Sirje Karis outlined Estonia’s experience with the ‘Tiger Leap’ programme, which brought computers and Internet access to schools and paved the way for the development of the country’s digital state. “In hindsight, it is difficult to imagine that Estonia would have become the digital nation it is today – with a start-up scene that stands out on the global stage – if that education programme had not been launched 30 years ago,” she remarked. “The simple step of ensuring that every school in the country had computers and Internet access gave a boost to an entire generation.”
According to Sirje Karis, it was impossible three decades ago to foresee the world we live in today, which is being shaped by AI, social media and cyber warfare. “Preparing society at an early stage to understand and use new technology proved decisive in shaping people’s ability to adapt and cope,” she explained. “For us, ‘Tiger Leap’ remains a model of how, over the course of decades, educational reform can enhance well-being and society’s adaptability.” Following this example, Estonia has now launched the ‘AI Leap’ programme.
“Technology could put the resilience of our societies and the functioning of democracy to the test,” Sirje Karis warned. “But if we integrate it into education and public services in a smart way, it could also strengthen them.” She called for support for educational initiatives that provide young people with the skills, resources and determination needed to uphold democracy.
Sirje Karis underscored the importance of the summit in boosting cooperation between countries. “Meetings like these turn the experiences of different countries into a shared strength and form a basis for practical cooperation,” she noted. “The key thing is that our presence sends a clear message to the Ukrainian people: you are not alone. We stand alongside you. Estonia stands very firmly alongside Ukraine. The people of this country have the right to live in freedom and to determine their own future.”
The focus of the Sixth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen was on how to boost the capacity of individual countries and the world as a whole to cope with crises, adapt to change and recover from adversity. Taking part in the discussions were President Alar Karis of Estonia, President Gitanas Nausėda of Lithuania and President Alexander Stubb of Finland. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine also addressed the audience at the event.
The spouses of the heads of state of Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia took part in the summit on the invitation of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. Held on Ukrainian Independence Day, the event focused on dealing with crisis in society. Olena Zelenska launched the summit in 2021 to exchange experience and promote international cooperation.
Gallery (Raigo Pajula/Office of the President): https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD38fH
