- We launched a humanitarian response in Lebanon to help ease the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by the armed conflict and support people in the most vulnerable situations.
- Progress in language learning and access to jobs matching qualifications are key factors in the integration of Ukrainians living in Estonia, according to a 2025 study on the socio-economic situation of Ukrainian refugees. Read the commented overview of the findings on the Estonian Refugee Council’s website.
- We are building DigiCap, a network of experienced digital specialists, to address digitalisation challenges in the humanitarian sector and support humanitarian organisations in improving their work in complex crisis situations. The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg.
- In April, we launched a new programme in Estonia supporting the integration of older people with refugee backgrounds.
- Since 2022, more than 334,000 Ukrainians have received cash-based humanitarian assistance in Ukraine worth over €62 million.
- We launched a new project in Armenia to strengthen green entrepreneurship and introduce circular economy principles into entrepreneurship education through practical and game-based learning methods in schools.
- Director of the Estonian Refugee Council, Eero Janson received this year’s Open Estonia Foundation Concord Award.
Ukraine
This winter was exceptionally difficult for people in Ukraine due to freezing temperatures and constant attacks. All 45 generators and 55 battery stations purchased with donations collected in Estonia at the beginning of the year and with support from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have now been delivered.
We provide cash assistance, which allows people affected by the war to purchase food, medicines, hygiene products, and other essentials. In April, we assisted more than 3,190 people worth around 750 000 euros. As of now, we have provided cash-based assistance to more than 334,000 conflict-affected people, worth more than 62,3 million euros. Cash assistance is provided for 3–6 months. Registration is carried out through Estonian Refugee Council's local registration points or via the online application platform. Currently, our focus is on assisting those in need in frontline areas in Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumska, Dnipropetrovska and Kherson oblasts. The programme is supported by the European Union, the US Government, and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Acted is the lead partner for EU and US-supported projects.
We support livelihood activities related to agriculture, livestock, food production, and various services through emergency assistance, with the aim of strengthening people’s self-reliance. The support amount is around 700 euros. By the end of April we have shared 273 grants across five oblasts – Zaporizka, Dnipropetrovska, Poltavska, Kirovohradska, and Cherkaska. The programme is funded by the European Union and the US Government.
We run entrepreneurship programmes to help people affected by war create sustainable sources of income for themselves. We support new and existing businesses in Poltava, Cherkasy, Dnipro, Kirovohad, and Kharkiv oblasts. In April, we gave out 35 business grants worthmore than 154,00 euros. As of today, we have distributed a total of 253 grants for both existing and new businesses worth more than 380,000 euros. The project is developed in partnership with Acted and supported by the US Government.
We provide psychosocial support via a mental health hotline for Ukrainians living both in Ukraine and abroad to support the people affected by the war. Since May last year, nearly 6,650 calls have been made on the hotline. Read articles with hotline consultants Olena and Olha on the ERC website. The work of the NPA Psychological Hotline is implemented in partnership with the National Psychological Association of Ukraine and made possible thanks to funding from ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for sInternational Development.
Estonia
Through the Language Ladder programme, we support Ukrainian refugee youth in language learning and social integration. In April, we organised three youth events with 30 participants: an AI training in Jõhvi with a visit to the Jõhvi Vocational Education Centre, and a public speaking workshop at Südalinna Theatre in Tallinn. Since the end of March, weekly language group meetings have taken place in Pärnu, where young people practise Estonian with local mentors through activities such as clay modelling, origami and sports. Estonian language support classes for lower secondary school students also continue in Kohtla-Järve and Tallinn. We also run the “MindSpring” group mental health support programme for young people with refugee backgrounds to help them adapt to life in a new country. In April, nine young people completed the Tallinn group, and a new group started in Jõhvi in May. Read more about the first quarter of 2026 and the “invisible language learning” methodology used in the project on the Estonian Refugee Council’s website. The project is being implemented in collaboration with Tallinn University and the Polish organisation Dobra Fabryka. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.
The refugee youth-led project Youth Pulse has been launched, focusing on building a community in Tartu where both young people and older residents come together. Through a range of activities, the project develops and strengthens intergenerational relationships to help newcomers adapt more easily. The first successful meet-up took place in April at the Tartu Nature House, bowling was also part of the activities, with a total of 25 participants taking part. Watch the videos created by the young people themselves here. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. The project is supported by the Estonian Agency for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps from the Erasmus+ program.
In April, three family events in Tartu got underway, supporting a sense of community and integration among people with refugee backgrounds. Participants joined a tour of the Vanemuine Theatre’s main building, visited the NET Sports Hall, and took part in a terrarium workshop. Families also attended ballet and opera performances together. Altogether, 128 people took part in the events. The project is supported through donations collected among members of the British–Estonian Chamber of Commerce.
We conduct monthly adaptation support training sessions on various subjects, including use of e-services, parenting, education system, adaptation of pensioners, legal matters, entrepreneurship, medical and social system, labour market, as well as legal foundations and residence permits. In April, 207 people took part in trainings. Legal topics remained popular, focusing on issues related to the extension of temporary protection and the rights and opportunities linked to different residence permits in Estonia. This was followed by a seminar on the steps required to submit employment record data electronically to the Ukrainian Pension Fund for people with refugee backgrounds from Ukraine. Since 2022, more than 14,200 people have participated in these trainings in total.
We organise regular group activities and community events across Estonia. Regular language cafés continued in Tallinn, the language-learning programme, Language Roulette, also continued. In April, we launched an active programme for older people to support the adaptation of people with refugee backgrounds in Estonia. The programme provides a safe space for social interaction, sharing experiences, and gaining practical knowledge.
In cooperation with the Integration Foundation, we are giving seminars to strengthen the capacity of local governments in the fields of migration and integration. In 2026, seminars took place in Haapsalu, Pärnu, Võru, Valga, Kärdla, Põlva, Põltsamaa, Kuressaare, Tallinn and Tartu. Cultural sensitivity training sessions have been held in Pärnu, Tallinn and Tartu. In total, 14 seminars and training sessions have been carried out across Estonia in the first half of the year. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Ministry of the Interior.
In cooperation with the Integration Foundation, we began organising various events across Estonia to increase the civic engagement of third-country nationals, including beneficiaries of international protection. The aim is to strengthen mutual understanding and trust, and to help third-country nationals cope better with everyday life and participate more actively in society. Project no. AMIF.1.02.23-0005 “Cooperation activities to increase the civic engagement of third-country nationals, including beneficiaries of international protection” is co-funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
As part of the Refugee Councils United for Youth project, we are developing international cooperation in youth work with the Finnish Refugee Council, the Irish Refugee Council and the Danish Refugee Council’s youth organisation. The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of refugee councils in different countries to involve young people with refugee backgrounds in their activities, thereby increasing their civic engagement. During a spring study visit to Ireland, we learned about the Irish Refugee Council’s youth programmes and those of other organisations working in Ireland. The project is funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme.
We provide counselling by appointment at the Estonian Refugee Council office (Vambola 6, Tallinn) every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Our information hotline is open to all refugees, as well as institutions and individuals assisting them, at +372 5881 1311 (Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm), and via email at counselling@pagulasabi.ee.
Armenia
Hydroponic greenhouses established at three schools in the Tavush region of Armenia help introduce water- and energy-efficient agricultural solutions developed in Estonia. Through the programme, we support schools in adapting to climate change and ensuring food security in water-scarce conditions. We also promote children’s environmental education and increase students’ engagement in agricultural and environmental topics. In April we conducted media training sessions for 75 students from all schools to learn about environmental content development, planning, and photo and video recording and editing. A competition on thematic media campaigns kicked off that will last till the end of May. Read more about the programme on ERC’s website. The programme is funded by the Ministry of Climate of the Republic of Estonia.
Thanks to funding from the European Union, we have launched four community councils so people with refugee backgrounds can voice their concerns and take part in decision-making processes that affect them. In April, Yerevan group outlined a summary of the public forum held last month with key challenges and solutions which will now be submitted to the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Migration and Citizenship Services. All councils are at the active initiatives stage: refining the initiatives together with the hosting civil society organisations, along with in-person pitching sessions held in Dilijan, implementation stage will launch in May.
In April, self-help group participants from Abovyan and Yerevan submitted their business ideas, 10 were selected. Masis and Martuni groups carried out their 8-day programme. Counselling and mentoring activities continued as usual. The programme is funded by the European Union.
We aim to strengthen Armenia’s green business ecosystem and promote circular economy principles through non-formal entrepreneurship education in public schools. Together with partner organisations, an agribusiness education game and extracurricular learning module will be developed, piloted in schools, and promoted for nationwide use. The project will introduce game-based learning methods, improve environmentally sustainable entrepreneurship education, and strengthen the capacity of education providers to deliver it. The programme is funded by ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for International Development.
Lebanon
The Estonian Refugee Council launched a humanitarian aid response in Lebanon in cooperation with the local organisation Nusaned, in order to ease the deepening humanitarian crisis caused by the armed conflict and to support people in the most vulnerable situations. We will distribute hot meals, food parcels and essential basic items to internally displaced people, particularly families with children, older people and people with disabilities. The programme is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.