Update #220
Driven by a desire to teach their young children Estonian, sisters Kaili (Lupp) Colford and Kaarin Lupp independently embarked on creating children's books aiming to introduce basic vocabulary in a captivating and entertaining manner.
"I messaged Kaarin in our family chat and announced I was starting an Estonian children’s book for my kids," Kaili recalls. "My sister Kaarin quickly replied that she had just started her own and was planning to tell me the next day!” Kaili laughs. "Our parents were delighted by the timing of our separate ventures, and we had an a-ha moment to join forces and create something bigger than just our own families."
Kaili and Kaarin, founded Sõnad: Esto Words, a learning resource company, to cater to families like theirs around the world.
"Like us, there are so many children and people of all ages who are connected to Estonian culture - their ‘eestlus’ – in one way or another," Kaarin explains. "Whether through our books or social media via @estowords, we’re all about celebrating the beauty of the Estonian language and culture with people who wish to strengthen their ties to Estonia.”
“We love hearing how particular ‘Esto’ words like ‘laager’ or ‘vanaema’ remind people of their Estonian upbringings and traditions, particularly if they were born in the diaspora,” adds Kaili. Kaarin agrees, “When you carry a journal with a unique Estonian phrase, word or cultural motif, you’re celebrating your connection to Estonia, whatever that may look like.”
The founders intend to continue to expand the Sõnad: Esto Words series. It currently includes a line of visually stunning books and journals that are available for purchase on Amazon marketplaces globally. You can find the sisters' author (product) pages here for Kaarin and here for Kaili. Language editing was provided by their Estonian relatives, Emilie and Eliise Haljas, with whom they’ve fondly spent time in Estonia over many years.
Although the main storefront is online, Kaarin attended Estonian summer events to spread the “Esto” word and gather feedback. At Seedrioru Suvihari this year, Kaarin introduced the series and held a raffle draw for various picture books and journals like this proverb one and the "Suvi: Estonian Summer Colouring Adventures Book” along with coloured pencils.
"I could not have been more thrilled to win the raffle after I had already bought a few books," said Reet M., winner of the draw, "our grandchildren are exactly the target market for this series and I look forward to reading them together."
This venture is truly a family affair. Kaili’s older children are the “päkapikk partners,” offering ideas on words, images, illustration styles, and themes. Kaili Colford, a board member of the Estonian Arts Centre, added Klara, 2, and Suvi, almost 7 months, to her family during her time on the board, which already included Berkeley, 9, and Brooks, 6. Kaarin’s son Kasper, 2, has already picked up extensive vocabulary like his older cousins.
This passion project of Kaili and Kaarin's was a natural fit for Estonian Arts Centre, the charity associated with KESKUS, to support. EAC kicked off its innovative language learning series that forms part of its arts programming, with production of "misKESKUS".
"misKESKUS" continues to be a popular video game that has charmed young and old alike. Targeted to those aged 6+, the game provides a fun environment to learn basic vocabulary while solving challenges and puzzles in a 3D rendering of KESKUS. Read more here, download to play here.
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Please join our growing list of capital campaign donors. The KESKUS International Estonian Centre’s donor categories are Kalevipoja laud for gifts over $100,000 (including naming rights for specific areas), Koidula gild, which is from $50,000-99,999, Viru vanemad for gifts of $10,000-$49,999, and Kungla rahvas for gifts up to $10,000.
To make a donation, please call +1.647.250.7136 or email donations@estoniancentre.ca. Donations may be made as a family gift, or in honour of an individual or family. All Canadian, Estonian and U.S. donations will be issued a tax receipt. KESKUS leadership donors are recognized here.
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