On December 16, the Ministry of Culture and the Integration Foundation announced the most outstanding integration promoters of the year. Natalia Ermakov, Einike Sooväli, Osakond OÜ, and the Education Department of the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum received recognition and awards.

Minister of Culture Heidy Purga said that the Integration Awards provide an opportunity to recognise and thank people whose work has a far-reaching impact. ‘There are many people around us who contribute to integration through their actions and dedication. Often unnoticed. But here today, we are highlighting these people and initiatives, noting them and telling them with this award that someone cares about their work and that it has already made Estonia a better place to live,’ the minister said.

The recipients of the Integration Awards were chosen by a commission of experts in the field of integratsion from among over 50 nominees submitted by Estonian residents and organisations during this year's public competition.

According to Dmitri Moskovtsev, Director of the Integration Foundation, the key to successful integration is everyday deeds and choices that support mutual communication and cooperation. ‘It is important that people with different mother tongues find more and more common contact points in our cultural space. This year’s laureates come from a wide range of backgrounds, but in all of them, we see the ability to speak to people in a way that generates interest and trust to participate more actively in Estonian society,’ said Moskovtsev.

Award Categories and Winners

The prizes were awarded in four categories, and the laureate of each category received a monetary award of 1,000 euros.

The Cornerstone of Integration (Lõimumise raudvara) prize was awarded to Natalia Ermakov, Senior Research Fellow at the Estonian Literary Museum and head of the Estonian Union of National Minorities. She is committed to unifying the nationalities living in Estonia and promoting intercultural understanding. Under Natalia’s leadership, the Estonian Nationalities Forum and the Ethno Fair regularly bring together communities of different nationalities and create a space for cultural exchange and dialogue. Her research and community work helps to preserve and promote Estonia’s cultural diversity and creates synergies between language and cultural communities and researchers and artists.

In the Spark of the Year (Aasta säde) category, the award was given to Einike Sooväli, whose work has brought the Estonian language and culture to a wide variety of environments across Estonia. In 2025, nearly 1,000 people participated in the integration programmes of the Estonian Open Air Museum under her leadership, although the impact of her work reaches farther beyond. Her initiative has led to development of the language and culture club Keelekompott (Language Compote) and expanded activities aimed at schools, museums, and detention centres. Einike’s work is characterised by deep empathy, a creative approach, and a belief that language and cultural experience can help people find self-confidence and a connection to the Estonian society.

The award in the category Messenger of the Year (Aasta sõnumikandja) went to Osakond OÜ for the TV series „A Taste of Estonia„ (Maitserännak Eestimaal). The series brings together culture and food through two languages and seven chefs, introducing viewers to Estonian places, stories, and people from all over the country. A Taste of Estonia sparks interest in Estonia’s food culture, history, and folk culture, and shows the diversity of life outside the major centres. The series appealed particular to Russian-speaking audiences, offering an accessible and meaningful view of Estonia’s cultural diversity and strengthening interest in the common cultural space.

The Bridgebuilder of the Year (Aasta sillalooja) award went to the Educational Department of the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, whose activities link sport and museum education and bring together young people from different cultural backgrounds. Over 700 young people have participated in the museum’s programmes, integration gatherings have been held, and a travelling exhibition titled ‘Sport as a Common Language’ has been created. The educational activities of the Sports Museum support language practice, cooperation, and friendships, and help young people build a personal connection with Estonian culture and society through shared experiences and active engagement.

All Estonian residents and organisations will be able to submit candidates for the integration awards again in September of next year.

The winner of the 2025 Integration Awards in the category ‘Building Blocks of Integration’ is Natalia Ermakov, Senior Research Fellow at the Estonian Literary Museum and Head of the Estonian Union of National Minorities. She is committed to unifying the nationalities living in Estonia and promoting intercultural understanding. She organises the Estonian Nationalities Forum and the Etnolaat Fair, which bring together communities of different nationalities. She has created opportunities for the integration of ethnic minorities and increased the visibility of heritage culture. Her research and community work helps to preserve and value the cultural diversity of Estonia. She is dedicated to creating synergies between linguistic and cultural communities and researchers and artists. Her work is living proof that cultural diversity is our common wealth.

In this interview, Natalia Ermakov talks about her journey, values, and dreams that shape her work as a guardian of the cultural diversity of Estonia.

How did you come to the realisation that you wanted to contribute to preserving the cultural diversity of Estonia and promoting understanding between nations?

Having studied, worked, and interacted with people from very different cultural backgrounds, I became increasingly aware of how much richness and, at the same time, incomprehension coexist in our society. I was never a spectator in this process. From my first day in Estonia, I was involved in the Finno-Ugric movement through the Estonian-Mordovian Society and the Ersa Culture Association Sjatko, and directly in the activities of the Estonian Union of National Minorities as a whole, as the Mordovian Society is a member of the Estonian Union of National Minorities. The work of the Fenno-Ugria Foundation has also helped a lot. My inner need to contribute to the promotion of inter-ethnic understanding was a natural part of my learning and working process. I have been thinking more deeply about it since I started a family and had children. I asked myself what I could do to ensure that my children, myself, and my fellow human beings can happily live and coexist in Estonia.

Can you remember a moment or an experience that confirmed that this is the right path for you?

Yes, there have been many such realisations. They come from the people around me and my family, as well as when I cooperate with different nations in Estonia and around the world. After I defended my doctoral thesis at Tallinn University, the research world also opened up to me at the Institute of the Estonian Language, the University of Helsinki, and now as a senior researcher at the Estonian Literary Museum. I am grateful that I can apply my knowledge in the fields of culture and science here. This is the path I want to follow.

What is the most important principle for you on which you base your interethnic cooperation?

The most important principle is mutual respect and appreciation, and a strong desire to do something good that inspires future cooperation and development. It means a willingness to listen, not to judge, to accept others, and to always find time for this mission. My colleagues are a great example and support for me!

The Estonian Nationalities Forum and the Etnolaat Fair have become traditions. What is the most important value of these events that is perhaps not noticed by the wider public?

The Estonian Union of National Minorities continues the work of the First Estonian Nationalities Forum, which was convened on 24 September 1988 and supported the restoration of Estonian independence. Its main objective has remained the same – to represent national minorities at the state and local government level, to raise awareness of national cultural identity, and to develop cooperation between Estonians and other nationalities living in Estonia. The Forum is a unique representative body in Estonia, dedicated to a different relevant topic each year. The Forum adopts declarations and makes statements reflecting the situation of national minorities in Estonia. The most important value is that our people contribute tremendously to Estonian society, despite the many difficulties that arise.

Etnolaat Fair is part of the Estonian Nationalities Forum, where participants can see our cultural diversity. It is a two-day event featuring national crafts and cuisine, as well as a concert programme by national collectives.

How do you define the word ‘integration’ – is it a conscious activity or a natural growing together of cultures?

For me, integration is a combination of both. It needs deliberate actions and a supportive framework, but it cannot be forced into existence. Integration is strongest when an environment is created where cultures can grow together naturally through mutual interest and voluntary participation.

What changes have you noticed in Estonian society over the years? What gives you hope?

I have noticed an increased openness and interest in different cultures. It is also positive that minority issues are increasingly part of public debate. It is encouraging to know that our younger generation is involved and that dialogue has become a necessary part of societal development.

Which moment or project has been closest to your heart?

The projects I feel most passionately about are those where I see a direct impact on people – for example, when someone says they have felt really included in Estonia because of something they have done together with the locals, or when people are grateful or have learned something exciting. These moments give a deeper meaning to all the work I do.

What are the next steps or ideas towards which you would like to see interethnic cooperation in Estonia develop?

We would like to celebrate the Day of Nationalities on 24 September as a flag day. This would encourage Estonians to notice, appreciate, and preserve the national culture of their own and their compatriots – our common cultural wealth. It would also increase mutual understanding and strengthen our unity, making Estonia a more cohesive home for us all. All communities and each of us deserve a day that brings us together in a common commitment to Estonia.

What do you dream of when you think about the future of the visibility and inclusion of ethnic minorities in Estonia?

My dream is to achieve a society where the visibility and inclusion of ethnic minorities is not a separate issue, but a natural part of the functioning of society, so that Estonia becomes a role model for other countries. I want everyone, regardless of their ethnic background, to feel that they have a good life here and to care about our common future.

The winner of the 2025 Integration Awards in the category ‘Spark of the Year’ was Einike Sooväli, who has ignited the flame of integration in many people all over Estonia. In 2025, nearly a thousand people from all over Estonia took part in the integration programmes of the Estonian Open Air Museum led by Einike. However, the broader impact of her activities can be measured in the thousands. Einike Sooväli is a committed promoter of integration, whose work combines empathy, creativity, and a sincere belief in the values of cultural diversity. The language and culture club Keelekompott (Language Compote) has grown under her leadership, and integration activities have expanded to schools, museums, and even prisons. Her work is characterised by passion and a belief that change can be brought to society by teaching people to love cultural diversity and value everyone.

Read more about her activities in this interview.

At what point did you become a person who wants to promote intercultural understanding?

The desire to engage in integration came from personal experience. At the age of 20, I went to Saint Petersburg to study, not knowing any Russian. I was very interested in Russian literature and loved the atmosphere and architecture of Saint Petersburg. When I arrived there, I realised how difficult it is to understand what is going on around you when you do not understand the language – it felt like both my tongue and hands were tied. Everything had to be communicated in body language. Not being understood was not even the hardest thing; to me, not understanding what was going on around me was worse. It was as if a bag had been put over my head.

I quickly realised that in order to feel at ease and to understand the people around me, I needed to learn the language. This led to a desire to help others in Estonia to adapt and understand each other better.

What or who has most influenced the way you do your job?

I have always been interested in different cultures and peoples. The journey of learning and acquiring the language in Saint Petersburg had the biggest impact on me – I saw for myself how language skills can open up a whole new dimension. In my second year, when I could clearly communicate in Russian, I had a huge sense of freedom and security, knowing that I could handle any situation. This knowledge has always stuck with me in my work.

What is it like to bring the Estonian language and culture to so many different places: schools, museums, communities, and even prisons?

I am drawn to constant change and cannot stand routine, so I am very happy to be able to take Estonian to very different places. In a museum, language learning is supported by everything around us, but in schools, you need tangible results because students have exams coming up. In prisons, we talked to people there about food culture and prepared dishes, and in the process, they learned new words and gained knowledge about Estonian culture.

Working in these environments demonstrates the many ways in which language can be learned and taught.

Can you think of a particular encounter or story that confirmed how important this work is?

The best moments are when I see real changes in people. One participant in the culture club got the job they had long wanted, thanks to their improved Estonian. It is also touching to see how people become more and more fluent in the language they use in the club and are happy to be understood. Being able to see their progress is what makes the teaching process so rewarding.

How was Keelekompott born and why did it seem necessary?

The project was born out of an idea by the Integration Foundation to offer the opportunity to learn Estonian language and culture at museums for free. A lot of foreigners are tired of being told that they have to know Estonian and learn it because it is so difficult. We focus on the fact that Estonian can be interesting and even funny. I shared my experience of how I learned a second language, and in the club, we do all sorts of fun things where language skills come naturally.

What changes or improvements do you see in the people who participate in your programmes?

I see people grow more confident and start to believe in themselves. They start to communicate more fluently in Estonian, see that they are understood, and become more motivated. For some, language skills open the door to a dream job, for others, to new friendships. Practical contact with culture gives language learning a deeper meaning.

What does integration mean for you?

For me, integration means that people from different cultures feel comfortable and safe together in Estonia. It is about understanding each other and accepting our differences. Language and culture learning is a tool to help achieve good integration.

What changes in the local multicultural society make you hopeful?

What makes me hopeful is that there are many good alternative ways to learn languages and that interest in them is growing. Switching to Estonian-language education will help to make society more cohesive: young people of different nationalities will interact more and develop strong friendships. It is also encouraging to see that people from increasingly diverse backgrounds are coming to Estonia and that more attention is being paid to involving volunteers in the field of integration.

What has been the most touching moment in your work?

The most touching moments are when I see a person overcome their fears or limitations – whether it is having a first conversation in Estonian, finding a job, or discovering that they are understood. These small victories are often bigger than they seem on the surface.

Have there been difficult times? What keeps you motivated?

The most difficult thing is to teach people with very different language levels at the same time. It is difficult to find a pace that suits everyone. Sadly, some of the newly arrived immigrant students are not motivated to learn Estonian – it is difficult to explain to children why learning the official language is important.

I remain motivated because I know how much one person can influence the future of another. Seeing the learners succeed also helps.

What new ideas or programmes would you like to see implemented in the future?

I would like to take part in language camps – for example, tandem camps, where people from different cultural backgrounds live and work together for several days. Past experience has shown how quickly people converge in such an environment. I also dream of the opportunity to learn about integration processes and success stories in other countries.

What do you dream of when you think about the future of cultural diversity in Estonia?

I believe that the future of a multicultural society in Estonia is bright. More and more activities are being offered to support language and cultural learning, and people are more open to each other. The more integrators there are, the more integrated people there will be, and the more cohesive Estonia will become.