INTEGRATION AND ADAPTATION SUPPORT
Integration Support Project in Haapsalu
The project supports people living in Haapsalu in adapting to their new environment, learning Estonian and finding their place in the community. It focuses on newcomers, people from diverse cultural backgrounds and returnees.
Integration support Haapsalu City Government and the Union of Estonian Cities and Local Governments (Eesti Linnade ja Valdade Liit) have entered into a partnership agreement within the framework of the project “Support for local governments in providing integration, including adaptation services”. Within the framework of the project, Haapsalu City Government offers services to newly arrived immigrants, people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and returning residents.
The goal of the project is to facilitate their successful adaptation and integration into the local community, as well as to take into account the needs of residents whose native language differs from Estonian at the local level.
Support activities and services are available in Haapsalu from 1 December 2024 to 31 December 2026.
01
Newly Arrived Immigrant
A newly arrived immigrant is a foreign national, an EU citizen, or their family member who has legally lived in Estonia for less than five years.
Who is included?
- Foreigners who have received a temporary residence permit in Estonia on the basis of the Aliens Act or the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens
- Citizens of the European Union who have received a temporary right of residence in Estonia on the basis of the Citizen of the European Union Act
- Family members of an EU citizen who have received a temporary right of residence in Estonia on the basis of the Citizen of the European Union Act
02
Different Cultural Background
A person who has legally lived in Estonia for more than five years and whose native language or cultural background differs from that of Estonians.
Who is included?
People who have legally lived in Estonia for more than five years and who:
- have acquired Estonian citizenship through naturalization
- are stateless persons
- or are citizens of another country
03
Returnee
An Estonian citizen who has permanently returned to Estonia within the last eight months after living abroad for a longer period.
Who is included?
Adult Estonian citizens who have permanently returned to Estonia within the last eight months after a longer period of living abroad and have registered their place of residence in the Estonian Population Register.
2025: First Year of the Pilot Project
During 2025, the Haapsalu pilot project focused on supporting the adaptation and integration of people from diverse national backgrounds into the local community. Throughout the year, a range of cultural and community events were organised, opportunities for learning the Estonian language were provided, and services were developed to support people’s well-being and adjustment to a new environment. At the same time, cooperation between communities, organisations and specialists was strengthened in order to build a strong support network for people from different backgrounds living in Haapsalu.
Over the course of the year, six supportive adaptation pathways were created for members of the target group:
Estonian Language and Culture
Learning Estonian and understanding the culture helps newcomers better navigate local life.
Identity Support
We support people from diverse backgrounds in preserving their traditions and sharing their culture in the Haapsalu community.
Community Engagement
Shared activities create opportunities to connect and support integration into the community.
Health and Well-being
Counselling and Personal Support
Collaboration
Network
Collaboration between communities, organisations and specialists strengthens knowledge-sharing, joint activities and support for adaptation.
The activities and forms of collaboration developed during the year provided people from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to actively participate, contribute and learn from one another. Many of these activities brought together people who had not previously interacted, creating space for direct communication, sharing experiences and building new connections. These direct interactions helped break down barriers and build open, trusting relationships between communities.
An important development was that participants were not only involved in the project activities, but many also took on a more active role and contributed to their implementation. This has helped ensure that the initiatives created are not just temporary, but have the potential to continue and grow in the future.
The project has strengthened connections both between individuals and organisations, creating a foundation for more sustainable cooperation and jointly developed solutions. This approach supports integration in a natural way, where people are not just recipients of services, but active participants in community life.
The activities carried out during the year were not limited to measurable results alone.
People participated actively in the project, and many were given the opportunity to improve their ability to cope and better manage challenging life situations.
In addition, regular support groups and counselling sessions were provided by psychologists and crisis counsellors. This was particularly important for people who had arrived from Ukraine, as targeted support groups helped them cope with stress and restore their everyday functioning.
A variety of additional activities were also carried out to support people’s daily coping and sense of belonging in the community.
These included:
- physical activity and well-being sessions that helped improve overall well-being
- cooking and cultural events where participants explored traditions from different backgrounds
- community meetings and cafés that created opportunities for interaction and building connections
- information days and workshops addressing practical topics such as employment, education, taxes and healthcare
The project also shared participants’ stories and experiences.
Published personal stories reflect the diversity of the Haapsalu community and highlight that people living here come from different parts of the world, including Turkey, Canada, Mexico, India, the Netherlands, Colombia and Lithuania.
Creating opportunities for sharing experiences and developing new initiatives was also an important part of the project.
Participants were able to contribute actively, take part in discussions and have a say in shaping the activities. This approach helps create an environment where:
- people are not just service users,
- but active members of the community,
- and integration takes place naturally through shared activities, interaction and cooperation.
2025 activities and experiences are brought together in an article (in Estonian) published on the website of the Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities, where project lead and community work specialist at the Haapsalu City Government Maire Vilbas shares more about the activities and the experiences gained.
The project will continue until the end of 2026 and will further develop cooperation and activities that support independent coping and a sense of belonging in the community.
Additional information about the project and its planned activities is available from the project coordinator.
Learn more about integration (in Estonian) on the website of the Union of Estonian Cities and Municipalities
