On 22 January 2025, Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project was delighted to welcome the Estonian Diaspora Delegation, which included Mrs. Marin Mõttus, Ambassador at Large for the Diaspora at the DFA in Estonia; Mrs. Liina Viies, Adviser for the Diaspora; and the Estonian Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs. Kairi Künka. Their visit provided a valuable opportunity for mutual learning and an exchange of ideas on how to support and empower diaspora communities.
The delegation showed great interest in understanding the work of Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project, particularly our efforts to assist vulnerable and marginalized individuals returning to Ireland. Discussions revolved around the challenges faced by returnees and the practical support we provide, including real-life examples of cases we’ve managed. The visit also fostered an exchange of ideas regarding our policy and outreach initiatives. To deepen their understanding of Ireland’s national approach to diaspora engagement, the delegation also met with the Irish Abroad Unit of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.
Estonia’s Diaspora Engagement
The Estonian team shared insights about their own initiatives, highlighting the work of Estonia’s Integration Foundation. This organization supports Estonian returnees through a variety of programs, including financial grants for families returning with children, organized returnee meetups, and comprehensive reintegration support. The foundation, established by the Republic of Estonia and overseen by the Ministry of Culture, collaborates with various government ministries to achieve national development goals.
Another important initiative they’ve mentioned was “Global Estonia: Find Your Own Estonia.”. This initiative focuses on helping young Estonians returning to their homeland by offering resources such as free online Estonian language courses, scholarship opportunities, and other tools designed to foster a deeper connection to Estonian culture and language. This program is important in easing the integration process for returnees and strengthening their ties to their roots.
We look forward to keeping in touch with the delegation and we wish them the very best of luck on their exploratory trip to Ireland.
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