Thinking Big, Thinking of Young People
Kaisa Kasekamp writes that the Global Estonian Youth Network (ÜENV) provides a platform for all young people who wish to maintain ties with Estonia and with one another across the world, particularly outside the larger communities.
We know that one in five Estonians lives abroad, and a large proportion of them are young people studying, working or living with their families outside Estonia, either temporarily or long term. We also know that young people’s lives are fast and exciting. Since 2019, the Global Estonian Youth Network (ÜENV) has brought Estonian youth around the world together under one organisation, offering them networking opportunities, advocacy and opportunities for development.
On the 108th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, we reflect on how our network began, what exactly we do and why we do it.
The ESTO Global Youth Declaration
ÜENV was founded at the ESTO 2019 Global Estonian Cultural Days in Helsinki, Tartu and Tallinn, where 66 youth delegates from 27 countries were brought together.
The importance of youth engagement was evident already during the preparations for ESTO. The initiative was created by active young people from the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland, who helped develop the ESTO youth programme and represented their communities. Engaging with young people during preparatory work was particularly effective in Sweden and Finland. At the end of 2018, an independent non-profit association, Soome Eesti Noored ry, was established in Finland, bringing together young people of Estonian background across the country. In Sweden, on 9 June 2019, a youth division called Eesti Noored Rootsis (ENR) was created under the Association of Estonians in Sweden.
Former ÜENV chair and ESTO 2025 youth committee lead Nora Sööt described how, during ESTO 2019 in Stockholm, ENR shared its activities with others, and participants realised that they needed to meet, create events and initiatives together, and above all find a reason to connect with the Estonian diaspora and define who they were. Sharing experiences of youth organisations became an “aha!” moment: young people understood that global Estonianness was not set in stone and that they had the potential to create their own contribution to community life.
ÜENV founder and former chair Tuuli-Emily Liivat described the fourth evening of ESTO 2019, when youth delegates shared their experiences, new contacts and inspiration, agreeing that joint activity among young Estonians from around the world should not be limited to participation in cultural days alone. A workshop the following day confirmed young people’s willingness to contribute to global Estonianness. Input gathered from the youth programme workshops laid the foundation for what followed. Inspired by those discussions, the programme moderator and former head of the Estonian National Youth Council, Marcus Ehasoo, drafted the ESTO Global Youth Declaration. From that moment, young people knew that regardless of geography, they remained part of a shared youth community.
Reading the declaration at the World Estonian Council Congress – attended by distinguished guests including former Presidents Kersti Kaljulaid and Arnold Rüütel – marked the birth of ÜENV. “Here we are!”
The declaration set out five key theses on which the future of global Estonians depends:
- Cultural development and diversity
- Youth engagement and active participation
- Learning the Estonian language and mutual understanding
- Having clear goals and a shared vision
- Ensuring support from organisations operating in Estonia and from the Government and society
ÜENV founding member and board member Valerii Krinberg feels that ÜENV and Estonian diaspora communities provide a place where you feel that you belong. Born and living until 2018 in the Estonian village of Ülem-Suetuk in Siberia, Valerii felt there was a gap between his Estonian family and the local community. In strengthening his connection to Estonia, Valerii attended intensive Estonian language courses at the University of Tartu, where he mastered Estonian grammar, and soon afterwards began studying architecture at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Since 2025, Valerii has been working in Estonia as an architect. By participating in the ESTO 2019 festival, he also became one of ÜENV’s founding members.
The Declaration emphasises that mutual understanding is a process that helps us relate to one another more effectively and address issues that matter to us. Although knowledge of the Estonian language is very important for mutual understanding, language alone does not make a person Estonian. Rather, language is a tool that helps us better interpret Estonian and diaspora cultures and traditions, and it is a cornerstone in shaping diaspora identity.
Among young people, there remains a clear strategy and shared vision to ensure the preservation and development of Estonianness — one that does not depend on the motivation of individual people or momentary decisions, but on collective cooperation. A similar mindset was evident among the ESTO 2025 youth delegates, who care deeply about Estonian traditions, culture and heritage, or are at least keen to learn about them. ÜENV’s aim has been to work towards this goal in an inclusive way — not to exclude, but to engage. For this reason, ÜENV is also politically non-partisan.
What do we do?
ÜENV has organised meaningful bilingual virtual initiatives to ensure equal global participation, including virtual days, a mentoring programme and a postcard exchange.
The Virtual Days (2020–2022) brought together more than 130 young people from nearly 20 countries to contribute ideas to the Estonian Diaspora Action Plan 2022–2025 and explore topics close to the young people’s hearts. Across two years, 130+ young people from 20 countries took part in the Virtual Days.
The 2022 mentoring programme connected nearly 30 young people with mentors to discuss identity and career paths. Our annual global postcard exchange connects young Estonians across countries, who send postcards to one another across the globe. ÜENV also maintains an active newsletter reaching approximately 350 young people worldwide.
Since 2019, ÜENV has represented global Estonian youth in cooperation commissions and in meetings with the Riigikogu and ministries.
ÜENV visiting the Office of the President of Estonia and the Ministry of the Interior.
ÜENV has organised events both in Estonia and within diaspora communities. In 2020, the ÜENV visited the Ministry of the Interior, where Estonian students abroad discussed and shared their ideas about issues that are important for Estonians studying abroad. The organisation’s 2022 summer meeting included a visit to the Office of the President, and a Foreign Ministry workshop. Since 2023, the ÜENV took part in organising ESTO 2025 events in Stockholm, Narva, and Tallinn. We have organised events in other Estonian communities, for example, at the Estival festival in Gothenburg in 2023, where the evening event included a quiz, Estonian music and the presentation of awards. In 2024, the ÜENV took part in youth discussions at the New York Estonian Cultural Days.
ÜENV attending the workshop during the New York Estonian Cultural Days.
ÜENV in 2025–2026
ESTO 2025, held in the summer of 2025, gave the ÜENV new momentum. The current board consists of Chair Kaisa Kasekamp, Vice-Chair Tshinar-Kristi Shahmardan, and board members Valerii Krinberg, Anette Rebeca Lifländer, Tuuli-Emily Liivat and Martin Tikk.
In 2026, we are strengthening communications and improving information exchange, as well as establishing new events. A new social media group for the board has been set up to creat a unified and clear image, which can be used for a more effective pursuit of our mission and a fluent flow of posts. Some ÜENV members also plan to hold seminars and workshops when the KESKUS cultural centre is opened in Toronto, and at the Metsaülikool event in Kotkajärv, Canada. Film and information evenings are also planned; however, implementing the Youth Delegate Programme remains a priority.
The first meeting of the Youth Delegate Programme 08/02/2026.
The programme, launched in 2026, is more reflective of the everyday activities of young global Estonians, and complements the work of the communities. During the information evening in November 2025, we received feedback that many young people feel that all too often, their communities miss important information. The first programme includes 22 youth delegates from 14 countries. Over six months, they act as bridges between ÜENV, Estonia and local communities, strengthening connections and sharing information about their studies, work or social activities. The programme runs twice a year, with the next application round opening in August 2026.
Moving forward together
Many of us who move abroad seek connection with Estonia. Some feel more Estonian than ever once abroad. Others are born and raised abroad and wish to strengthen their cultural ties – perhaps even planning to study, work or live in Estonia one day. ÜENV offers a platform for all young people who wish to maintain ties with Estonia and with one another across the world, especially outside larger communities. Whether by reading newsletters, following our social media, attending Virtual Days, acting as a Youth Delegate or meeting us in Estonia in the summer, everyone finds a place in the Youth Network.
ÜENV is a non-profit organisation, and all work is voluntary. If you value what we do, we warmly welcome your support and contact.
As stated in the conclusion of the Youth Declaration: Alone we cannot accomplish great deeds, but together we can shape a better future for all Estonians.
Long live Estonia!
Our statutes outlining the structure and aims of our network are available on our Global Estonian page.
The official founding members of ÜENV are Amanda Rass (Sweden), Juku Gold (Canada), Karl Herbert Grabbi (USA), Martin Tikk (Estonia), Valerii Krinberg (Siberia) and Tuuli-Emily Liivat (Finland).
Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, and share the opportunity for young people to subscribe to our newsletter!
