Pärandivaderid – Heritage Caretakers
The initiative “Pärandivaderid” invites schools and youth organisations all over Estonia to take care of culturally and historically valuable sites in their vicinity.
It is a good way to get to know local cultural heritage, understand its importance and contribute to its preservation. Learning about history takes place through hands-on activities – children and youth can contribute through volunteer work to ensure that heritage sites are taken care of and preserved for future generations.
Students carry out simple maintenance works in manor parks, historic cemeteries, churchyards, on memorial stones, around ruins, etc. In addition, young volunteers hear exciting stories about the history of the place they have come to help.
- since 2015
- nationwide, all 15 counties have been involved
- in 10 years 75 schools have participated (since 2021 over 1000 pupils per year, the number is continuously growing)
- school pupils aged 7-19
- participators are: schools, youth centers, congregations, village or cultural societies
- supporters and cooperation on local basis: local museums, cultural or village societies, history clubs, private owners of historic sites, local governments and their subordinate communal management establishments, church congregations, local small businesses
- our examples: the initiative «Rydd et kulturminne» (“Improve a Heritage Site”) coordinated by the Norwegian Heritage Foundation and a local movement „Hometown“ that united over ten thousand school pupils in 1970s and 1980s in different towns in Estonia
- every student’s contribution is important!
Supporters:
Estonian Ministry of Culture
Cultural Endowment of Estonia
Partner:
National Heritage Board
