Foreign Ministry recognises global citizen diplomats on Citizen’s Day
On Citizen’s Day (November 26th), the Foreign Ministry awards letters of appreciation to citizen diplomats and NGOs for their significant contribution to advancing Estonian language, culture and business in the world.
“It is wonderful and heart-warming to know that we have friends and supporters across the world who are working every day to preserve the Estonian language, culture and narrative. On Citizen’s Day, we would like to thank citizen diplomats – your dedication to promoting Estonia has been inspirational and cherished,” Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is issuing letters of appreciation for citizen diplomacy on Citizen’s Day for the twelfth time. The letter is presented to individuals or non-governmental organisations who have made long and notable efforts to preserve Estonian language, culture and spirit, or promoted Estonia’s business environment, digital society and business culture on a voluntary basis, thus contributing to raising Estonia’s profile in their country of residence.
Citizen’s Day is celebrated on 26 November because on this day in 1918, the Estonian Provincial Assembly issued its first regulation on Estonian citizenship. The aim of the Citizen’s Day is to raise awareness about the status of a citizen and increase civic pride.
The Foreign Ministry would like to thank and recognise the following individuals and non-governmental organisations:
Robert Zeidler – for supporting and promoting Estonian artists in Canada and for his cooperation with the Estonian community in Ontario
Karola Lepasaar – for advising Estonian companies and state agencies and contributing to networking and raising Estonia's profile in the United Arab Emirates
Estonian Association in Switzerland – for continued work on preserving Estonian cultural identity, developing joint activities for Estonians and presenting Estonian culture and language in Switzerland
The Japanese-Estonian Society in Saku, Japan – Eiichi Takakuma, Takayuki Kobayashi, Akiko Hanaoka and Masahisa Mizuma – for promoting relations between twin cities of Estonia and Japan and for hosting the Estonian Olympic team in Saku during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Keiko Sasaki – for writing the first Estonian cookbook in Japanese and promoting Estonian food culture in Japan
Dr. Jinseok Seo – for promoting Estonian literature and culture in the Republic of Korea and contributing to the Korea-Estonian Society
Birgita Bonde Hansen – for her dedicated work on translating Estonian literature into Danish
Liisi Kedik – for organising joint activities for Estonian children and teaching Estonian in Denmark
Anna Michalczuk-Podlecki – for translating Estonian literature and the continued promotion of Estonian literary culture in Poland
Tiina Tamm – for continued commitment to preserving Estonian cultural identity in Sydney
Ann Sigrid Smith – for continued commitment to preserving Estonian cultural identity in Canberra
Kristjan Leedo – for supporting Estonian companies and promoting Estonian culture in the People's Republic of China
Maria Keerpalu – for her volunteer work in the maintenance of Seto and Estonian graves at the Pechory cemetery
Kulandaivelu Gomathy Babu Sadacharam – for his long-term commitment to advancing business relations between Estonia and India
Lars Lundberg – for his commitment to presenting the story of digital Estonia in Sweden
Bo Kragh – for advising Estonia as the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Estonia after the restoration of Estonia’s independence
The Teiss family – Kristiina, Toivo, Katariina and Kristian – for actively preserving Estonian cultural identity in Pirkanmaa, Finland
Irja Allonen – for the long-standing management of the Estonian Club in Tampere and commitment to preserving Estonian culture and identity in Pirkanmaa, Finland
Reet Nikkanen – for preserving Estonian cultural identity and her remarkable contribution to the development of the Estonian Club in Tampere
Katya Novak-Botnar – for promoting Estonian literature and cultural identity in Ukraine
Ene Päts – promoting Estonian language and culture in Prague
Czech-Estonian Club – for promoting Estonian language and culture and long-standing support for the communal activities of Estonians in the Czech Republic
Violaine Champetier de Ribes – for her commitment to promoting the story of digital Estonia in France
Meeli Tui-Lorenzl – for her continued work in preserving Estonian cultural identity in Germany
Karin Ladva-Zoller – for her long-term contribution to the joint activities of Estonians in Germany
Kaupo Kitsing – for managing the Hamburgi Pääsuke folk dance group
Tiina Kälissaar – for founding and managing Estonian schools in Germany and Europe
Valts Ernštreits – for continued work on preserving Livonian language and culture and advancing Finno-Ugric cooperation between Estonia and Latvia
Estonian language teachers of the European School in Brussels – Kristina Ude, Edward Kess, Regina Eimre, Margit Hunt, Sille Kägu, Silja Saar, Maie Soll – for the consistent preservation and promotion of Estonian language, education in Estonian and Estonian culture
Igor Gavrilov – for the continued promotion of Estonian jazz in Russia
Lilia Nemchenko – for the continued promotion of Estonian cinema in Russia
Anna Gorskaya – for promoting Estonian art and literature in Russia
Additional information:
Communication Department
press@mfa.ee
