In march 2001 the dreams of a new daycentre for streetchildren in Peeteli church came true. The cairman Mati Sinisaar and rev. Avo Üprus together with others in the congregation had during a couple of years established contacts with some children in Kopli, an area some distance from the centre of the city. These children lived on the border in many aspects. From the start, the children got some food and donated clothes. After some time they wanted to come to church. The Estonian state and the city of Tallinn did not want to recognize the existence of these children, many of russian origin. So the project was named "WE EXIST!"

a picture from the side of the church, adress Preesi 5/7 in Pelgulinn area. In this corner, there was an entrance to recieve and help victims of crime. Lack of money makes this work impossible right now..

Then a daycentre in church was started. In the afternoons the children came to church to eat, play and listen to stories. The children got more and more confidence for the church people. The children were taken to Saarema for summer camp. In early 1999 nearly 20 children moved to the church with adult churchworkers taking care of much and supporting them. But to stay in the church, the children had to go to school! For some of them this felt peculiar, but it has worked.

The congregation used the old apartment for the pastor and made it into a good home for the children. When I first visited this church in december 1997 the windows in the church-room were walled with bricks and the apartment in bad condition. In septembre 1999 the apartment was renovated, with good rooms, good washing possibilities and sanitation. The cellar was still in a vrey bad condition. Some teenage boys lived there. Stuff was put there, sanitation bad and electricity was dangerous. Was it possible to renovate? Mati and Avo presented their dreams, and some dreams.... BUT! the dreams came true! And the state and city have now discovered that these children do exist and take more financial responsibility for the work in Peeteli chruch for streetchildren in the future.

Go to index