01/07/2025
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Countries
The Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) has published its 2024 annual report, summarising the key activities of the past year. In 2024, the organisation reached over 69,000 people, providing immediate assistance in crisis situations and supporting long-term recovery. Throughout the year, ERC operated in 6 countries: Estonia, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, Jordan and Lebanon. As of 2024, the organisation employed 129 staff members and had a total income of €19.69 million.
“The year 2024 was busy and multifaceted for the Estonian Refugee Council. The war in Ukraine entered its third year, while the Middle East witnessed pivotal developments in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon. At the same time, refugees in Armenia, Jordan and Georgia faced serious economic challenges. In Estonia, Ukrainians who fled the war are now navigating a new phase of adaptation and rebuilding their lives. Through it all, our work has always remained centred on the refugee – an ordinary person in an extraordinary situation,” writes Eero Janson, Director of the Estonian Refugee Council, in the foreword to the annual report.
- In 2024, we delivered life-saving humanitarian aid to nearly 56,000 people in Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, and Lebanon. We helped crisis-affected people to meet their basic needs, access medical care, survive harsh winter conditions, and find emergency shelter.
- We supported the economic recovery of more than 6,000 people in Ukraine, Georgia, Jordan, and Estonia. We helped start small businesses and provided support in securing meaningful employment, enabling people to rebuild their lives after crisis.
- We also helped over 7,000 people through our protection and empowerment programme in Estonia and Georgia. We supported people in adapting to new environments and building self-reliance – providing reliable information, counselling, mental health support, community events, and advocacy to ensure the voices of crisis-affected people are heard.
“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey and continues to walk it with us – our team, partners, supporters, local communities, and most importantly, the people we serve. We will carry on in the same spirit: ready to learn, innovate, and move forward with courage,” Janson adds.
You can read more about the Estonian Refugee Council’s activities in 2024 in the newly published annual report.
17/07/2025
The Estonian Refugee Council supports the self-sufficiency of women who have fled from Syria to Jordan
The Estonian Refugee Council supports the self-sufficiency of women who have fled from Syria to Jordan
The Estonian Refugee Council supports the self-sufficiency of women-led households in vulnerable situations in Jordan through a training programme that provides new knowledge and practical skills for growing food and generating income. This June, the first ten women from Syria completed hydroponics training and will now be able to deliver similar training within their communities, thereby increasing knowledge of water-efficient agriculture across the region.
15/07/2025
Estonian Refugee Council is hosting a discussion on racism at the Opinion Festival and joining the debate on humanitarian aid funding
Estonian Refugee Council is hosting a discussion on racism at the Opinion Festival and joining the debate on humanitarian aid funding
The Estonian Refugee Council, Estonian Human Rights Centre and the Office of the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner invite everyone to join discussions on racism in Estonia at this year’s Opinion Festival. The conversation "I’m not a racist, but…" – real stories from Estonia takes place on Friday, 8 August at 16:00 on the Security stage. On 9 August at 18:30 on the Foreign Policy stage, Estonian Refugee Council’s Director Eero Janson will take part in the panel More crises, less funding, which looks at how cuts to humanitarian aid and development cooperation budgets affect those in need.
10/07/2025
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in June
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in June
This year at the Arvamusfestival (Opinion Festival), in cooperation with the Office of the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner and the Estonian Human Rights Centre, we are organising a discussion on racism titled I’m not a racist, but…, which will focus on real-life stories from Estonia. Come listen and reflect with us on August 8 from 16:00–17:30 at the Security Area on Paide Vallimägi. In addition, the director of the Estonian Refugee Council, Eero Janson, will take part in a foreign policy discussion titled More Crises, Less Money on August 9.A new programme has been launched in Estonia to support Ukrainian refugee youth in language learning and integration. Read more on Estonian Refugee Council’s website. In Ukraine, we have started a new entrepreneurship programme in the Poltava, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, Dnipro, and Kharkiv regions to help local people rebuild their lives and become more self-reliant.In June, we visited the Tavush region in Armenia with experts from the Estonian University of Life Sciences to help local schools adopt environmentally friendly agricultural practices such as hydroponics and composting.In Jordan, ten women completed a training course in June aimed at spreading knowledge of water-efficient farming methods throughout the region.We published our 2024 annual report in June. Last year, our support reached more than 69,000 people. Read more in the Estonian Refugee Council’s annual report.
20/06/2025
Estonian Refugee Council Highlights the Voices of Young Refugees on World Refugee Day
Estonian Refugee Council Highlights the Voices of Young Refugees on World Refugee Day
Täna, rahvusvahelisel pagulaspäeval korraldas Eesti Pagulasabi Tallinnas, Tondiraba pargis tegevusterohke noorteürituse, et avaldada toetust neile, kes on pidanud oma kodud jätma ja aidata märgata pagulastaustaga inimesi meie ümber.
20/06/2025
Eesti Pagulasabi Supports Language Learning for Refugee-background Youth
Eesti Pagulasabi Supports Language Learning for Refugee-background Youth
Eesti Pagulasabi, in cooperation with Tallinn University and the Polish organisation Dobra Fabryka, has launched a programme aimed at supporting the integration of young people with a refugee background. The goal is to strengthen their language skills, support their entry into the labour market, facilitate social integration, and promote future independence.
17/06/2025
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in May
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in May
On 20 June, we’re hosting a youth-focused event in Tondiraba Park to mark World Refugee Day – a celebration of courage, resilience, and community. Find out more on our website or join via Facebook.Our mental health hotline was relaunched to support Ukrainians in Ukraine, Estonia, and beyond, helping people cope with the psychological toll of the war.A new programme has been launched to support Ukrainian refugee youth in Estonia with language learning and integration.A new programme is starting in Estonia to strengthen the capacity of local governments in matters related to migration and integration.In Armenia, last week experts from the Estonian University of Life Sciences visited Tavush to provide local schools with practical training in hydroponics and composting.In Georgia, we continue to support Ukrainian refugees with cash-based assistance to help them meet daily needs and build resilience.In Jordan, women-led community organisations completed the first stage of hydroponics training.New global Complaints and Feedback Mechanism launched by the Estonian Refugee Council allows beneficiaries, partners, and staff to submit questions, complaints, or feedback safely and confidentially.
05/06/2025
24 Refugee-Led Teams Complete Boost Entrepreneurship Programme
24 Refugee-Led Teams Complete Boost Entrepreneurship Programme
The second season of the Estonian Refugee Council’s Boost entrepreneurship programme has successfully come to an end. The programme supported people with a refugee background in developing or relaunching their existing businesses. A total of 24 teams from across Estonia took part.
28/05/2025
Estonian Refugee Council's Hotline Offers Mental Health Support to Ukrainians in 21 European Countries
Estonian Refugee Council's Hotline Offers Mental Health Support to Ukrainians in 21 European Countries
In cooperation with the Ukrainian National Psychological Association, the Estonian Refugee Council has relaunched its helpline, which provides mental health support to Ukrainians living in Ukraine or displaced across Europe due to the war. With funding from ESTDEV, support is now available in a total of 21 European countries.
26/05/2025
Estonian Refugee Council Hosts Lively Youth Event in Tallinn for World Refugee Day
Estonian Refugee Council Hosts Lively Youth Event in Tallinn for World Refugee Day
On 20 June, from 2 to 5 p.m., Estonian Refugee Council will celebrate World Refugee Day in Tondiraba Park, Tallinn, with a vibrant youth event in support of all refugees who have been forced to leave their homes.
23/05/2025
Over 2 million hryvnias in aid delivered to Shevchenkove community in Mykolaiv region within ERC’s livelihoods program
Over 2 million hryvnias in aid delivered to Shevchenkove community in Mykolaiv region within ERC’s livelihoods program
The Shevchenkove community is one of the hardest-hit areas in Mykolaiv region of Ukraine. In 2022, it was on the frontline—eight of its settlements were occupied, and the others came under constant attack.