The fate and history of 80,000 displaced Estonians was suppressed for 50 years with slanderous accusations by the Soviet authorities. In order to remind the new generations, both in the diaspora and Estonia, 2024 is being commemorated as the 80th anniversary of the Mass Flight of 1944 (Suurpõgenemine ’44).
For the past several years, the dedicated members of the 1944 Mass Flight Committee of the Estonian World Council have laboured tirelessly to ensure that the sacrifices and struggles of those who embarked on the perilous journey of the Mass Flight are never forgotten: a Memorial Statue, Puudutus, has been commissioned. It is planned to be unveiled this September, next to the Pärnu River from where thousands fled in those little boats and ships.
But to make this monument a reality, funds need to be raised from the Estonian worldwide diaspora. Please become an important part of this Commemoration of our Refugee forefathers by making a generous donation to this project.
Read our Pärnu Monument Appeal publications:
- Join Estonians worldwide in creating a place of Remembrance
- Why I donated towards the Mass Flight Memorial – Esmée’s Story
- A Sea of Fire: Fleeing Estonia in 1944 – Saima’s Story
- Homage For My Estonian Father & Grandmother – Rory’s Story
- From running a Dairy co-operative to a new life in Australia – Hillar’s Story
- AESL Pärnu Funding update
- Digital Exhibition: The Great Escape 1944
- The Journey to Ilmalõpu – Jaak’s Story
- As far from Europe as possible – The Talmet Family Story
- Video Interview — Viido Narustrang’s Story
- Update on funding for the Parnu Memorial to the 1944 Refugees
- Taken in the Middle of the Night — Silvia Lass’ Story
- Separated from his family in the tragedy of war – Aksell Keert’s story
Donatations to the Pärnu monument appeal 2024
To make this monument a reality, 60,000 euros needs to be raised from the Estonian worldwide diaspora. Australia, home to one of the largest diaspora communities, plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. AESL is leading the efforts to collect donations on behalf of Estonians in Australia, with an initial target of raising at least AUD $15,000 by July 31, 2024.
AUSTRALIA WE DID IT!
We raised over $23,000AUD
Organisations the Donated
- Council of Estonian Societies in Australia (AESL)
- Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia (ECFA)
- Melbourne Estonian Society
- Brisbane Estonian Society Qld
- Adelaide Estonian Society
- Sydney Estonian Society
- Western Australian Estonian Association of Perth
- Sydney Eesti Seltsi Kunsti Käsitöö ja Etnograafia Ring
- Sõrve Sõbrad Kids Summer Camp – Friends and Parents
- ENÜS (Eesti Naisüliõpilaste Selts) Austraalia koondis
Individual Donors (in alphabetical order)
| Kristi Barrow Maie Barrow Helve Beale Matthew Bendt Urve Black Michael Both D&M Eden Helve Farrell Maie Hansen Marin Hicks Karin Ignetik Arved Jalast Allan Johanson Aivi Juske Ene Juurma Barbara Howard & Sulev Kalamäe Ivo Kauniste Madli-Kai Kool Viivi Kuru | Maia Lauterbach Aet Lees Robert Lipping Thomas Lipping Juho Looveer Jaan Lowi Jaak Mardiste Heino Meipalu T&L Meiusi Anu Mihkelson Peter Muttik Ene Noack Malle Nõgeste Esmée Okamoto Jaan Oks Gitta Opassi Hiie Pank Saima Parbo | Michael Payne J & A E Piirlaid Maie Pikkat Marissa Pikkat K Poulton Toivo Rosenwald Imbi Semmelweis Ann S Smith Lembit Suur Karl and Leena Treffner Rory Truupõld Ellen Ups Ain Utt Liisa Vann Mart Vesk Mailis Wakeham Lembit Willems Anonymous (11) |
Thank you for keeping Estonian memory alive at home and throughout the world
- Email: aesl@eesti.org.au
- AESL Website: aesl.eesti.org.au
- AESL Facebook Group and Page
- Estonian World Council (ÜEKN) Website: uekn.ee/en/
