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EESTI ELU reedel, 20. mail 2022 — Friday, May 20, 2022
Integration solutions as provided by Estonia’s Ministry of Culture Vincent Teetsov In the Estonian Ministry of Culture’s Integration Foun dation (Integratsiooni Sihtasutus) newsletter, the amount of information pertaining to integration in Estonia is almost overwhelming. There are updates on the foun dation’s personnel, statistics, development plans from the Ministry of Culture, and professional opportunities. For instance, they have pointed readers in the direction of a free English-language con ference titled “From emergency reception to integration at the local level, best practices in the Nordic and Baltic countries.” The conference is to be hosted by the Estonian National Museum in Tartu on May 27th. Information sharing events like these are essential, for all who work in this sector to compare strategies and learn from each other.
However, as much as the newsletter is useful for the foundation’s partners, govern ment workers, and the like, the newsletter for May 2022 demonstrates their commitment to assist every individual in the transition to life in Estonia. With an estimated 30,000 Ukrainian refugees having ar rived in Estonia as of the end of April 2022, counselling services have been set up by MTÜ Eesti Pagulasabi for refugees in the areas of “digital skills, the job market, adaptation and children’s education.” The foundation notes that these counselling services are free-of-charge and are taking place across Estonia. Along these lines, the adap tation program known as Settle in Estonia is continuing to offer training courses, namely in the Estonian language. For new immigrants whose Estonian language abilities fall within the A1 and A2 beginner levels of the Common European Frame
Estonian Destinations: the verdant Estonian Garden in Cleveland Vincent Teetsov Just south of Gordon Park by Lake Erie, down Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to the Wade Lagoon, a ribbon of green drapes over the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Every 60 metres or so, you’ll find a garden dedicated to a different nation or cultural group that has left its mark on “The Forest City.” The Russian Cultural Garden, the African American Cultural Garden, the Lebanese Cultural Gar den. Partway through a stroll passing each of these gardens, you’ll encounter the Estonian Cultural Garden, designed by architect Herk Visnapuu. The centrepiece of the Estonian Garden is a sculpture created by local artist Clarence E. Van Duzer. It’s a tall, tapered pillar with a segment cut out, with the silhouette of a leaf. Inside this gap are overlapping pieces of golden oak, cut and layered in the shape of a flame. Below this flame are the words “aga ükskord algab aega.” On its own, it’s a bold phrase, the beginning of a hopeful prophe
Estonian Cultural Garden.
cy about Estonia, placed there when Estonia was still not free. These cultural gardens start ed to appear throughout Cleveland’s Rockefeller Park in 1916, with the British Garden (originally known as the Shakespeare Garden) being the first that was built. The Esto nian Garden was opened on June 19th, 1966, a public state ment by Estonian-Americans about recognizing Estonia’s sovereignty during the time of occupation. In turn, the garden’s place in the city was a sign of support and respect from fellow Clevelanders. But even post-independence, the significance of the garden has grown. Subsequent reno vations and additions in 2010 resulted in a new and improved walkway for visitors to ap proach the flame sculpture. There is a sandstone planter shaped like a simple boat, pointing both to Estonia’s sea faring traditions and the means of transport through which many Estonians came to North America. Below the planter is an excerpt from Kalevipoeg that reads “One day the age will
Photo: Janice Gerda
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port and kindness in return among the new acquaintances and friends of those who arrive in Estonia. Finally, the Integration Foun dation has been encouraging cohesiveness through volunteer ing programs. Organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture’s Department of Cultural Diversity, on May 7th, the nationwide “Teeme Ära talgupäev” took place, bringing communities together through outdoor cleanup and conser vation work.
Photo: facebook.com/teemeara
For example, in Narva, volunteers tidied up and planted flowers in the cemetery of the Narva prison camp. Elsewhere, volunteers focused on cleaning bodies of water, such as the Emajõgi, where many bags of trash (including car parts, tires, furniture, plastic, and foam) were removed. These are occasions to improve the place one calls home, as well as a chance to meet other local residents.
work of Reference for Languages (CEFR), courses are on offer once again, starting in autumn, with some A1 courses being taught in the summer depending on one’s immigration status. Registration is open on Settle in Estonia’s site. To inspire all those who have come to Estonia, the Integration Foundation also suggests watch ing the series Rika Eesti (Rich Estonia) through the
Kanal 2 website: https://kanal2. postimees.ee/pluss/saade/RikasEesti. Together with the show’s charming hosts – Jüri, Piret, and Robert – viewers are shown the success stories of numerous immigrants to Estonia and given an intimate view into what they’ve been up to since arriving in the country. It’s depictions like these that give hope to those who are trying to inte grate but also encourage sup
dawn when all torches, at both their ends burst into flame. Then the son of Kalev will come home, to bring happiness and build Estonia’s life anew.” Here is the source, translated into English, of the Estonian phrase on the sculpture, and the poetic inspiration for Van Duzer’s flame. In his speech at the 2021 Võidupüha and Jaanipäev event, Estonian American National Council board member Toomas Tubalkain described the story of Kalevipoeg in depth. He re marked that it was the Estonian people’s own creation myth, which is “relevant today, as it has been for millennia. Kalev and Estonia suffered for cen turies under foreign occupation, but the culture of the Estonian people never faltered and proved to be their salvation.” In this sense, the garden is a con tinuing reminder of Estonians’ past struggles. But it is also a meeting point going forward, “a piece of my homeland” as the late commu nity member Rita Tubalkain called it. In the immediate area surrounding the Estonian Garden are a ring of small bushes, a few birch trees to one side, and a flagpole at the en trance with the sinimustvalge high above the park’s many visitors. Estonian Garden dele gate Erika Puussaar has mar velled at the growing atten dance at the yearly Võidupüha/ Jaanipäev gatherings. Com mu nity members come together for singing, speeches, poetry read ings, prayer, and folk song performances. On other occasions, people come here to teach the general public about the Estonian way of life. The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Kids Festival in 2016
saw children learning some Estonian words, colouring pic tures of cornflowers, and play ing the singing game “Kes aias?” (“Who is in the Gar den?”). In August 2021, representa tives of approximately 50 nations (including Estonia) marched in the Parade of Flags for the 75th One World Day. Danielle Wiggins and other journalists from major news networks provided the day’s commentary, introducing the participating
cultures and their flags to spec tators on the side of the parade. In between big celebrations, the garden’s landscaping re quires maintenance so it can look its best. But the Estonians in Cleveland have kept up with it. In fact, in recent years, many of the youngest generation have shown a desire to be a part of this task. Thus, given a means to share our culture with our neighbours, Estonians will rise to the task and continue to bloom.
Invitation to the Summer School of Estonian Institute of Historical Memory: 24–29 July 2022
in an environment, where ideological values may clash.
Dear history teachers, edu cators, youth workers and graduated students! The Estonian Institute of Historical Memory invites all those interested in history to participate in a Summer School about the history of crimes against humanity and human rights violations during and after the Second World War, which we will introduce from the perspective of Estonia’s experience. We will also focus on the topic of the Ukraine war, the mentality of the totalitarian regimes and the pattrens they tend to repeat. Together, we will visit memorial sites and museums, listen to interesting lectures in a free atmosphere, watch films on the topic, run workshops and discuss the importance of learn ing and teaching history. We will also exchange experiences and ideas of how to study and teach sensitive historical topics
Find out more about these programs and subscribe to the Integration Foundation’s email newsletter at www.integratsioon. ee.
Participation in the Summer School is free of charge. The organisers will cover all expen ses in Estonia (accommodation, food, and transportation within the programme). The partici pants will cover their own travel expenses* to and from Tallinn. The Summer School will be held in English on 24–29 July 2022. There are a limited number of places available in the Summer School. The applica tion deadline is 7 June 2022. The participants will be an nounced on 10 June. Apply here: https://forms.gle/ B4xQaDFJ7eGbon1UA For further questions please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Eli Pilve, eli.pilve@mnemo syne.ee. ELI PILVE * Please do not purchase any travel tickets before the orga nisers have confirmed your participation in the Summer School. We strongly advise par ticipants to get travel insurance that covers possible restrictions caused by the Covid-19 virus.
