Performing arts establishments were given support for promoting a shared cultural space
66 young ethnic Estonians travel to Pärnu County to learn Estonian
More than 600 public sector officials and employees will start learning Estonian
A refresher course on the method of teaching specialised language for the teachers of vocational education institutions will be conducted in the autumn
Diversified summer school for social science and history teachers
MISA supports additional language studies of about 500 students
Ministry of Cultural Affairs approved the new Covering Board of MISA
The Minister of Cultural Affairs, Mr. Rein Lang, approved modifications in the membership of the Covering Board of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) on 10 June. At the meeting of the Covering Board, which took place on 14 June, it was unanimously decided to appoint Ms Laine Randjärv to the position of the chairman of the Covering Board, while Ms Anne-Ly Reimaa was assigned to the position of Vice Chairman.
The Covering Board, which earlier consisted of 13 members, now has seven members. Ms Irene Käosaar, Ms Ruth Annus and Mr. Vitali Gaitšonok were appointed as the new members of the Covering Board. The Ministry assigned Mr. Paul-Eerik Rummo to the Covering Board for the next three-year term. Ms Laine Randjärv, Ms Anne-Ly Reimaa and Mr. Mart Nutt will continue as the members of the Covering Board.
Mr. Tõnis Lukas, Mr. Marko Pomerants, Ms Tea Varrak, Ms Liili Kaska, Mr. Jevgeni Žurjari-Ossipov, Ms Katri Raik, Ms Mary Velmet, Ms Birute Klaas and Mr. Mati Heidmets were withdrawn from the Covering Board, by a resolution of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Up to 13 members, appointed by the founding institution for a three-year period, can belong to the Covering Board of the MISA. The Covering Board organises the management of the Foundation and conducts supervision over its activities.
Comments:
Ms Laine Randjärv – Vice Speaker of the Riigikogu
“In 2007-2011, as I held my office as the Minister of Cultural Affairs, I had the opportunity to pay special attention to integration issues through a number of different initiatives. In 2007, a Department of Cultural Diversity was established at the ministry of Cultural Affairs and after the Office of the Population Minister was wound up, all the issues related to integration were transferred to the competence of this Ministry. The ministry of Cultural Affairs also established the Cultural Council for Ethnic Minorities, which advises the ministry of the cultural issues of ethnic minorities. In September 2010, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs also supported the launching of a website, which provides an overview of the cultural life of ethnic minorities at www.etnoweb.ee. Through these and many other activities, which are linked to integration, I have encountered a variety of integration-related issues in Estonian society.
As a Chairman of the Covering Board of the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) I would like, above all, to facilitate better access to various competitions organized by the Foundation, seeing that a larger number of organizations and people could participate in various interesting, integration-related activities. I feel that the formation of the new Covering Board is a very positive step, as this is a body consisting of professionals and specialists who deal with integration issues in their regular, everyday work and use an in-depth approach to search solutions for the problems. The resolution to reduce the number of members of the Covering Board is not caused solely by the need to cut down some of the expenses of the Foundation, but also to achieve a constructive, efficient and more dynamic working environment.“
Ms Anne-Ly Reimaa – Undersecretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs
“The most important function of the Foundation is the initiation and provision of support to various activities aimed at integration as well as migration issues within Estonian society. MISA is used to implementing objectives as laid down by the Estonian integration strategy; hundreds of important projects in the sphere of education, culture and media are being implemented; surveys and information dissemination events are being organised; contemporary training and information materials are being developed. In short, the Foundation implements and supervises integration policies, as well as being a creator of co-operation networks and supporter of citizens’ initiatives. It’s good to admit that MISA also takes an active part in international co-operation.
MISA makes use of European Union Structural Funds for integration activities; this will also mean considerable liabilities for the Covering Board. I appreciate the current good and efficient partnership and open dialogue between the Covering Board and the Foundation. Efficiency, competence and the maintenance of strong values is a motto of any good and effective institution. I do hope, most sincerely, that all the valuable ideas, which support cohesion and the development of society through integration aspects, will become a reality.”
Ms Irene Käosaar – Head of General Department of the Ministry of Education and Research
“I’ve experienced integration since childhood, as I was brought up in a bi-lingual and cultural family. I’ve spoken both Estonian and Russian language since I was a child and have communicated with people from both cultural spaces. All my working life has been intertwined with integration – I started as a teacher of the Estonian language in a Russian school in 1992; then I ran a language immersion programme for eight years in Estonia; since 2007 I’ve been working at the Ministry of Education and Research, and I have been involved with general and non-formal education issues of ethnic minorities.
As a member of the Covering Board I want to contribute to the development of the integration process – supporting opportunities for creating cohesion in society and also the greater involvement of Estonian-speaking students and young people in the process. I hope that the Foundation is and will be an even more influential supporter and developer of the integration process and the funds, allocated from both the state budget and international sources will be used, efficiently, for supporting the integration processes in Estonia.“
Ms Ruth Annus – Head of Migration and Border Guard Policy Department of the Ministry of the Interior
“I’ve been working in the field of citizenship and migration policies at the Ministry of the Interior since 2000 and my work has always involved participation in the development of integration policies and co-ordination of their implementation.
As far as the Ministry of the Interior is concerned, integration is immediately linked to the safety and security of Estonian society. I believe that MISA can largely contribute to integrating foreigners with Estonian society. MISA could support various citizens’ initiatives and give people better opportunities for self-realisation – by facilitating Estonian language studies, for example, and supporting people in the process of applying for Estonian citizenship.“
Mr. Vitali Gaitšonok – adviser to the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union’s fraction
“I have not been involved with migration issues within an Estonian context before and this is a new sphere for me. But I do feel that we lack a common, shared opinion regarding integration. Being a member of the MISA Covering Board, I would also like to develop, apart from supporting Estonian language studies, other spheres of the Foundation, which could serve as tools that contribute to uniting the population of Estonia.
During my career, I’ve been always involved with information technology development and IT infrastructure maintenance. Therefore, I would like to optimise the internal MISA processes, using modern technologies and thereby simplifying services for clients using information technology development tools.“
Mr. Paul-Eerik Rummo – member of the Riigikogu
“I worked on integration and migration subjects for quite a long term during my term as the Population Minister, Chairman of the MISA Covering Board and later as a member of the same Foundation, as a Chairman of the Covering Board of the Migration Foundation. I am also focused on integration aspects of educational and cultural draft bills, as a member of the cultural committee of the Riigikogu.
Apart from conducting supervision over the efficiency and legitimacy of the work done by the Foundation, I also see participation in the generation of new ideas and acting as a linking part between the institution and society as a task of a member of the Covering Board.“
Mr. Mart Nutt – member of Tallinn City Council
“I’ve been a member of the Covering Board of the Migration Fund previously and have been involved with issues of integration, migration, refugee, foreigners and citizenship and related legislation since 1992 as a member of the Constitutional Committee of the Riigikogu.
As for the integration, more attention should be given to new immigrants. We must not forget that migration and integration are two sides of the same coin, which cannot be dealt with separately, and therefore, they should be observed together.”
Performing arts establishments were given support for promoting a shared cultural space
The Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) published the list of performing arts establishments that were granted support within the framework of the competition “Promoting a shared cultural space through partnership activities”. MISA, which is allocating support to performing arts institutions for the third year, granted support to six performing arts institutions in the amount of 67,000 euro.
The objective of the competition is to support the cooperative activities of performing arts establishments with the aim of promoting a shared cultural space and of improving efficiency of integration in Estonian society with the participation of ethnic Estonians and non-Estonians. Activities that last more than one month and help to achieve the objectives of the competition, i.e. joint performances of performing arts institutions and organisation of simultaneous interpretation, are supported within the scope of this competition.
MISA supported MTÜ Vene Nukuteater with 14,000 euro that will organise a performance “Let’s read Dovlatov” during the “Dovlatov Days in Tallinn” international literary festival. A support in the amount of 12,065.84 euro will go to MTÜ Banaanikala to stage and perform Rünno Saaremäe’s play titled “Jaanituli” (“Midsummer Eve Bonfire”) in Russian. Loominguline Ühendus Teine Laine (Artistic Association “The Second Wave”) received support in the amount of 14,000 euro to stage a play of Marius Lätte titled “Rasmusele teeb küll küllaga liiga” (“A little bit more will hurt Rasmus”) in Russian. MTÜ Päikesevanker was granted a support of 14,000 euro to stage “Crime and Punishment”. Both SA Eesti Draamateater and SA Vene Teater received 6,070 euro to offer simultaneous interpretation: the first will use its support money for simultaneous interpretation of performances into Russian and the latter to provide simultaneous interpretation of performances into Estonian.
18 applications were submitted to the competition. The competition is financed by the Ministry of Culture from the state budget.
For further information, please contact: Kaie Kullik, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 6 599 025, e-mail kaie.kullik@meis.ee
66 young ethnic Estonians travel to Pärnu County to learn Estonian
For eleven years, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) has supported holding a camp for young people of Estonian origin who do not live in the Republic of Estonia. The camp will be held at three different times and will bring 90 young ethnic Estonians living abroad and local support students aged from 12−17 to Ojako tourist farm in Pärnumaa.
The objective of the camp is to offer the young people of Estonian origin organised language learning, an opportunity to communicate with their peers from ethnic Estonians in a camp atmosphere and participate in joint activities and tours, to provide sporting and amateur arts opportunities and to acquaint them with the attractions and culture of Estonia.
The camp will be held from 5−15 July, 19−29 July and 2−12 August and the young people who will attend the camp come from Finland, Russia (Krasnoyarsk, Upper Suetuk, Moscow, Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg, Pechory), USA (Virginia, New Jersey, Michigan, California), Ireland, Canada, Lithuania, Sweden, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Ukraine, Germany, Belorussia, Norway, and Scotland.
In previous years, altogether 360 ethnic Estonians living abroad have studied the Estonian language and learned about the Estonian culture within the scope of the programme and 66 young ethnic Estonians will attend the camp this year.
The organisation of the camp is being supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Research.
For further information, please contact: Kristina Pirgop, Culture and Youth Work Unit, tel 6 599 024, e-mail kristina.pirgop@meis.ee
More than 600 public sector officials and employees will start learning Estonian
In autumn, language courses for more than 600 public sector officials and employees will be organised with the support of the European Social Fund within the scope of which language training will be provided for the employees of educational, hobby education and cultural institutions, the rescue teams of city governments and the Police and Border Guard Board, libraries and social welfare institutions.
In order to improve the provision of language training, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) held a round of proposals collecting where 120 proposals were submitted by more than a hundred institutions all over Estonia. The experts considered successful 32 proposals of which 28 will be implemented. About 4/5 of the institutions that submitted proposals are located in Ida-Virumaa and 1/5 in Tallinn, although proposals came also from Harju County and Pärnu.
“We are extremely glad that people have overcome their fear of undertaking in-service training. The employees of the East Prefecture of the Police and Border Guard Broad working in Narva are given an opportunity to have at least a two-week in-service training at Rakvere police station or Iisaku constable station,” said Jana Tondi, a coordinator of MISA Lifelong Learning Unit.
In addition, kindergarten teachers and librarians are offered the opportunity to overcome their language barrier by practicing their language skills while working for two days in various establishments in Rapla, Tartu, Tallinn, Pärnu, Viljandi or Võru where the Estonian language is spoken.
Tondi said that although the language studies to be organised in 2011−2012 will cost 150,000 euro the actual need for language training is ten times larger.
Language studies will be organised within the framework of the activity “Language studies for public sector employees” of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” financed by the European Social Fund.
The experts considered successful proposals that had clear objectives, incorporated diversified language-training methods and described the motivation of learners. In addition, it was evaluated whether the scope of language training matches the resources to be spent and the purposefulness and objectiveness of money use was also considered. When analysing the proposals, the experts took into account whether the submitter of the proposal intends to contribute to the language training activities.
For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee
A refresher course on the method of teaching specialised language for the teachers of vocational education institutions will be conducted in the autumn
In May, the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) held an open procurement with a simplified procedure “Refresher training on the method of teaching specialised language for the teachers of vocational education institutions”, the winner of which was BDA Consulting OÜ, within the framework of which a training course on the method of teaching specialised language will be held for 40 teachers of vocational education institutions in the autumn of 2011.
During the course, the teachers will learn to use the methods of teaching specialised language provided in the manuals translated within the framework of the programme “Language Studies Development 2007−2010” and acquire skills to use the prepared language training materials.
A refresher training course for the teachers of vocational education institutions will be held within the framework of the programme “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” of the measure “Language Learning Development” of the priority axis “Operational Plan for Human Resources Development” financed by the European Social Fund.
For further information, please contact: Merlin Mägi, Lifelong Education Unit, tel 659 9068, e-mail merlin.magi@meis.ee
Diversified summer school for social science and history teachers
From 14 – 17 September, another summer school for teachers of social sciences and history will take place in Roosta Camping, Läänemaa. 90 social science and history teachers are expected to take part in the summer school; the training is free for the participants.
The following issues will be discussed, among other topics, in the summer school:
- Comparison of educational systems. Comparison of educational systems of Japan, China, Islamic countries and Europe.
- Future of Islamic countries, Internet and Islamic countries.
- Propaganda – definition, theoretical bases, operational mechanisms.
- Examples of operational multi-cultural society. New immigrant in Estonia.
- Conflicting persons (non-Estonians) in Estonian history, their contribution to Estonian culture, history, science, politics.
- Debating and argumentation. Practical art of debating. Options for using debate in a lesson. Practical debate on a subject “The role of social sciences and history teacher in the society”.
- Introduction to LAK-teaching methodology. Active teaching methods.
- And other educational and teaching issues.
The training will be held by Sola Integra OÜ. The training was commissioned by the Integration and Migration Foundation Our People (MISA) and is being funded by the Ministry of Education and Research.
MISA supports additional language studies of about 500 students
The additional training will cost around 100,000 euro and starting from autumn the students of education, culture, medicine, maritime, arts, economics and information technology whose mother tongue is not Estonian will participate in different language learning activities such as language learning in classroom, contact learning lessons and specialised language practice in language environment. The objective of additional training is to develop Estonian language skills necessary for academic studies at higher education level and the specialised Estonian language.
“Additional training organised based on the proposals ensures the students’ more active participation and commitment because the language training initiative comes from the higher education institutions and the courses are different from traditional language training,” explained the usefulness of the round of proposals Jana Tondi, a coordinator of MISA Lifelong Learning Unit.
“For example, a mini-group from the Kohtla-Järve department of the Tallinn Health Care College will study Estonian in Tallinn for two weeks as a part of speciality-related studies and during practical activities. The students can also be active in the language environment under the direction of mentor students, participate in a culture programme and analyse whether the objectives set by the programme have been achieved,” Tondi gave an example of the activities that were originally suggested during the round of proposals.
Additional language training is organised for the students of higher education level that have acquired their secondary education in Estonia regardless of the level of their Estonian language skills. Additional training to be held in the academic year of 2011/2012 is supported within the framework of the “Language Learning Development 2011−2013” programme activity “Additional language training for the students of higher education level” financed from the European Social Fund.
Altogether 12 higher education institutions submitted 25 proposals during the round of proposals from all over Estonia. Half of the approved 18 proposals, or 9 proposals, came from Ida-Virumaa, 6 from Tallinn and 3 from Tartu.
For further information, please contact: Jana Tondi, Lifelong Learning Unit, tel 659 9069, e-mail jana.tondi@meis.ee
