Seven new global education and awareness projects to launch in Estonia this year with ESTDEV funding
From this year’s call for proposals organised by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), seven new projects focused on global education and raising public awareness have received funding totalling €366,006.
The aim of the call was to increase awareness in Estonian society about development cooperation, humanitarian aid and global education. Supported activities had to align with at least one of the following priorities:
- Implementing global education activities that support the global citizenship competency model, such as, digital learning materials, e-courses, pedagogical methods and curriculum development in schools.
- Raising public awareness in Estonia about development cooperation, humanitarian aid and international collaboration through outreach activities, training, media initiatives or events engaging different societal groups, contributing to greater awareness of development cooperation and humanitarian aid as tools for advancing Estonia’s foreign policy and economy.
- Strengthening the capacity of Estonia’s development cooperation and humanitarian aid sector through activities that enhance the ability of organisations in the sector to participate in international initiatives or attract external funding.
The projects focus on shaping a more cohesive and smarter society, where people can relate to the world in a meaningful way and see Estonia as a reliable, values-based international partner.
“That is why it is especially gratifying that we have good partners in Estonia with whom we can work together to shape a society that understands how global developments affect each and every one of us, and how the choices we make today create our future tomorrow. The supported projects help enhance people’s awareness and understanding, while also building the capacity of organizations to work in development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and global education,” said Gertha Teidla-Kunitsõn, programme manager for Education at ESTDEV.
This year’s funded projects
A project by the Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation (AKÜ) supports raising awareness among Estonian residents about development cooperation, humanitarian aid and global education, linking these topics to Estonia’s values, foreign policy, and security. Activities include, among others, an 18-episode radio series “Arenguvestlus” and media work across Estonia.
Grant amount: €80,000
Tallinn Pelgulinna State Upper Secondary School will organise Estonia’s first global education Olympiad for lower secondary school students (grades 8–9) in April 2026, and for both lower secondary and upper secondary students in the 2026/2027 academic year. The aim is to give interested students a chance to test their knowledge and skills, offer teachers new mentoring experiences and bring global education closer to schools and students who have not yet engaged with it systematically.
Grant amount: €12,932
For Kistler-Ritso Estonian Foundation’s project “Our Freedom Is My Responsibility”, experts from Vabamu Museum will create a new museum lesson linking the UN Sustainable Development Goals with Estonia’s recent history and Vabamu’s core values. The lesson will help young people understand the role of freedom, human rights, and responsibility in building a sustainable and peaceful society.
Grant amount: €12,198
Mondo’s project “Systematic and Comprehensive Development of Global Education” aims to improve the quality of global education and strengthen the coherence between formal and non-formal learning in Estonia’s education system. The project will develop and implement elective courses in global education at the upper secondary level, cross-grade “global citizen pathways” and a whole-school approach methodology.
Grant amount: €100,000
Mondo’s second project “Raising Public Awareness of the Role of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid in Estonian Society, Foreign Policy, and Security” aims to strengthen journalistic professionalism, reduce misconceptions, enhance public debate capacity and connect global crises with Estonia’s security, values and long-term foreign policy interests.
Grant amount: €79,925
The Estonian Refugee Council’s project “Distant Crises, Shared Responsibility: Estonia’s Role in Humanitarian Aid” will organise an international humanitarian aid conference in Tallinn in November 2026, bringing leading experts in the field to Estonia and providing a platform for knowledge exchange and partnerships. It will also produce a series of short videos in Estonian explaining how humanitarian aid works, debunking common myths, and linking global crises to Estonia’s values, security and well-being.
Grant amount: €50,967
The Estonian Refugee Council’s second project “Strengthening Estonia’s Humanitarian Aid through International Cooperation and Digital Capacity” enhances Estonia’s ability to participate in the international humanitarian system. Activities include staff training, preparations for opening new field offices in crisis-affected countries and piloting an innovative data-sharing platform between humanitarian organisations.
Grant amount: €29,984
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