October 16, 2023
On October 16, 2023, the United States Embassy will celebrate the completion of the renovation of the “Päkapikk” kindergarten in Võru. The United States Department of Defense and the United States European Command’s Humanitarian Assistance program funded the renovations, which cost over a half-million US dollars. The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn administered the project and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supervised the execution of the plan, which a local Estonian contractor carried out. This cooperation between several U.S. and Estonian entities demonstrates the excellent bilateral cooperation involved in this effort to improve the educational environment of Estonian students.
The ceremony in Võru will take place at 11 am at the Päkapikk kindergarten, Vabaduse 15, and is open to the press.
“The people of Võru have shown such incredible hospitality to the U.S. servicemembers stationed in southern Estonia,” U.S. Ambassador George Kent said. He continued, “I am happy that we have been able to demonstrate our gratitude for their kindness and generosity. We cannot thank the residents of the area enough for their cooperation and support.”
“We have forged an excellent relationship with the citizens of Võru through the Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Assistance program and hope that these renovations will benefit both students and educators here for years to come,” explained Lieutenant Colonel Matt Fryer of the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation. “Estonia is a steadfast partner and NATO Ally, and projects such as these demonstrate our close bilateral relationship.”
The Office of Defense Cooperation administers the U.S. DoD’s Humanitarian Assistance program in Estonia and, since 2012, has completed 11 projects in Estonia, totaling over $4 million. These projects have covered a wide range of public services, including education, medical, and Humanitarian Mine Action support. There are six ongoing and future projects in various locations throughout Estonia.
