President of the Republic of Estonia: Trust the Youth, Invest in Education

Dear people of Estonia, honoured guests, your excellency President Halla Tómasdóttir of Iceland.

Three-and-a-half decades ago when Soviet troops were on their way to Tallinn, Vello Enniste and his coworkers revved up their trucks, loaded them full of gravel, and drove to defend Toompea. “We were received well. They handed us armbands and Estonian Home Defence ribbons. There were no weapons, of course; we had to defend ourselves with our chests,” he recalls.

Many of us have our own recollection of that August. As do I. One thing binds those thousands of memories: a firm conviction that it is impossible to turn back time. An understanding that we must shoulder our own responsibility. That we must begin to decide for ourselves. And, mixed with agitation, a pleasant premonition: we will manage the task. That shared feeling is called fortitude. 

It’s that same fortitude — one that transcends generations and is nourished by memory, language, and culture — which has endowed us with the strength to endure turbulent times. Days that might sow confusion, uncertainty, superficiality, and self-centeredness — every tension, trial, and fear — all while remaining industrious, free, and open to new ideas. 

Today, the generation that made a new Estonia has reached a mature age with ample experiences, knowledge in spades, and the ability to adapt. One with new ideas. But is it also filled with the strength, opportunities, and determination to bring those ideas to fruition? With the ability to create in addition to preserve? With the courage to doubt and the readiness to also lose; to take risks so something completely new may arise?

Contentedness, comfort, mellow exhaustion and the caution that comes with it, as well as an “I’d rather not” attitude can all too easily carry over to society as a whole. When it does, freshness is inevitably in short supply and ideas remain mediocre. 

If we seek new routes for Estonia and see that they must be made foremost in education and the economy, then isn’t listening to the youth and trusting them a totally fundamental turn required for great change? Generational change. 

Yet compared to the one that happened in the 90s, this must be done in an exponentially more caring way. Without discontinuity. Without breaking people. Without annulling experience and maturity.

Because, my dear friends, isn’t it young people’s inherent curiosity and, in many issues, more tolerant approach what increases the diversity that’s so crucial to society? Fostering the ability to listen, cultivating debate and a culture of discussion? Respecting the difference of opinion?

Couldn’t the ambition of our youth give momentum to our economy? Couldn’t it prod us to be more open to taking risks and more knowledgeable of technology? To be more adept at both sharing and implementing scientific achievements; at focusing on the brain economy and smart business?

And if young people wish to accomplish things — not just as a word printed on a sweatshirt but as the intention behind it — then the opportunity must be given. Just as it was many generations ago at Ülesoo Farm in Oskar Luts’s novel Summer, and why should things be different now? Neither politicians, government officials, entrepreneurs, nor even the president can escape the changing of the guard in society. 

I hope to also find diversity in terms of age on political parties’ lists in the upcoming parliamentary elections. But above all, I expect honest dialogue on difficult and uncomfortable topics.

I hope that instead of hearing our own voice over and over again, an interest in learning others’ positions and experiences will grow. So that we might arrive at yet-undiscovered ideas. 

We all deserve realistic promises and clarity of thought. And most importantly, politicians must not lose sight of the future, cooperation to its benefit, or statesmanship in a fight to gain power.

Honourable listeners.

When shaping Estonia’s future, it is important to invest in educating the next generation in addition to placing greater trust in our youth. 

In national defence, we’ve developed a clear understanding that regardless of how many powerful weapons a country may have, the populace’s will to defend is what will preserve it. Education also cannot drive the economy, culture, or research if we do not support the joy of learning. If we don’t encourage children to go to school with excitement, not nervousness.

To bolster the will to learn, let us also give greater attention to vocational education. Extracurricular art, athletics, and nature clubs become an integral part of schools, foster skills, support young people’s mental health, and provide a natural linguistic learning environment for those whose mother tongue is not Estonian.

Vocational education is like a handle for young people to grab onto to steady themselves and then use to open the door to find themselves and their future. So that every talent might receive the fertilizer it needs and every idea be given a nursery.

Alongside knowledge, education — as the Estonian Human Development Report confirms — gives us better health and a longer lifespan. Education is one of the pillars of a successful state. 

Would Estonia be as strong of a digital state today, one with such an impressive IT startup sector, if the Tiger Leap hadn’t happened in our educational system?

I believe that the artificial-intelligence educational programme which sprouted right here in Kadriorg, stemming from a meeting with “unicorns” and launching with support from the state and the corporate sector, will give Estonia’s development a fresh, sturdy boost.

Even so, we must be capable of shaping and directing technological developments ourselves; of double-checking every step our new companion takes and scrutinising its claims when necessary.

And so as to not lose the ground beneath our feet, we must also exercise our real brain, our thinking muscles, ever more, as Jaan Aru has said. That skill isn’t the job of any one subject or teacher, of course. 

It must lie at the core of our educational system along with offering each and every student support so they might ascertain and develop their strengths.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Taking part in our celebration here today is the leader of the first country that recognised Estonia’s restoration of independence — Iceland’s president. That country’s bold decision set an example and unleashed a powerful wave of recognition that swept all across the world. Estonia will remain ever grateful to Icelanders for it; it will not be forgotten.

We were reborn into a world that pledged peace and stability. Regardless, security and defence remained at the centre of our focus. And our instincts did not deceive us. Once again, a malevolent neighbour is doing what it has always done: coveting ever greater territory and wishing to subject others to its will. 

Estonia has taken significant steps to neutralise those selfish desires. We have joined NATO and the European Union, built up our military, and increased defence spending.  

We conduct world-class cyber defence and foster robust civil defence at home. We have led multiple initiatives to both support Ukraine and sanction Russia. 

Although our international influence has grown, we must steadily preserve the existing world order because it grants small states the right to exist alongside large ones, as well as to have a say in global affairs. To decide for themselves how to develop and how to move forward. We are increasingly required to stand up for those principles, and to fight for them if necessary.

One more thing. I’d like to express how delighted I am by the deepening of relations between the Nordic and Baltic countries. This not only in security, foreign policy, and economic ties, but ever more broadly.

My dear people.

We do not know what the world will be like 35 years from now, but we certainly wish for Estonia to be a well-off country in a peaceful world, continuing to stand out for its clever solutions and outstanding living environment. I trust that we are a country which will manage the changing climate, technological and economic developments, and population decline. If necessary, then difficult geopolitics as well. 

We can, and are, making decisions towards that future right now. I return to the thought that it will be the smooth generational transition to happen in the coming years, well-charted educational renewal, and strong international alliances that will secure our future, guarantee both domestic and foreign peace, and give us the greatest achievable balance. 

Vello Enniste, who drove to defend Toompea in 1991, has since founded a successful construction business, built nearly a thousand buildings, and is now handing his life’s work over to the next generation. 

Vello was 34 years old on that August day. The same age as Birgit Uibu was this very morning — today, she’s celebrating her 35th birthday with us here in the Rose Garden. Like many young Estonians, Birgit worked abroad for several years — in Australia, New Zealand, and Denmark — before a thirst for knowledge and education brought her back to Estonia. 

Today, Birgit lives in the town of Sindi, works at a growing software company, and says this: “I feel a true connection to my country.”

Much is contained within that simple statement. Every generation which came before us helped to create that feeling. Over time, our language and culture have braided that bond.

Standing here in this country today, we feel secure and at home. Here, we are most ourselves. Here, we can decide and accomplish in our lives what we ourselves wish to do, not what others wish for us.

I wish you a happy Day of the Restoration of Independence!

Long live Estonia!