Estonia



Estonian Foundation for the Visually Impaired (ESTONIA): partner

Estonian Foundation for the Visually Impaired (EFVI) is a non-profit organization established on the 8th of December 1997 by three private persons. EFVI is a fully project based nonprofit organization without any paid staff.
EFVI’s goal is helping the blind and partially sighted persons in getting education and increasing their competitiveness in the labor market.
The main areas of the activity of the Estonian Foundation for the Visually Impaired have been:
* Organizing of supplementary training courses (computer training, typewriting training, courses of psychology etc) for the visually impaired adults;
* Promoting eLearning among the disabled people;
* Councelling of the lecturers of universities about the methods of teaching visually impaired people and assistive technology;
* Councelling of the IT specialists of public sector and private sector about the accessibility of public websites and e-services
* Councelling of the museum educators about the accessibility of museums and their educational programs with the special focus on visually impaired visitors.
Since 2004 EFVI has tested accessibility and usability of several e-services for instance e-Banking, e-Tax Board, e-Voting, e-Commercial Register Company Registration Portal etc. 
In 2006-2007 EFVI was invited to participate in the activities of the project “Art for All”.
The focus of the project was to make the museums (mainly exhibits) accessible for the blind people. Among the project partners were Tate Modern (London) and Louvre Museum.
EFVI's role in HEFORE partnership will be to organize a meeting in Estonia, share experiences, lead workshops and facilitate access of the partners’ institutions to visually impaired people.

4nd HEFORE Meeting in Estonia June 29th – July 3rd 2011

June 30th 2011 THURSDAY
2nd Day
09:00
Walk from the hotel L’Ermitage
9.30 – 10.15
Presentation of the partners and brief introduction of Estonian Foundation of the Visually Impaired (EFVI)
Venue: residence of Tallinn City Government (Roosikrantsi 4B)
The aim of this session is to introduce the participants (who is who) and to give the brief overview of Estonian Foundation of the Visually Impaired, its main activities and projects.


10.15 – 11.30
Welcoming speech on behalf of Tallinn City Government; review of the policy of Estonian cultural heritage
Welcome address of the head of the Tallinn City Office Mr. Toomas Sepp. Presentation of the policy of cultural heritage of Estonia. Speakers: Mr. Anton Pärn,  under-secretary of cultural heritage of Ministry of Culture and Mr. Eino Pedanik, counselor of national culture of the Ministry.
Photo of first work session in residence of Tallinn City Government
First work session in residence of Tallinn City Government
Photo of welcome speech by Mr Erik Loide
Welcome speech by Mr Erik Loide





Photo of Welcome Speech by Mr Toomas Sepp
Welcome Speech by Mr Toomas Sepp
Photo of Presentation on Estonian Cultural Policy, Mr Anton Pärn, Ministry of Culture
Presentation on Estonian Cultural Policy, Mr Anton Pärn, Ministry of Culture
     



June 30th 2011

11.45 -  12.45
Information about the progress report;  discussion of the pedagogical cards


12:45 
Walk to
Katariina Lane
(Old Town)

13.15- 14.30

Visit of Craftsmen’s studios/workshops of Katariina Guild.

The workshops are located in the buildings of Katariina Käik
(Katariina Lane). Katariina Guild is uniting fourteen craftsmen/artists being a symbolic bridge between the past and the present handicraft. Guild is integrating eight studios (Hat workshop, Hot glass studio, Ceramics, Textile studio, Fine leatherwork, Patchwork, Jewelry, Liivia’s studio). During the guided tour by Mrs. Liivia Leshkin to the workshops we will observe the process of creation of Estonian contemporary handicraft by the artists.   


Photo of the visit to Katariina Guild guided by Liivia Leshkin
Visit to Katariina Guild guided by Liivia Leshkin
Photo of Liivia Leshkin's Hat Studio
Liivia Leshkin's Hat Studio 
 

 



  
Photo of "Medieval woman" in Textile studio
 "Medieval woman" in Textile Studio
Photo of visiting Hot Glass Studio
Visiting Hot Glass Studio



  

Photo of the materials used by craftsmen
The materials used by craftsmen



Read more about the Craftsmen’s studios/workshops of Katariina Guild  here


June 30th 2011


15.45-17.00
Visit of the Estonian History Museum Great Guild Hall.

The 600 year old Great Guild Hall is one of the most prominent public buildings in Tallinn. On 28 May 2011, the Estonian History Museum reopened the Great Guild Hall to visitors with a new innovative permanent exhibition. During the guided tour in Great Guild Hall we will discover the building and its treasures. We’ll see some possibilities of making medieval building accessible for to the visitors in the wheelchair.



17.20-19.50

Visit of exhibition „ Dialogue in Dark!“ in AHHAA Science Centre  

Exhibition „ Dialogue in Dark!“ is life, where you can’t find any light. What it feels like, when all around is darkness and the only way to make it is to use smelling, hearing sounds and touching things? This time roles are changing and blind people become guides to sighted people.


20.00
Dinner
BayernBöhmen Keller  (Suur-Karja 18)




Photo of visiting History Museum
Visiting History Museum
Photo of exposition of women's headwear
Exposition of women's headwear




Photo of Children's corner - building a medieval house
 Children's corner - building a medieval house

 July 1st 2011 FRIDAY
3rd day
9.00 – 11.00
Workshop „Accessibility of the museums“ 
Venue: residence of Tallinn City Government 

The aim of the workshop is to explain and discuss different aspects of accessibility of the museums (inc accessible communication, accessible pricing, accessibility of the buildings etc).  The example of checklist of accessibility of the museums is introduced by EFVI and discussed by the  participants.  

11.00- 11.15
Coffee break


11.15- 12.15
Discussion of the pedagogical cards continues

12.15
Walk to Tallinn City Museum
12.45-14.15
Visit of Tallinn City Museum. Participation in the workshops of the museum.
The building of the Tallinn City Museum is a typical medieval dwelling. The house was adapted for museum purposes after a reconstruction period from 1963 to 1965.
During the guided tour in the museum you’ll discover the medieval building and get an overlook of Tallinn’s history through centuries. The pedagogical programs of the museum are introduced. You will participate in two workshops: women will weave the medieval belts and men will get acquainted with medieval armament.



Photo of Ülle and Erik explaining how to make museums accessible
Ülle and Erik explaining how to make museums accessible

Photo of Gothic letter workshop
Gothic letter  workshop
Photo of Gothic alphabet
Gothic alphabet


Photo of Simone and Sorin - medieval fighters


Simone and Sorin – medieval fighters

Photo of Simone and Sorin with medieval arms

Simone and Sorin with medieval arms

Photo of the model of medieval Tallinn in City  museum
The model of medieval Tallinn in City  Museum

Photo of belt-veawing workshop
Belt-veawing workshop
Photo of Simone and Agu with medieval arms
Simone and Agu with medieval arms


Photo of Simone and Agu - medieval fighters
 Simone and Agu - medieval fighters


Read more about Tallinn City Museum  here. 

 July 1st 2011
15.30 - 17.15
Guided tour to the passages under the Bastions

Guided tour to the passages under the Bastions inc a slow-moving train ride, where guests are shown the various stages of the tunnels' past, and even a few decades into their possible future in 2219.

19.00
The Opening Ceremony of the XI Youth Song and Dance Celebration and first performance of the Dance Celebration
Venue:  Tallinn Song Festival Grounds 
NB! in November 2003, UNESCO declared Estonias’s Song and Dance Celebration tradition a masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
The first dance performance starts with the joint opening ceremony of the XI Youth Song and Dance Festival. The lighting of the song and dance celebration fire forms an important part of the opening ceremony. Dance Celebration is almost a 2-hour dance performance with thousands of dancers’ and gymnasts’ groups on the dance ground.    




Photo of Chiara: I love Tallinn
Chiara:  I love Tallinn 


Photo of Town Hall Square
Town Hall Square

Photo of Simone  in Tallinn Old Town
Simone  in Tallinn Old Town

Photo of  tour in Bastion passages
Tour in Bastion passages



Photo of passages under the Bastions as bunker
Bastion  passages as a bunker

Photo of Delphine and Claire-Marie in the train into future
Delphine and Claire-Marie in the train into future












  
More information about passages under the Bastions is available here


Photo of Tallinn Song Festival Grounds
Tallinn Song Festival Grounds 


Photo of performance of the Dance Celebration
Performance of the Dance Celebration



Photo of festival audience
Festival audience




Photo - concert is over and dancers and visitors are leaving
Concert is over - dancers and visitors are leaving





Photo of Sorin and Laura with Seto singers
Sorin and Laura  with Seto singers
Photo of  Song Festival Fire


 Song Festival Fire





 

Look 360 degrees panoram picture of the Opening Ceremony and read more about XI Youth Song and Dance Celebration here


July 2nd  2011 SATURDAY
4th day
9.00
Bus from the hotel L’Ermitage
10.30-13.00
Video program in Lahemaa National Park visitor centre in Palmse

Visit of Altja village
Lahemaa National Park is the oldest (founded in 1971) and largest national park in Estonia created to protect the nature and cultural heritage of the Northern Estonian coastal landscape.

In Lahemaa National Park visitor centre in Palmse we will watch video program (subtitles in French) about the national park. We visit Altja old fishing village (inc open-air museum of rocks) and working watermill in Vihula manorial complex.
 
Photo of slide show in  Lahemaa National Park
Slide show in  Lahemaa National Park

Photo of Palmse Manor Complex
Palmse Manor Complex



Photo of  Suzana in Palmse Winter Garden
Suzana in Palmse Winter Garden

Photo of Winter Garden in Palmse Manor Complex
Winter Garden in Palmse Manor Complex


Photo of HEFORE group in Palmse
HEFORE group in Palmse

Photo of visit to Altja fishing village
Visiting Altja fishing village

Photo of  Altja fishing village
 Altja fishing village
Photo of visiting Altja Museum of Rocks
Visiting Altja Museum of Rocks



July 2nd  2011
4th day

14.15- 16.15
Visit of Sagadi Manorial Complex

We will discover the Sagadi Manorial Complex and programs through the game “Hide and seek”.  Guided tour in Sagadi Manor House,  Forest Museum and Nature School.


16.45-19.00
Visit of Käsmu and Viinistu villages
We will visit Käsmu known as captains’ village (inc graveyard and chapel) and walk up to the largest boulder field in Estonia (ca 400 hectares). Evaluation of the program in Estonia using natural means. 
Visit of Viinistu village – the local cultural centre (inc Art museum with the collection of 400 paintings and drawings  by the best-known Estonian artists).    

Photo of  Sagadi Manor
 Sagadi Manor
Photo of  visiting Sagadi Nature School
 Visiting Sagadi Nature School

Photo of  Kaia explaining tasks of  Hide and Seek Game
Kaia explaining tasks of Hide and Seek Game  

Photo of Kaia explaining tasks to French speaking team
Kaia explaining tasks to French speaking team

Photo of solving the tasks of Hide and Seek Game
Solving the tasks of Hide and Seek Game





Photo of winning team
Winning team


Photo of handing over the prize

Kaia handing over the prize to Simone

Photo of  Käsmu Sea Museum

Käsmu Sea Museum
Photo of Belgian evaluation
Belgian  evaluation

Photo of boulder in the yard of Käsmu Sea Museum

Boulder in the yard of Käsmu Sea Museum

Photo of French evaluation
French evaluation

Photo of Italian evaluation
Italian evaluation 

Photo of Latvian evaluation
Latvian  evaluation

Photo of Polish evaluation
Polish evaluation

Photo of Portuguese evaluation
Portuguese evaluation

Photo of Romanian evaluation
Romanian evaluation

Photo of waving like the audience of  Song and Dance Celebration
 Waving like the audience of  Song and Dance Celebration 



Photo of HEFORE group in Käsmu
HEFORE group in Käsmu

Photo of Installation "The Hundred Suit Cases of John Smith" at Viinistu
Installation "The Hundred Suit Cases of John Smith" at Viinistu

Read more about this piece of modern art here

Thank you,  dear partners for creative participation! 

Thank you,  Marlene and Heino for  your  spirited photos!