We launched a donation campaign in Estonia to provide humanitarian aid for people affected by the conflict in Lebanon.On 7 November, we are organising an international humanitarian conference in Tallinn, which is still open for registration. This year's conference will focus on ethical dilemmas, preventive action, and the use of artificial intelligence.The third season of the "Empowering Women" programme has begun in Estonia.We have launched a nursery school counselling programme in Estonia to strengthen inclusive learning environments.As part of Mental Health Month, we are organising a Mental Well-being Day in Tallinn on 12 October.In Ukraine, we have begun distributing winter support to cover heating costs for 4,500 households during the upcoming winter season. Assistance will be provided in cash, or alternatively, firewood or coal will be delivered directly to those in need.In Armenia’s Lori region, we launched a women’s livelihoods programme.

The Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) is advising specialists in kindergartens in Ida-Viru County and Tallinn to help create more integrated and inclusive learning environments. The programme, which runs until the end of January 2025, is supported by the British Council in Estonia. This is the fourth year the ERC has provided such consultation for kindergartens.

The situation in Lebanon is critical and people need immediate help. Estonian Refugee Council is collecting donations to support people affected by the hostilities with emergency response.

In the small town of Kobeliaky, Poltava oblast, Iryna (33) opened a coffee shop, which immediately gained the favor of the locals. Iryna tells the story of its creation as follows: “Our TaTySho cafe appeared as a result of the desire to move further while I was on maternity leave. In addition, it was at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In a short time, I developed a plan to open a cafe. My husband had the premises and materials, and at the end of February 2022, my parents and brother, who was a builder, fled from Kyiv for shelter. Thus, together we managed to open a decent place, which was quite unusual for such a local community”.

Estonian Refugee Council is organising a Mental Wellbeing Day on October 12th from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Tallinn Central Library’s Foreign Literature Department as part of Mental Health Month. The aim of the event is to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to provide practical opportunities for supporting wellbeing through yoga classes, creative therapy, and individual counselling.

On 18 September, during his visit to Estonia, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, visited the Estonian Refugee Council's office in Tallinn and met with refugees living in Estonia at Teacher's House (Õpetajate Maja).

The Estonian Refugee Council’s International Humanitarian Assistance Conference returns for its second year, taking place on November 7, 2024 in Fotografiska, Tallinn. The conference brings together a diverse group of experts and panellists from international humanitarian organisations to delve into the evolving challenges faced by the humanitarian sector.

In early September, the Estonian Refugee Council team visited Finland to map out various opportunities for integrating refugees into the labour market as part of the joint Estonian, Latvian, and Finnish project "Knowledge exchange on labour market access modalities for refugees," which began in August.

Aitame kolmel koolil Armeenia kirdeosas võtta kasutusele vee- ja energiasäästlikke põllumajanduslahendusi, et We are helping three schools in northeastern Armenia adopt water- and energy-efficient agricultural solutions to alleviate water scarcity and promote climate resilience.In Ukraine, we have provided cash-based assistance to more than 291,000 people.In Estonia, the entrepreneurship programme “BOOST” was awarded in the category “Small Village, Big Heart” at the European Union external border programme closing gala.

Liudmyla had to abandon her hometown of Sloviansk twice—first in 2014 and again in 2022 when the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. With the war and personal hardships, she found herself at a crossroads, facing a difficult decision about her future.