Where History Meets Opportunity: German Language & Entrepreneurship Inspiration Day at Alatskivi Castle
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One of the core missions of DBJW Estonia is to bring international opportunities beyond major urban centres and into remote and border regions.
Peipsiääre municipality in South Estonia, located near the border with Russia, is a compelling example of why this mission matters. In regions where access to international networks, career perspectives, and language opportunities can be more limited, initiatives like this play a crucial role in opening doors for young people.
At the heart of this region stands Alatskivi Castle — a place where history and opportunity naturally come together.
With its strong Baltic German heritage and neo-Gothic architecture inspired by English castles, Alatskivi Castle is a truly unique venue in Estonia. Built in the 19th century and closely tied to the region’s German-Baltic history, the castle offers an authentic and meaningful setting for events connected to German language, culture, and economic cooperation.
Part of Alatskivi Manor’s historical furniture and artefacts are today preserved in museum collections in Lüneburg, Germany, reflecting the long-standing Baltic German connections of the region.
New Partnerships Rooted in History and Community
Rooted in the shared Baltic German heritage of the region, Alatskivi Castle has become an official partner of DBJW, further strengthening the foundation for future collaboration.
Alongside the castle, another important regional partner is Kuvake (Peipsiääre Youth Work Centre), which plays a key role in supporting young people in the Peipsiääre area. Kuvake focuses on youth development, community engagement, and creating opportunities for young people in a rural region — making it a highly valuable partner in bringing such initiatives to life.
Together, these partnerships reflect DBJW’s commitment to connecting historical context with present-day opportunities, while working closely with local communities.
Inspiring the Next Generation in a Unique Setting
On March 31, Alatskivi Castle hosted the German Language & Entrepreneurship Inspiration Day, bringing together over 70 young people from Peipsiääre municipality.
This was already the second event of its kind held at the castle, reflecting a growing interest among local youth. While German language served as a foundation, this year’s focus expanded to include economy, entrepreneurship, and future career opportunities.
The event was officially opened by Mayor Piibe Koemets, who welcomed distinguished guests, speakers, and company representatives, highlighting the importance of such initiatives for the region’s young people.
A key role in the success of the day was played by Laura Lillepalu-Scott, Managing Director of Alatskivi Castle. Her strong belief in the potential of Estonian youth, as well as her continued support for German language and cultural initiatives at the castle, is of great value.
With her deep knowledge of Baltic German heritage in Estonia, she added an important historical dimension to the event. While students participated in workshops, Laura personally ensured that the honourable guests — including representatives from the German Embassy — were exceptionally well hosted, guiding them through an insightful and engaging tour of the castle.
Strong Institutional and International Presence
Despite the remote location, the event brought together an impressive group of speakers and partners, all contributing to a shared objective: highlighting the importance of the German market, the strong economic ties between Estonia and Germany, and the relevance of these connections for Estonian youth and businesses.
A special contribution came from the German Embassy in Estonia, represented by Mario Sauder, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of the Economic Section, whose presence underlined the significance of Estonian-German cooperation at both economic and diplomatic levels.
Participants also gained valuable insights from Kersti Loor (CEO, Junior Achievement Estonia), representatives of the Estonian Woodhouse Association (Puitmajaliit), and the Estonian Engineering Industry Association (Masinatööstuse liit).
Both industry associations emphasised the significance of Germany — Europe’s largest economy and one of the most important markets for Estonian companies. Through concrete examples, they illustrated how sectors such as timber construction and engineering are closely connected to Germany, offering young people a clearer understanding of real economic relationships.
Hands-On Workshops: Where Learning Became Experience
The second part of the day focused on interactive workshops, where students engaged directly with companies and professionals across different fields.
Participating organisations included Trafity OÜ, whose VR experience became one of the highlights of the day; ELMO Remote Vehicle, offering students a unique opportunity to experience a remotely operated car; Regio OÜ, introducing mapping and geospatial technologies; Atemix, sharing real-life industry insights and career paths; Nordic Render, demonstrating how visualisation supports communication in architecture and product development; VOCO (Tartu Vocational Education Centre), represented by students and already a valued partner of DBJW; and the Velogen student company.
It is particularly encouraging that VOCO announced that from the next school year they will once again offer German language courses — something that has not been the case for many years. This development marks an important step forward in strengthening German language education and opportunities for young people.
Through personal stories and practical examples, companies demonstrated why the German market is a key destination for Estonian businesses and how language skills play a crucial role in building trust, effective communication, and long-term partnerships.
This enabled students to understand not only what companies do, but also why language skills — particularly German — are valuable in real business contexts, making the experience both practical and highly relevant.
Looking Ahead
The growing interest among young people and the strong engagement from partners confirm that such initiatives are both meaningful and impactful.
With Alatskivi Castle and Kuvake as official partners of DBJW, and with the castle’s deep historical ties to Baltic German heritage alongside Kuvake’s strong connection to the local youth community, a solid foundation has been established for continued collaboration — where history, community, language, and future opportunities converge.
Partners and Support Behind the Event
The event was organised by DBJW Estonia in close cooperation with regional and international partners. Our DBJW Brand Ambassadors, Mari Johanna Ruut and Daniil Iarlykovskii, played a highly engaged and proactive role in the execution of the event and made a significant contribution to both the preparations and the organisation of the participating youth.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the German Embassy in Estonia, Nordic Render, Swedbank, and Regio OÜ for generously providing prizes for the top three quiz teams, as well as to Lidl Estonia and the German Embassy in Estonia for contributing sweets that were warmly enjoyed by all participants.
Their support played an important role in enhancing the overall experience, adding both recognition and joy to the day’s activities.