On 22–23 November, at Ilmaveere in Setomaa, the final of the "Empowering Women" entrepreneurship programme hackathon, organised in collaboration by the Estonian Refugee Council, Garage48, and Swedbank, selected 41 of the best business ideas from 60. These ideas will now proceed to a business incubation programme running until the end of March.

The UPBEAT employability programme, launched in the summer in collaboration with the Estonian Refugee Council, Startup Refugees, and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, aims to increase the competitiveness of young people with refugee and migrant backgrounds in entrepreneurship and the labour market through learning about artificial intelligence (AI).

Yesterday, 19 November, a support event for Ukraine was held at Freedom Square in Tallinn, where 1,000 candles were lit to mark 1,000 days since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Hundreds of people gathered in solidarity with Ukraine, and several individuals connected to Ukraine delivered speeches.

On 19 November, from 5 PM to 9 PM, the Estonian Refugee Council will host a solidarity event in Freedom Square, Tallinn, where a thousand candles will be lit to mark 1,000 days since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The event is part of the ongoing campaign “1,000 Days of War, 1,000 Warm Homes.”

The project, which aimed to map out opportunities for people with a refugee background to enter the labour market, culminated in an Estonian visit at the beginning of November. During the visit, participants explored the activities and initiatives of the Estonian Refugee Council and the opportunities available to refugees in Estonia.

The Estonian Refugee Council launched a donation campaign on 13 November – “1000 Days of War, 1000 Warm Homes” – to collect donations during November and December to provide heating support for 1,000 Ukrainian households near the frontline.

Ms. Nataliya Kachur comes from the city of Soledar in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. Due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Nataliya and her family moved away from the frontlines and to the central region of Cherkasy. It was not easy for Nataliya’s family to suddenly uproot their lives and settle in a completely new place far from their social network and previous jobs. Having 20 years of experience in teaching art, Nataliya decided to begin offering online drawing lessons, leveraging her love for art to earn a living in an unfamiliar area.

The international humanitarian conference, organised by the Estonian Refugee Council, brought together experts and organisations from around the world in Tallinn yesterday. In its second year, the conference focused on ethical dilemmas, anticipatory action, and the use of artificial intelligence in humanitarian aid.

A donation campaign in Estonia is still active 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 focuses on ethical dilemmas, preventive action, and the use of artificial intelligence.In Ukraine, we continue to distribute 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.A financial assistance programme was launched in Ukraine to increase food security and self-sufficiency for vulnerable households and communities by improving the winter living conditions of livestock and poultry.In Armenia’s Lori region, a women’s livelihoods programme started.Our Armenia office has signed an agreement with the Estonian University of Life Sciences to help three schools in the Tavush region implement water- and energy-efficient agricultural solutions developed in Estonia to alleviate water scarcity and promote environmental education.In Georgia, a cash assistance programme has been launched to support Ukrainian refugees living there through the winter months. For more information, visit the Estonian Refugee Council´s website.

Eesti Pagulasabi korraldab 7. novembril Tallinnas, Fotografiskas rahvusvahelise humanitaarkonverentsi, mille keskmes on eetika, ennetav tegutsemine ja tehisintellekti kasutus humanitaarabis.