EERO supports Ukrainian refugees

EERO (Estonian Ecumenical Relief Organization) is grateful for the kindness and hard work of A.K.E.N. (Academic Canadian Estonian Women’s Association), for supporting the EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund with $7,000. This donation will help children and support the needs of Ukrainian refugees in Estonia. Both EERO and A.K.E.N. have operated for over 30 years and have worked together several times to achieve common goals (Kuld Südamete Ball, shipments of school supplies, Rannakohvik – 25th anniversary, etc.). EERO continues to collect donations and hopes that other organizations will follow the example of these wonderful women. Many Canadian Estonians were either WW2 refugees or are the descendants of refugees and therefore know what it means to abandon everything and start again with nothing.

EERO supports Ukrainian refugees in partnership with Eesti Pagulasabi (Estonian Refugee Council), which is certified as a humanitarian organization by the European Union. All donations are used to cover the cost of evacuations, humanitarian aid in the Ukraine and the urgent needs of Ukrainian refugees in Estonia.

Eesti Pagulasabi works with government agencies and the Red Cross, through:

• Transportation of refugees from the Ukrainian border

• Organization of evacuation buses to ensure the safety of Ukrainians with ties to Estonia

• Distribution of snacks and chocolate to refugees during the trip

• Supporting Ukrainian refugees in coping with urgent needs in Estonia

• Establishment of multiple locations where local Estonians can donate clothing, household supplies, diapers and other items – staffed by volunteers, who deliver what is needed, when it is needed.

• Distribution of information and advice at registration centers in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu and Rakvere

• Delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine with the help of their partners

• Provision of aid packages to refugees, and delivery of medicine and medical supplies to hospitals within Ukraine. (Last week some of these supplies even reached Mariupol, which is currently under siege.)

As of March 16th, 22,000 Ukrainian refugees have been evacuated to Estonia, while around 6,000 are in transit to other countries (source: ERR News). Many Ukrainian refugees have travelled to Estonia in other ways or were in Estonia when the war started. This number will likely rise to 30,000 or even higher.

The Ministry of Education is establishing a school that will provide part of the curriculum in Ukrainian but also teach the children Estonian, with the hope that they will be able to integrate into regular Estonian schools in September.

About 40% of those refugees staying in Estonia are children, but the majority are infants or preschoolers. Ukrainian refugees account for about 1.67% of the Estonian population. The same percentage of refugees in Canada per population would translate to 660,000.

1. Donate to the EERO Ukrainian Refugee fund account at Northern Birch Credit Union.

2. e-transfer to eerolaekur@ gmail.com (Please include your email and postal address for tax receipts)

3. Mail to EERO Ukrainian Refugee Fund, 17 Tufton Cres., Toronto, ON M4A 2E2

Tax receipts will be issued by EERO in 2023 for the above donations.

Credit Card or PayPal donations can be done on the EERO donation page at Canada Helps. Canada Helps issues a tax receipt to these donors and transfers the donations weekly to the EERO Ukrainian Refugee account at Northern Birch Credit Union. Link: https://www. canadahelps.org/en/dn/70820

A huge thank-you to all our donors, to those who are planning their own fundraisers and to everyone who is helping to spread the word!

EERO BOARD OF DIRECTORS