Virtual Forum for Global Estonians on December 5th 2025
Virtual Forum for Global Estonians – 5 December 2025, at 6 PM Estonian time
What to expect this time?
Our 10th program begins just like the very first one, led by Neeme Raud. We start by hearing from our youth living abroad about their activities and plans. Then we connect via video link to New York, where Merike Barborak takes us behind the scenes before the screening of the short film “Class 2010” a project born when Estonian and American youth made documentaries at the New York Estonian House.
The program continues with a discussion on “Estonians Abroad and Elections”, followed by a video link to Australia to meet HEIA – Hello Estonians in Australia.
In the second half of the forum, we open the discussion to “Newspaper, Social Media or Podcast? Communication among Estonian Communities”, followed by a video call to Singapore, where Siim Säinas shares his insights. The evening continues with conversation on “Estonian Diplomacy and Estonians Worldwide: How to Cooperate in a Rapidly Changing Security Environment?” The evening culminates on a thoughtful note, Kristiina Ehin will reflect on life and the world.
Music will be performed by Maria Peterson and Eva Eensaar‑Tootsen from Theatrum.
Estonian Voices, Global Stories!
Organizer: Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Watch Live:
18:00 (Estonian time, EET / UTC+2)
Moderated by Journalist Neeme Raud
The program will be conducted in Estonian with simultaneous English translation.
“Creativity and Entrepreneurship of Estonian Youth Abroad”
- Kaisa Kasekamp, President, Global Estonian Youth Network (Canada)
- Lasse Leminsky, Participant, Global Estonian Internship Program; Finalist, “Best Practice 2025” Competition (Germany)
- Liina Viies, Adviser on Global Estonian Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Video Link to Abroad – Merike Barborak (New York): Behind the Scenes What happened when FILMIST STUDIO at the New York Estonian House began producing short documentaries with young people from Estonia and the USA?
Short Film Produced in New York: “Class 2010”
Music Performance: Maria Peterson and Eva Eensaar-Tootsen – “Sand, Sea and Thoughts” (lyrics by Ernst Enno)
“Estonians Living Abroad and Elections”
- Halliki Kreinin, Researcher (Germany/Estonia)
- Renee Meriste, President, Los Angeles Estonian Society
- Tõnis Saarts, Associate Professor of Comparative Politics, Institute of Social Sciences, Tallinn University
Video Link Abroad – Introducing HEIA (Hello Estonians in Australia)
- Kristel Alla, Editor, HEIA (Australia)
- Kristi Barrow, Founder and Technical Lead, HEIA (Australia)
- Mark Narustrang, Chair of the Board, HEIA (Australia)
19.00
Discussion: “Newspaper, Social Media or Podcast? Communication Among Estonian Communities”
- Kristelle Michelson, Journalist and Online Editor, Vaba Eesti Sõna
- Kadri Linnas, Adviser on Global Estonian Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Silver Tambur, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Estonian World
Video Link Abroad – Siim Säinas from Singapore
“Estonian Diplomacy and Estonians Worldwide: How to Cooperate in a Rapidly Changing Security Environment?”
- Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Karl Altau, Executive Director, Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) (USA)
- Marcus Kolga, Political Scientist and Disinformation Expert (Canada)
Music Performance: Maria Peterson and Eva Eensaar-Tootsen – “Sleep, Sleep, Great and Pure Stream” (lyrics by Jaan Kaplinski)
Participants in the Program (in alphabetical order):
Eva Eensaar-Tootsen – Actress and Musician
Halliki Kreinin – Researcher (Germany/Estonia)
Jonatan Vseviov – Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kadri Linnas – Adviser on Global Estonian Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Kaisa Kasekamp – President, Global Estonian Youth Network (Canada)
Karl Altau – Executive Director, Joint Baltic American National Committee, JBANC (USA)
Kristel Alla – Editor, HEIA (Hello Estonians in Australia)
Kristi Barrow – Founder and Technical Lead, HEIA (Hello Estonians in Australia)
Kristelle Michelson – Journalist and Online Editor, Vaba Eesti Sõna
Kristiina Ehin - Estonian poet, translator, singer and songwriter
Lasse Leminsky – participant of Global Estonian internship program, Finalist, “Best Practice 2025”; (Germany)
Liina Viies – Adviser on Global Estonian Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Marcus Kolga – Political Scientist and Disinformation Expert (Canada)
Maria Peterson – Actress, Director, and Musician
Mark Narustrang – Chair of the Board, HEIA (Hello Estonians in Australia), Perth
Merike Barborak – New York Estonian Educational Society (USA)
Neeme Raud – Journalist, Moderator of the Virtual Forum
Renee Meriste – President, Los Angeles Estonian Society
Siim Säinas – Entrepreneur and Head of Marketing Effectiveness, Google (Singapore)
Silver Tambur – Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Estonian World
Tõnis Saarts – Associate Professor of Comparative Politics, Institute of Social Sciences, Tallinn University
