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EESTI ELU reedel, 27. mail 2022 — Friday, May 27, 2022
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Why don’t young people return to Estonia? Doc film and discussion delves into difficult topic Most young people who leave Estonia would love to return home, but a variety of reasons often keep them tied to their new lives abroad. With the passing of time, return becomes increasingly difficult, or unimaginable. This more recent migratory pattern is one of the main findings researcher and docu mentary filmmaker Dr. Terje Toomistu gleaned through research that included an online survey of 2,000 young people who came of age after Estonia joined the European Union, and who have left Estonia. The study informed her newly released and engaging documentary film “Homing Beyond,” (“Põlvkond piiri taga”) presented by Estonian Arts Centre on May 18 at the Alliance Francaise theatre in Toronto. Reflecting the evolving nature of the Estonian diaspora is one of the objectives of KESKUS International Estonian Centre, with which Estonian Arts Centre, a charity, is asso ciated. A lively post-screening discussion with the audience, moderated by Ellen Valter, Project Lead with KESKUS, followed. Terje described how she developed the idea for the film, gained funding and painstakingly conducted the interviews remotely, during the pandemic. This process called for creative solutions on how to
keep the scenes intimate and captivating. The film comprises interviews with 21 young people who have moved to countries like Switzerland, the Nether lands, Germany, Canada and England. The candid interviews highlighted the mixed emotions these “Generation Y” Estonians felt as they described how they both missed their homeland, but also of the push from Estonia or the pull of other cultures. The push and the pull were found to be due to a need to match value systems, for economic reasons or just a sense of wanderlust that over time became permanent. With a better match in a different country and culture, the interviewees shared how they have integrated new cultures and countries into their lives. One of the film’s ‘stars’, Carmen Kehman, was in attendance and participated in the post-screening discussion. Carmen grew up in Estonia and now lives in Toronto. Carmen’s mother is Estonian and her father is from Ecuador, and she described how she didn’t always feel a sense of belonging in Estonia, when asked about her jet-black hair or distinctive eye colour…distinctive because it’s not blue. The diversity in multicultural Toronto feels like a better fit for the University of Toronto masters graduate. Vincent Teetsov introduced Terje (more by Vincent on the mobility of Estonians, based on his interview with Terje, in EE
#18, 16.05.2022). Terje is an anthropologist and researcher in the Depart ment of Ethnology at the University of Tartu. She is no stranger to documentary filmmaking having won the EstDocs Jury Award in 2017 for her film “Soviet Hippies”. Currently, her main research focus points are related to gender, mobility and affect. She attended the event as part of its North American release, and Toronto was the first stop. Terje notes that there were several hours of film shot for each interview, and much rich material remains to be shared. She hopes to create other communications products, such as a website that allows for these touching stories to reach a broader audience. Thanks to the organizing help for the event: guests enjoyed reception refreshments courtesy of Northern Birch Credit Union and Karin Ivand and the recently formed “NET: Noored Eestlased Torontos” helped with event logistics. All KESKUS valued donors make a critical difference
Liivi Sermat Cooke & Genevieve Perron of NET: Noored Eestlased Torontos.
Please join our growing list of capital campaign donors. The KESKUS International Estonian Centre’s donor categories are Kalevipoja laud for gifts over $100,000 (including naming rights for specific areas), Koidula gild, which is from $50,000-99,999, Viru vanemad for gifts of $10,000-$49,999, and Kungla rahvas for gifts up
to $10,000. To make a donation, please call +1.647.250.7136 or email donations@estoniancentre.ca. Donations may be made as a family gift, or in honour of an individual or family. All Canadian and U.S. donations will be issued a tax receipt. KESKUS leadership donors are recognized here: www.estonian-
3 ways to make the most of Seedrioru before your last year of camp Natalie Jenkins Summer is just around the corner! Kids across Canada and beyond– get out your flip flops, bathing suits, and sunscreen for a fun-filled and action-packed summer at Seed rioru Lastesuvekodu. To learn how to make the most out of your experience, Eesti Elu spoke with some of Seedriou’s past campers and employees: Rein Tiisler, Oskar Kalm, Carmen Poolakese, and Seliina McConville. Here are 3 things they recommend you should do before your last year of camp at Seedrioru: 1. Go to every week of camp. From Sunday, July 10th to Saturday, August 6th this year, campers will explore their Estonian heritage by making new friends, reuniting with old ones, and participating in all of the fun activities the camp has to offer. Rein Tiisler, who’s spent 10 years going to Seedrioru, said that his daily routine as a camper depended on the week. “Usually each
week is themed. Based on the theme, the plans change. Some days we’d have breakfast, followed by swimming lessons or some other sort of planned activity. During Survivor Week, that would be learning new skills like knot tying or fire lighting. During Estonian Week, those activities could be anything from folk dancing to Estonian language lessons. It really varies.” Carmen Poolakese, a former counsellor of two years, also said that going to every week of camp is a must-do. “I recommend going to all of the weeks because they’re all so different and fun in their own way.” 2. Go to Survivor Week. One of the most popular themed weeks, Survivor Week, offers a diverse array of activities. Ranging from knot tying to learning how to make tree forts that will guarantee a restful eight hour snooze, campers will be sure to hone their wilderness survival skills. “The first couple of days are
From left, Dr. Terje Toomistu, Carmen Kehman, Ellen Valter.
spent on training and developing skills, like learning how to use an axe or a knife,” said Oscar Kalm, who’s spent 15 years going to Seedrioru. “Once you’ve proven that you can do those things, you move on to learning new skills and doing other activities. One year, we built a fence using just an axe and string, which was really cool. My friends and I also built a tree fort and slept in it!” Carmen Poolakese also reminisced on her time up in the sky: “We would go to the forest and make our own tree forts. The older kids made them super high up and slept there with their friends. That was my favourite part of survivor week – I really wish I could do it again!” 3. Participate in camp tradi tions. Having spent 15 summers at Seedrioru, Seliina McCon ville is very familiar with all of its fun traditions, including Sadie Hawkins Day. “After lunch, there’s a giant one and a half hour game of manhunt
centre.ca/capital-campaign To follow the construction journey and for KESKUS updates: • Visit the KESKUS website and subscribe to the monthly newsletter: • Facebook @EestiKeskus, Twitter @keskus, Instagram @ keskus.iec
with two teams: either guys chase girls or vice versa. The hiders have 10 minutes to find a hiding spot anywhere on Seedrioru property. If the chaser finds the hider, the hider is out of the game. The pair get “married” in the mud pit, and the kitchen, as a wedding favour, cooks something up for the couple to eat. For the rest of the day, the hider found by the chaser is the chaser’s ‘servant.’” When asked what that meant, Seliina said that “the chaser can tell their servant what to do (within reasonable grounds, like wash ing dishes or getting their food.)” For the older age groups, Seliina said that this dynamic is really funny to watch. “The chasers would give their servants funny tasks like carrying them up the hill or shining their shoes.” Sadly, the fun comes to a close at the end of the night for the young newlywed couples. “There’s a dance at the end of the night. After the couple’s last dance, they get ‘divorced,’” she said, signalling the end of the servant’s obligations of shoe shining and food-fetching. “It’s all in good spirits, though. You
Photo: facebook.com/seedrioru
always want to be at camp for that day.” Camp registration is now open! Visit seedrioru.com for further details on camp programming and registration information.
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