29/04/2025
The people and organisations that have been leaders in their field by making a major contribution to promoting financial literacy and helping the people of Estonia navigate the world of money were recognised today in the buildings of Eesti Pank.
Five leaders and four initiatives received awards in four categories. Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi said we must be grateful that there are enthusiasts and experts who give their time and effort to help society understand money and finance better and so act more knowledgeably. “Estonia is special because we have many people with a sense of mission, who can find the time and energy alongside their other activities to share valuable knowledge about money with others. Not every other country has such enthusiastic contributors to society”, he claimed.
The event highlighted the importance of spreading financial literacy among those who need it most. “The more widely financial literacy can be spread in Estonia, the less financial strife people will encounter, and the better they will be able to ensure their future”, said Governor of Eesti Pank Madis Müller. “I am consequently very pleased to showcase today organisations that work to increase understanding of managing financial matters among groups that are sometimes left in the shadows. The first of them works to bring more women into the investment arena, while the second helps vulnerable target groups cope better financially”, he said.
Chair of the Finantsinspektsioon management board Kilvar Kessler also noted that conscious choices based on reliable information can help to build a stronger and better informed society. “Those decisions affect families and communities, help financial markets function stably and transparently, and in the big picture affect the whole economy. It is important that people understand the relevance and significance of their financial choices, and that they make those choices responsibly. Promoting financial literacy needs dedicated people who can direct others to make sensible financial decisions”, he said.
An increasing number of people are involved in spreading financial literacy across Estonia. “We are genuinely pleased that for years now, financial literacy has been promoted not just by a few individual institutions, but by a series of new campaigns that can teach people to mange their finances more smartly and that offer them many very different ways to learn. People can see the benefit of this, as they want to learn and to share what they know with others”, said head of the Estonian Banking Union Kadri Kiisel. “We hope that more new activists will be inspired by the example of those receiving awards today”.
The awards for 2025
Promoter of financial literacy: Naisinvestorite Klub – for successful work in teaching about investment. The ten-year-old club for women investors has 29,000 followers on Facebook, and organises training courses, seminars, networking meetings and more.
Commendation: Pesapuu consultation and training centre.
Teacher of financial literacy: Helen Karus – for promoting financial literacy to young people in education and in businesses. Helen has worked in youth work, tourism and small business, and at the Lääne-Viru Development Centre, where she led the programme for enterprising youth. She has continued her work as project manager at the charity Ettevõtlusküla, and she has also found her calling by participating in the Noored Kooli programme, which led to her teaching history, mathematics, business and careers at Sõmeru school.
Commendation: Kaidi Kornak
Contributor to financial literacy: Marko Oolo – for more than ten years of work promoting financial literacy and investor education. Marko is one of the founders of a pan-Estonian investment festival, contributes to financial education in schools through the Igavene Heategu charity, runs the Off The Record investment blog with other investors, and has been part of other initiatives for knowledgeable investment.
Commendation: Viivika Vilja, Marin Vallikivi
Financial literacy event: Financial literacy project in five schools in Lääne-Virumaa – for starting a successful project in Lääne-Virumaa. The idea came from the second season of the mentors club, when teachers in Lääne-Virumaa decided to combine to promote financial literacy to their students and wrote a project for Erasmus+ that has hosted many financial literacy events including inter-school conferences for pupils.
Commendation: Investingwomen/girlsmoneymind (a Russian-language investment club for women)
The event to recognise those who promote financial literacy was held for the third time, and its aim is to showcase actions and people that have a positive impact in spreading financial knowledge.
Organisers of the event: Ministry of Finance, Eesti Pank, Finantsinspektsioon, the Estonian Banking Union.