Ida-Virumaa defence camp organiser: most don't speak Estonian, but progress is visible

The Kaitseliit is running a state defence camp for young people in Ida-Virumaa, where participants put into practice the knowledge gained during school lessons on national defence. The organiser notes that many attendees lack Estonian language skills, but sees clear signs of improvement and growing engagement.

The Estonian Defence League (Kaitseliit) is hosting a national defence camp for youth in the Ida-Virumaa region, giving young participants the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge they have acquired through compulsory defence education classes at school.

The organiser of the camp highlighted a familiar challenge in this border region: a significant portion of the participants do not speak Estonian fluently. Ida-Virumaa, home to large Russian-speaking communities in cities such as Narva, Kohtla-Järve and Jõhvi, has historically seen lower rates of Estonian language proficiency compared to the rest of the country.

Despite the language barrier, the organiser expressed optimism, noting that progress among participants is clearly visible. The camp format — focused on practical exercises rather than purely classroom instruction — appears to help bridge communication gaps and build a sense of shared purpose among attendees regardless of their linguistic background.

The initiative reflects broader efforts by Estonian institutions to integrate the Russian-speaking youth of Ida-Virumaa more closely into national civic and defence structures. National defence education has become a more prominent part of the Estonian school curriculum in recent years, particularly following the security changes brought about by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Camps such as this one are seen as a key tool for ensuring that young people across all of Estonia's regions — including those where Estonian is not the dominant home language — feel connected to and capable of participating in the country's defence efforts.