Everyone arriving in Estonia can now use the roadmap to adaptation – a guide offering practical instructions and advice on a wide range of topics related to starting life in a new country. The newly developed roadmap is available free of charge on the Integration Foundation's website. 

‘We’re seeing an increasing number of people from different regions turning to our foundation for support. When they arrive, the new residents face many issues, such as how to learn Estonian, find a place to live, or access medical care. The clearer the information is to the newcomers, the faster they can become independent and a part of our society. The new roadmap will provide information conveniently from one place and at any time,’ explained Dmitri Moskovtsev, Head of the Integration Foundation.   

The roadmap to adaptation consists of 17 chapters, including Estonian laws, everyday life, education and language learning opportunities, and much more essential information for starting life in a new country. In addition to comprehensive overviews, the roadmap also provides practical recommendations and tips. The roadmap is available in the most commonly needed languages for adaptation – Estonian, English, and Russian. 

‘We put the roadmap together in cooperation with different institutions based on the expectations and needs of newcomers. Now, with just a few clicks on their phone or computer, newcomers can find comprehensive information on how the country works, as well as detailed guidance on the most important topics, such as registration of residence or finding a job. The same roadmap is also a good tool for everyone who the new resident is expected to contact – a simple recommendation to use the roadmap is enough’, said Britta Saks, Head of Adaptation at the Integration Foundation.   

The Integration Foundation has developed the roadmap to adaptation with the co-funding of the European Union. The roadmap is available on the website of the foundation, at https://www.integratsioon.ee/en/roadmap-adaptation.  

The Integration Foundation supports integration in Estonia through a wide range of activities. These include supporting the adaptation of people who have been living in Estonia for less than five years. To this end, the foundation offers Estonian language courses, adaptation training, and other activities, such as field trips and community events, with both state and European Union funding.  

On Wednesday, 30 April, the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme www.settleinestonia.ee opens the opportunity to register for A1, A2 and B1 level Estonian language courses. The courses are intended for beneficiaries of temporary protection, i.e. war refugees who have arrived in Estonia from Ukraine. Courses are free of charge for participants.   

A total of 14 language study groups will start, of which there will be 5 A1 level courses, 4 A2 level courses and 5 B1 level courses. 20 people can study in one group, i.e. a total of 280 places.  

14 of the courses will take place in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu and online. Courses start at different times of the day - morning, day and evening.   

Registration for the next language groups starts on 30 May.   

In order to register, you need to create an account on the Settle in Estonia page. You can sign up for a course at https://www.settleinestonia.ee/programme/language-module.    

In order to enrol in A2 level language courses, you must have completed an A1 level Estonian language course. If the language course has not been completed within the framework of the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme, it is necessary to submit an A1 level Estonian language course certificate. Also, when registering for a B1 level course, the completion of A2 level Estonian language course is required. If a previous Estonian language course has been completed through the Settle in Estonia programme, it is not necessary to send a certificate of the previous language level in order to register for the next level Estonian language course. If the course has been completed elsewhere (e.g. at a university, the Unemployment Insurance Fund or one of the following language schools https://bit.ly/keeleamet), please send the certificate to info@settleinestonia.ee.   

On Saturday, 10 May, residents of Narva and other regions of Ida-Viru County are invited to a family day to discover European cultures together. Renowned people from Ida-Viru County and elsewhere, who will offer free educational and entertaining activities, help participants on the path to exciting discoveries.

The family day is organised by the Integration Foundation as part of Europe Week. The foundation has previously offered the residents and visitors of Ida-Viru County numerous opportunities for shared experiences through the unique projects of the Estonian Language House.

According to Anna Farafonova, Head of the Estonian Language House, the family day is an opportunity to celebrate how much we truly have in common. ‘Our Narva, Ida-Viru County, Estonia, and Europe are home to thousands of people and hundreds of communities. The resulting cultural diversity has become part of our daily lives. We plan to come together in the creative heart of Narva to understand our differences and similarities through shared activities and thereby become even closer – all the while having fun in a way that is common for family gatherings,’ explained Anna Farafonova.

The activities of the family day on the premises and in the outdoor area of Narva Art Residence (NART) are free of charge. From noon to 5 p.m., a range of educational and fun activities will take place to help discover European cultures with the whole family.

According to Jevgeni Timoštšuk, who is organising the family day, the event is the perfect opportunity to get together with family and friends. ‘Exciting activities and unique experiences await both younger and older members of the family. For example, renowned storyteller Polina Tšerkassova will take listeners into a world of fairy tales and stories from different European peoples. The talented performer Sylvain Oulala will teach juggling and other circus secrets. Experienced freestyle footballer Eno Lints will teach spectacular football tricks that develop your dexterity and help to win the game. The whole family can also get hands-on in the community garden and sing along with the tandem choir of the Estonian Language House. The family day will culminate with a lively concert by the beloved band Curly Strings,’ added Jevgeni Timoštšuk.

The programme and performers of the family day can be found on the website of the Integration Foundation and on the social media page of the Estonian Language House. The event is one of the regional activities organised by the Estonian Language House of the Integration Foundation in Ida-Viru County within the framework of the EU Cohesion Policy measure ‘Supporting community activities that promote integration’.

Family Day

Saturday, 10 May 2025
Narva Art Residence (NART), 18 Joala Street
 
12.00 p.m. Start of the family day
12.00–3.00 p.m. Workshops in the outdoor area and indoors
3.00–4.00 p.m. Performance of the tandem choir in the outdoor area and singing together
4.00–5.00 p.m. Concert of the headliner Curly Strings in the outdoor stage
5.00 p.m. End of the family day

Starting from 19 April, we welcome everybody with at least language level B1 to our Estonian language and culture clubs! The clubs are intended for adults (from the age of 18) who have completed an Estonian language course or successfully passed a level B1, B2, or C1 language exam. Each club has a maximum of 20 members.

In these clubs, you can:

• practise your Estonian and break free of the language barrier,
• develop communication skills in a free and friendly atmosphere,
• communicate with native Estonian speakers,
• learn new expressions and gain the confidence to speak Estonian.

Unlike classic language classes, the meetings of the club are more varied, for example:

• in the form of field trips and more informal events,
• involving guests with whom you can talk about everyday topics,
• feature learning everyday expressions and phrases from real life.

Sign up for the clubs:

• Language club in Tallinn (Põhja-Tallinn district, from 19 April) – https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/15264 
• Language club in Tallinn (Lasnamäe district, from 20 April) – https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/15265 
• Language club in Tallinn (Kesklinn district, from 21 April) – https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/15268 
• Language club in Tartu (from 22 April) – https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/15266&nbsp
• Language club in Pärnu (from 27 April) – https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/service/view/15267;

When signing up, select ‘Add services’ → Language and culture club → Location (Tallinn, Tartu, or Pärnu)

Members meet once a week and there are a total of 30 meetings over the course of the year, six of which are field trips.

Only people who have not participated in the clubs of the Integration Foundation in 2023 or 2024 can participate in the club.

The club is funded from sub-activity 3.4.4.1 ‘Development and provision of a language practice environment and support solutions for language learning’ of project No. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006 ‘Activities supporting Estonian language learning and civic education’, funded by the European Social Fund+.