The latest Global Estonian newsletter has made its way into inboxes around the world, and September’s edition has brought quite the suitcase: a new diaspora ambassador, a new Estonian president, youth adventures, design, history, grants and a little Australian stowaway. Actually, make that two.
This month’s welcome comes from Estonia’s new Ambassador at Large for the Diaspora, Marti Mätas, who has returned home after six years of diplomatic work in Asia and promptly been handed the small task of helping connect Estonians scattered across the planet.
A longer interview lets us get to know the person behind the new title too — who Marti is, how he thinks, and what matters to him as he talks about identity, language, younger generations and why every Estonian counts, whether they live in Pärnu, Perth or somewhere considerably harder to pronounce.
What’s hiding inside?
There is plenty to rummage through, including:
- KESKUS is nearly ready — Toronto’s new International Estonian Centre, described as the diaspora’s “project of the century”, is nearing completion.
- Estonia has a new president — Ülle Madise was elected by the Riigikogu on 2 September and takes office on 12 October.
- Forty-seven young global Estonians found each other — this summer’s Global Estonian Youth Envoys program brought together young people of Estonian heritage from around the world. Friendships appear to have occurred.
- Why do some people laugh at foreign-sounding Estonian? A study looks at the “Americanised Estonian” stereotype and what our reactions to accents may reveal about language, belonging and fears of cultural loss.
- The Great Flight of 1944, 82 years on — stories and commemorations remember the approximately 80,000 people who fled Estonia ahead of the advancing Soviet army.
- Six Estonian designers walk into a newsletter… Not quite, but there is a story exploring six designers working mostly abroad whose work has helped shape Estonia’s visual culture over the past two decades.
- And, because very useful things occasionally lurk beneath all the storytelling: grants, scholarships, return support and opportunities to study Estonian through Global School.
Well, hello there, Australia
Scroll a little further and a familiar face pops up.
HEIA’s recent story “The long way from Estonia — and back again. Silvia’s story” has packed its own tiny suitcase and travelled over to Global Estonian. Silvia Sillaots arrived in Australia as a four-year-old refugee after her family fled Estonia during the Great Flight of 1944. Her story follows that extraordinary journey across the world and, many decades later, the path back towards Estonia — making its inclusion in this month’s newsletter, alongside the 82nd anniversary commemorations, particularly fitting.
But Australia isn’t finished waving from the page. Eesti Päevad 2027 in Sydney, running from 8–11 April, also appears in the newsletter’s international events calendar. Two Australian appearances in one edition. We’ll try not to let it go to our heads.
Ready for more? Go have a rummage.
Read the September Global Estonian newsletter:
In Estonian
In English
Read Silvia’s story on HEIA: The long way from Estonia — and back again. Silvia’s story | HEIA
Past newsletters:
August 2026
July 2026
