouragement, and support that helps them to organise their lives and shape their future independently,’ she says, expressing her gratitude to her team.

The article was published in the newsletter of the Adaptation sector’s partners. 

The Settle in Estonia Programme is a free educational programme provided by the Estonian state which is intended to help the foreigners who have arrived in Estonia to adapt and become accustomed to local life more easily. We offer courses for people who have come to live or study in Estonia and have lived here for less than 5 years. For example, war refugees to whom Estonia offers international or temporary protection, as well as people who have come to Estonia to work or do business here or relocate with their family member. The adaptation program The Settle in Estonia Programme is free for participants. We offer language training and other courses to help you cope with everyday life in Estonia. Read more and register: https://integratsioon.ee/en/kohanemine. Since the autumn of 2020, adaptation trainings have been organized by the Estonian Refugee Council in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Estonia. A special module is offered for beneficiaries of international protection, which, whenever possible, has been delivered in the person’s native language. The adaptation programme is co-funded by the European Union and the state budget. 

In September, educational programmes in simple Estonian on the topic of 500 years of Estonian books will begin, offering learners the opportunity to develop their Estonian language skills and strengthen their connection with Estonian culture and society. The programmes will take place in museums, where literature, history, and heritage are linked to hands-on activities and creative tasks.

You can participate in the joint educational programme of the Estonian National Museum and the University of Tartu Museum, as well as the educational programmes of the Estonian Health Museum, Harju County Museum, and Narva Museum. The educational programmes will take place between September 2025 and March 2026.

The total duration of the educational programme is 70 academic hours, spread over seven months. In total, the educational programme consists of 14 regular meetings twice a month on weekends, plus two days of cooperation with the local community. At each session, participants can actively practise listening, speaking, reading, and writing, using worksheets, creative tasks, and discussions written in simple Estonian. The aim of the programme is to offer participants a practical and participant-centred learning experience that can be applied in everyday life and increases their confidence in communicating in Estonian. Learners will receive worksheets and guidance materials that they can keep for future use.

The cooperation days with the local community give participants the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired in real-life situations. Direct contact and joint activities help learners acquire Estonian in a natural and meaningful way, linking it to everyday communication and cultural experiences.

All educational programmes are based on the guide of the Integration Foundation ‘Educational programmes in simple language for learners of Estonian’, authored by language specialist Helena Metslang. Thanks to this, the educational programmes are prepared and conducted using simple Estonian language principles to make complex topics more understandable to learners and to support the inclusion of people with limited Estonian language skills.

Sixteen to twenty adults (aged 18 and above) who are newly arrived immigrants, people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, returnees, and Estonian citizens can participate in the educational programmes.

You can register for educational programmes via the self-service portal of the Integration Foundation at https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/login.

‘Estonian literature at Narva Museum’, educational programme of the Narva Museum

The educational programme combines Estonian literature, history, and culture into an inspiring learning experience. The programme introduces literary works related to the past and present of Narva. Through exploring the collections and exhibitions of the museum, new connections between literature and heritage are discovered. The educational programme takes participants on a journey to the Kreenholm factories (Iron Hands by Eduard Vilde), to Narva Castle (Between Three Plagues by Jaan Kross), and to the poetic places in Narva-Jõesuu described by Igor Severyanin. Participants can also discover the poetry of The Last Relic by Eduard Bornhöhe and The Maiden of Narva by Lydia Koidula, solve mediaeval mysteries through Melchior’s stories, and participate in creative tasks, role-playing games, and dramatisations. In addition, two collaboration days will take place: ‘Tallinn Theatre Day’ – a meeting with a director and enjoying a production based on Estonian literature –, and ‘Tartu Literary Museum’ – a special programme for the Year of the Estonian Book: meetings with authors and reading texts in an inspiring environment.

All meetings support language development, encourage creativity and self-expression, and help to create a personal connection with Estonian literature and the cultural heritage of Narva.

‘A language journey through the history of Estonians and your healthy lifestyle’, educational programme of the Estonian Health Museum

The educational programme offers Estonian language learners the opportunity to develop their language skills in the areas of health and lifestyle, linking them to cultural and literary heritage. The programme covers topics related to healthy living in general, nutrition, exercise, sleep, relationships, and ageing, and finally links them all to the health history and personal experiences of Estonians.

Estonian literature is used extensively in the educational programme. For example, when discussing nutrition, Anna Rinaldo’s work From Sauna to Syringe: A Century of Stories about Estonians is examined. Additionally, participants will discuss the collection 1,111 Estonian Proverbs with Explanations and Comments. Discussions around sleep and its importance are linked to Kene Vernik’s book The Guidebook of Good Sleep and the interpretation of proverbs and fairy tales. When talking about relationships, we will focus on Merilin Mandel’s work Jess, inimesed! (Yay, People!) and, for ageing, the book and exhibition Farewell, Youth!. At the end of the course, medical developments and health behaviour over time will be examined, using the book 100 Years of Estonian Medicine.

Worksheets, role-playing games, and exploring the themed rooms of the museum play an important role in hands-on activities. For example, worksheets on exercise are completed, discussions are held on the plate rule and daily movement habits, simple dialogues and dramatisations are written, and literary texts are analysed. Homework assignments (e.g. recording grocery choices or keeping a sleep diary) help to connect what has been learned to everyday life.

The programme is taught in simple Estonian, but it is linked to both museum collections and literary texts. This allows participants to learn new vocabulary and expressions, develop their language skills, and understand how health and lifestyle have been part of Estonian cultural history.

‘From Diary to Book – The Stories of Ado Köögardal’, educational programme of the Harju County Museum

The educational programme focuses on the diaries of Ado Köögardal, a pastor in Keila, which provide insight into everyday life in Estonia at the beginning of the last century. Through these stories, participants learn new vocabulary, practise everyday expressions, and gain an understanding of how personal memories can become part of the Estonian literary heritage.

The study days are structured based on topics. The first meeting will introduce participants to Keila and Harju County Museum, and each participant will begin keeping a diary. Then, step by step, we will move on to the heritage of Köögardal and various aspects of Estonian culture: bread day and food traditions, the folk calendar and folk celebrations, Christmas customs, fairy tales and family stories, New Year’s resolutions, and the flow of information in the past and present. Each session involves practising listening, speaking, reading, and writing through workbooks, audio files, group work, and creative writing.

The programme also includes community days. The first meeting will take place at the Keila church manor, where participants will learn about the role of the church in community life. The second meeting will be held at the museum, where local craftspeople will help participants make simple items such as ornamental braids. Each activity is linked to specific vocabulary and offers participants the opportunity to practise the language in a natural context.

By the end of the programme, each participant will have completed their own mini-diary containing personal excerpts and experiences from the seven months of learning. At the final meeting, participants will share their diaries with the group, practising self-expression and public speaking. This connects language learning with real life, cultural memory, and literary tradition.

‘Language is a window to society’, educational programme of the Estonian National Museum and the University of Tartu Museum

The educational programme combines language learning with topics related to Estonian culture and the Year of the Estonian Book. The programme focuses on the theme of 500 years of Estonian books and aims to develop Estonian language skills, strengthen cultural belonging, and create meaningful connections between Estonian literature, history, and society.

The meetings will be held twice a month on weekends at the Estonian National Museum (2 Muuseumi Road) and at the branches and collections of the University of Tartu Museum (25 Lossi Street, 18 Ülikooli Street, 46 Vanemuise Street, Tartu Observatory). During the programme, learners will participate in 14 study days and two community days, which bring together learners and the local community.

The programme begins with an introductory meeting, where a ‘code of ethics’ for the course participants is created, the topic ‘Language is a window to society’ is discussed, and experiences in language learning are shared. Then, step by step, we will move on to different topics that introduce Estonia through literature, history, nature, and science. For example, at the meeting ‘Multicultural Tartu’, participants will explore the outdoor exhibition Tartu – Rendezvous of Cultures, where they will search for traces of their compatriots in Tartu and discuss issues of identity. The art programme ‘Looking into Perfection’ explores the work of Olev Subbi, while teaching vocabulary related to describing art and emotions. The literature-themed study day takes participants to Toomemägi Hill, where poetry and folk songs are used to discuss the poetic traditions associated with Tartu and Estonia.

Another important event is the programme ‘Do you know this story?’ of the Year of the Estonian Book, where participants dramatise text excerpts and create a play in small groups. The ‘Search for the Magic Book’ event at the University of Tartu Museum takes learners to a historical library environment, where they learn about Estonian literary heritage through legends and clues. The final part of the programme deals with the national epic Kalevipoeg and its connections with the epics of other nations.

Cooperation days broaden the learning experience. At the Palamuse O. Luts’ Parish School Museum and the National Costume Advisory Chamber, students will meet with community members, discuss their studies after watching the film Spring, and learn about folk costumes and folk dancing. At the University of Tartu Library, participants will explore the collections, work in groups to create a newspaper from the past, and discuss the role of journalism.

The educational programmes are funded by sub-activity 3.4.4.3 ‘Creation of educational programmes, including in simple Estonian, in cultural and sports institutions’ within the framework of project No. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006 ‘Activities supporting Estonian language learning and civic education’ financed by the European Social Fund+.