13/06/2023
17/01/2025
Estonian Refugee Council Supports Over 5,600 Ukrainian Families with Heating Aid This Winter
Estonian Refugee Council Supports Over 5,600 Ukrainian Families with Heating Aid This Winter
This winter, the Estonian Refugee Council is providing heating assistance to over 5,600 Ukrainian families living near the front lines. The support is directed towards people living in the regions most affected by the war, where ongoing attacks have continuously disrupted access to essential services.
13/01/2025
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in December
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in December
In Estonia, we have relaunched the "Boost" entrepreneurship programme, which helps participants develop or restart their existing businesses. Registration is open on the Estonian Refugee Council platform.In Ukraine we have provided cash-based assistance to nearly 296,000 people. In Ukraine, we continue to distribute winter support to cover heating costs for 5000 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.We are launching four community councils in Armenia to enable people with refugee backgrounds to express their concerns, advocate for solutions to their problems, and participate in decision-making processes that affect them.We will also continue working with community councils in Georgia to amplify the voices of refugees and internally displaced persons there.
09/01/2025
ERC launches the second round of the “Boost” entrepreneurship programme
ERC launches the second round of the “Boost” entrepreneurship programme
Entrepreneurship is one way to rebuild one’s life in a new environment and create a stable income for oneself and one’s family.
24/12/2024
From kimchi online-shop to the Korean restaurant in Cherkasy: Oksana’s entrepreneurship journey
From kimchi online-shop to the Korean restaurant in Cherkasy: Oksana’s entrepreneurship journey
Oksana, along with her husband and daughter, left her hometown of Kharkiv due to the war in March 2022. This is how the family ended up in Cherkasy. Before the full-scale invasion, Oksana sold kimchi – a popular Korean snack – through an online store on Instagram. At one time, her daughter became interested in K-pop culture, and Oksana not only supported this hobby, but also began to study the Korean language and culture, including cuisine.
20/12/2024
Ukraine's Heating Infrastructure Under Continued Attack: Support Ukrainian Families Survive the Winter
Ukraine's Heating Infrastructure Under Continued Attack: Support Ukrainian Families Survive the Winter
This morning, another Russian missile strike hit Kyiv, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. Hundreds of residential buildings, as well as dozens of schools, kindergartens, and healthcare facilities, were left without heating as a result. One of the missiles exploded just a couple of kilometres from the Estonian Refugee Council's Kyiv office, highlighting the extreme conditions in which our team continues its work.
20/12/2024
Together with local partner, ERC provides in-kind assistance for winter energy in Donetsk region
Together with local partner, ERC provides in-kind assistance for winter energy in Donetsk region
Valerii and his wife live in the village in Donetsk region. Their children are already grown up and live separately. Valerii is a pensioner now but before he worked for 40 years at a local mine. Shortly before the start of the full-scale invasion, the family moved into a new house, which they built for a long time themselves.
17/12/2024
Family Celebration in Võru Brought Together Ukrainians and Their Friends
Family Celebration in Võru Brought Together Ukrainians and Their Friends
On 7 December, a pre-Christmas Ukrainian-Estonian family celebration was held in Võru in cooperation with the local Red Cross office, bringing together around 120 participants. The event featured a concert performance introducing Ukrainian Christmas traditions, with singing, dancing, and acting.
13/12/2024
Vulnerable families in Cherkasy region gain new sources of income with ERC’s livelihood grants support
Vulnerable families in Cherkasy region gain new sources of income with ERC’s livelihood grants support
ERC team visited families in the town of Smila in Cherkasy region who received assistance from the Estonian Refugee Council in Ukraine through the Emergency livelihoods programme.
10/12/2024
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in November
Overview of the Estonian Refugee Council's Activities in November
The Estonian Refugee Council celebrated its 24th Anniversary. In our 24 years of operation our assistance has reached around half a million people. We have grown to become the largest humanitarian organisation in the Baltics and our team of more than 120 employees helps crisis-affected people in 6 countries.
02/12/2024
"Empowering Women" incubation programme selects 41 top business ideas
"Empowering Women" incubation programme selects 41 top business ideas
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.