Children Center Lighthouse attempts to provide an alternative for life on the streets. Children who come here have to face many challenges daily. They suffer from malnutrition and neglect. Many are from broken homes, others have problems with stepparents, still others live with parents who are unemployed or struggling with addictions. Even some children are addicted.
We firmly believe that every child needs attention and we hope to give them a better chance at succeeding in life.
The center offers
The center opened on April 7, 2001 with six kids. The daily attendance is 20-30 children. The children are both, from the Estonian and Russian families. We are learning to get along, but sometimes it still creates problems, of which the language issue is not the least. Yet, the fact that the children have kept coming and are inviting friends, speaks for itself... they like it here. Without the center, most of these kids would be out on the streets of Tallinn. For updates, look at the latest Progress Report.
God has been gracious to us and we have been able to finance the activities. The center is mostly financed by faithful sponsors. 1/6 of the budget will come from the city government in 2004.
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Lighthouse has a Board which consists of four people-Enn Laansoo, Merle Tomberg, Helvi Kruusmann and Kersti Raudsepp.
Kersti Raudsepp works as a Director, in addition Alla Gluhhova and Maie Mossin work with children. Ellen Lindau is our music therapist who teaches the children once a week.
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On January 12, 2001 the Board of the UMC in Estonia approved the idea to found a non-profit organization affiliated with the Methodist Church.
The center was founded on January 17, 2001 and Olav Pärnamets, the Superintendent of the Church was one of the founding members.
Right now, our Board consists of the members of the UMC in Tallinn. According to the by-laws 2/3 of the Board should be Methodist. We are also subject to present our annual report to the UMC of Estonia for auditing every year. Being affiliated with the Church provides us with the system of accountability that we enjoy. Being an independent organizations allows us to benefit from the programs offered to such organizations by the state.
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Children Center Lighthouse started at Apteegi 3, the former Center of the Methodist Church in Estonia.
In March 2003 we moved to a spacious facility owned by the City Governemnt that we can use on the basis of a five year lease. The term will in all probablity be extended if we have fulfilled all our obligations to the city.
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The budget for the year 2004 is $50,000. It breaks down as follows:
We are looking for Sunday schools, UMW, UMM units, churches, groups and individuals to partner with us by providing $1,000 dollars a year. At the same time, any amount is greatly appreciated.
In addition, you can help with supplies. We need
If you want to make a direct deposit, please use the following information:
account no. EE872200221016718181
name MTU LASTEKESKUS TAHETORN
address Kopli 30a, Tallinn 10412
Address of the bank:
Hansapank
Liivalaia 8
Tallinn 15040
SWIFT HABAEE2X
If you prefer to send a check you should make it out and send it to
World Methodist Evangelism
1008 19th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
Please indicate Lighthouse on the memo line.
Phone: (615) 340-7541. Donations through World Evangelism are tax deductible.
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(Peter@calvaryumc.com) phone:+1-(615)297-7562 |
Randy Frye (rfrye@i-plus.net) phone:+1-(540)980-3331 | |
| NORWAY | Line Groendalen (+47)61 310 305 +(47)93 029 493 | Hege Oesterhus (hegeosterhus@yahoo.no) (+47)22 448 394 (+47)22 448 395 (+47)99 456 538 |
| ESTONIA | Kersti Raudsepp (Kersti.KCR@mail.ee) phone:+372-506-9203 | |
| Back to Questions | ||
Thank you for your time and interest!Together, we can make a difference in the lives of unfortunate children in Tallinn. | ||