Marin Mõttus: Time to stick together

Marin Mõttus, Special Diplomatic Representative of Global Estonia

Something has changed permanently in us: Estonians, who usually value privacy, are offering rooms in their own home so that a Ukrainian woman who has fled the war can stay there with her children. Estonians are coming together in support of Ukrainians at Freedom Square in Tallinn and Town Hall Square in Tartu, as well as at historic Monday demonstrations in Stockholm and in Toronto, Prague, London, and Washington.

This is the time to think about preserving our identity, our language, and our culture, and the young people who will grow up to do the same once. At the end of the school holidays, President Alar Karis addressed the Estonian youth by saying that the war is sad, inhumane, and cruel, but the best and most sensible thing they can do now is learn. ‘Estonia is protected and free,’ the president told young people.

We invite Estonian young people living abroad to strengthen their ties with Estonia. Until the end of March, you can apply for support to come to Estonia for an internship, and until the middle of April, you can apply for Estonian language and culture camps taking place in the summer. Soon, it will also be possible to apply for a scholarship to study in Estonia.

On 14 March, tune in to Vikerraadio and take part in the traditional Native Language Day e-dictation with tens of thousands of Estonians.

Marin Mõttus