The Australian Estonian Media Project (AEMP) held its second Steering Committee meeting this May 2024. The past month proved to be exciting, filled with progress and milestones.
One of AEMP’s standout achievements in May was the release of the Veisson Dance video – which was featured in the Global Estonian newsletter and even liked by Puuluup on Facebook. The video itself was fun, but the true triumph lay in the nation-wide collaboration that it took to make it happen. It showcased Australian Estonians’ willingness to say “YES” to a joint effort with a bit of fun, bringing us a step closer to unifying as the single, connected community of Estonians in Australia that we can all take pride in.
Another highlight includes the progress with AEMP’s partnerships. In collaboration with the Australian Council of Estonian Societies (AESL), the current AESL webpage was improved, content is being created in preparation for their new website (set for discussion later this year), and the Mass Flight campaign was launched – AEMP providing the landing page, donations tracking, and support with the collection and publication of personal stories related to the Mass Flight of 1944. This initiative has resulted in deeply moving submissions from you, Estonians in Australia, and praise from World Estonian Council for our collective results.
In collaboration with the Eesti Päevad (Estonian Festival) organising committee, the festival website was published in May. This site will serve as the home for Eesti Päevad, both this year and into the future, to promote upcoming festivals and preserve records of previous festivals. AEMP encourages anyone with photos, information, or stories from past festivals to get in touch and contribute to this evolving project. Development will continue throughout the year.
The AEMP also received positive news from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Integration Foundation: funding for the project has been approved! In their feedback, the Integration Foundation highlighted the necessity for a central media outlet for Estonians in Australia and expressed joy at seeing individuals across the country coming together to move step-by-step towards this goal.
Certainly, the ambition to improve media and connection among Estonians in Australia could not be possible without the desire to work together towards this vision. If you can get involved in the project – whether that is to share your wants and ideas, create content, help with marketing or anything else – write to: media@eesti.org.au. Building a stronger communal future is an incredibly valuable experience, and AEMP eagerly awaits you.
To top it all off, AEMP published 21 news posts this month – an average of over five posts per week! The comprehensive article about Puuluup & 5Miinust’s Eurovision entry set a new record with thousands of views. AEMP extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed – from individuals sharing their personal stories to societies sharing their good news and upcoming events, and the dedicated volunteers coordinating and publishing this all behind the scenes. These collective efforts inspire us all and highlight the joy of being part of the big and vibrant Estonian community in Australia.
Learn more about AEMP:
- Follow the AEMP Facebook page for brief project updates
- See AEMP’s 2023 media survey and workshop results that kick-started the project
- Read our Interview with Global Estonian
- Write to us: media@eesti.org.au
- Subscribe to the Estonians in Australia newsletter via eesti.org.au for all Aus-Esto news
Stay tuned for next month’s update!