“Although Estonian and Latvian are markedly different languages, as neighbours, strong ties between our people are extremely important, and language plays a major role in creating and maintaining these ties. Katarina Magere has made a significant contribution to teaching Estonian language and culture to children from different linguistic backgrounds, while also encouraging the active, creative and confident use of Estonian and thereby contributing to the development of the Estonian language outside Estonia,” said Tsahkna.
“Friendship between Estonia and Latvia is not something that is built solely through intergovernmental meetings and agreements. In reality, it is built every day in classrooms, in books and in conversations, and teacher Magere has played an important role in this,” the Foreign Minister added.
The Language Award was presented at the ASNI Gallery in Riga, which is also hosting an exhibition by Estonian artist Angela Maasalu.
The aim of the award is to enhance knowledge of the Latvian and Estonian languages and to recognise the achievements of Latvian and Estonian translators, linguists, teachers and managers of language learning projects in the promotion of the Latvian and Estonian languages. The award is worth €5,000, with the prize money provided equally by the foreign ministries of the two countries. The jury consists of representatives of the foreign ministries of both countries as well as experts in language and literature.
The Language Promotion Award was presented for the seventeenth time this year. In previous years, the award has gone to Maima Grīnberga (2009, 2013), Guntars Godinš (2010, 2014, 2019), Kalev Kalkun (2011), Margus Konnula alias Contra (2015, 2025), Valts Ernštreits (2016), Livia Viitol (2017), Rūta Karma (2018), Ilze Tālberga (2020), Lembit Vaba (2021), Daila Ozola (2022), Hea Lugu publishing house (2023) and Karl Pajusalu (2024).
Photos from the Language Award presentation ceremony.
