On 9 January, the Integration Foundation opened an application round to support the organisation of Ukrainian-language cultural events for young Ukrainian war refugees in cooperation with Ukrainian cultural societies, Estonian NGOs, and cultural institutions, as well as the teaching of Ukrainian language and culture and the publication of children’s and youth literature in Ukrainian. Applications can be submitted until 9 February (included). 

‘Estonia offers Ukrainian war refugees free adaptation training and A1-level language learning courses, so that they can adapt quickly in Estonia and cope until they have the opportunity to return to their homeland. With the new measure, we will keep alive the traditions related to the Ukrainian language and cultural heritage of the refugees, so that when they return to their homeland, they have the opportunity to continue their studies or enrol in a university. From the point of view of integration policy, it is important that the recipients of temporary protection preserve their culture and at the same time adapt to the Estonian cultural space,’ said the Minister of Culture Piret Hartman. 

‘The purpose of the grant is to ensure that young Ukrainian war refugees up to the age of 19 in Estonia have opportunities to keep in touch with the Ukrainian language and culture through community activities. Preserving national identity is important both for the adaptation of Ukrainian youth in Estonia and for returning to their homeland,’ said Ave Härsing, Head of Cultural Diversity at the Integration Foundation.

The budget of the application round is 100,000 euros and up to 15,000 euros can be applied for in one application. Each applicant may only submit one application. The deadline for the submission of applications is 9 February 2023.
The applicant can be a legal entity registered in the Republic of Estonia or a self-employed person registered in the commercial register.

Further information about the terms and conditions of the application round can be found on the website of the Integration Foundation.

The application round is funded by the Ministry of Culture.

The application round is based on Regulation No. 21 of 16 December 2022 of the Minister of Culture ‘Conditions and procedure for providing grants to young Ukrainian war refugees up to 19 years of age to preserve the Ukrainian language and culture’.

Integration Foundation announced a call for proposals for supporting foreign Estonian cultural society projects and events which help preserve the Estonian language and culture in the world and help the Estonians living abroad retain their connections with Estonia. Applications can be submitted until 6th February.

‘The aim of the grant is to support the activities of the Estonian cultural societies abroad, mediation of Estonian cultural events, and the cohesion of the Estonian communities worldwide with Estonia,’ said Kaire Cocker, Head of Compatriots Service at Integration Foundation.

‘Grants may, for example, be applied for organising cultural events in Estonian communities abroad, for the cultural exchange of Estonian cultural collectives and creative individuals with the Estonian communities abroad, for organising Estonian cultural heritage and heritage culture-related days. Any project applications which are focussed on involving young people would also be very welcome,’ added Kaire Cocker.

The budget of the call for proposals is 44,000 euros and up to 4,000 euros can be applied for in one application. Each applicant may only submit one application. The deadline for the submission of applications is 6 February 2023.

Applications may be submitted by legal persons governed by private law who are registered in the Republic of Estonia, self-employed persons who are registered in the commercial register, or legal persons governed by private law who are registered in a foreign country based on the rules applicable in their country of establishment.

Further information about the terms and conditions of the call for proposals and the application form can be found on the website of Integration Foundation.

As a result of the call for proposals organised in 2022, grants were allocated to 19 foreign Estonian societies for organising various cultural events worldwide. The projects were implemented in 14 countries: Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Norway, Italy,
United Kingdom, Moldova, Russia, Canada, and the United States. For example, the grant was allocated for holding 35th West Coast Estonian Days in the United States, teaching Estonian folk dance in the Netherlands, celebrating the anniversary of the restoration of independence of the Republic of Estonia in Tampere, and keeping the tradition of Estonian choir singing tradition in Estonian communities abroad and many others.
Further information about the projects which were funded in 2022 is available https://integratsioon.ee/taotlusvoor-valiseesti-kultuuriseltside-toetus-0.
The call for proposals is funded by the Ministry of Culture.
The call for proposals is based on Regulation no. 4 of the Minister of Culture of 8 February 2019 ‘The Conditions and Procedure for Supporting Foreign Estonian Cultural Societies’ (available in Estonian).