Estonian group's essay

Volunteering and intergenerational solidarity

Our essay focuses on voluntary intergenerational activities in Estonia.

In Estonia the most know project carries the title “Teeme ära“(“Let’s do it“) and every year in the beginning of May thousands of people gather around the country to collect all garbage from forests, streets, parks etc. People gather their siblings, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren etc. to do something together. Estonians have also helped out friends, family and neighbours for centuries. It is still a tradition that whoever needs a hand in building a house or making hay, the community get together to spend time by working and catching up with the latest events. A great way to strengthen the bond between generations is to organise a bingo night or a cooking evening with different age groups, so that the emotions are mutual. Another great way is to have generations at common sport events or to create cultural evenings in cafeterias that is very often organised on voluntary basis.

Our group members have different experiences in voluntary work. Riina has been working as a volunteer for 3 years in her home region. After each school day she and some other people prepare some food for the children in need. In addition to the cooking skills they share love, caring and understanding because those children do not get it from their parents. Riina has also been involved in many events where she has carried the role of an interpreter. In local movie festivals she has been an organisational member who makes sure that all the details are in place. Currently she is as an active member of student council of our school.

Jane has participated in several European Union Youth Exchange projects. In Ukraine she visited childrens’ homes and developed new agendas in order to improve local life. She has also been a member of an organisation which offered themed events, such as political debates, cultural evenings or science fairs for all people. Years ago she coordinated school life as an editor of the school paper.

All in all, people tend to give up on the generation gap and although we must admit that times and people change, we still have so much to learn from each other, so let us try to coexist and give our effort to change the world and the society a better place.