Mondo 2024: Taking adaptive action amid crises brought aid to tens of thousands

Last year brought several global challenges, however through agile action, even a small country like Estonia can provide impactful assistance to people in crisis. In 2024, the Estonian organisation Mondo delivered aid to ten countries, supporting both people displaced by war with essential humanitarian assistance and children from low-income families with access to education.

“2024 was one of the most difficult years for Mondo’s areas of work. Although the number of people suffering in ongoing crises continues to grow, international funding for development cooperation and humanitarian aid declined in 2024,” said Maria Sakarias, board member of Mondo. Last year, Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine continued, Israel intensified its attacks on both Gaza and Lebanon, and in Georgia, non-democratic processes, the silencing of civil society, and state control persisted following the elections.

“That’s why it’s even more important to respond swiftly and adaptively in complex contexts, while maintaining a consistent, long-term presence alongside communities. The year 2024 confirmed that Mondo, together with the people of Estonia, is capable of just that – adapting, working with limited resources and achieving significant impact both locally and internationally,” Sakarias said.

In 2024, nearly 14,000 people in Ukraine and Lebanon received essential humanitarian aid through Mondo, including safe and warm shelter, medicine, food, and mental health support. For example, Mondo provided winter heating materials and repairs to 44 centers for internally displaced people in frontline areas of Ukraine. Through development cooperation activities, Mondo supported the livelihoods and education of nearly 6,000 people in Ukraine, Uganda, Lebanon, Kenya, Ghana, Georgia, Armenia, and Burma. Many of those in need were children from vulnerable communities whose education continues thanks to donations from people in Estonia.

In Estonia, Mondo leads the field of Global Education and also supports refugees living in the country. More than 16,000 people were involved in Mondo’s activities in Estonia, including students, educators, refugees, and members of local communities.

Mondo’s funding in 2024 remained at a similar level to the previous year, at approximately €2.9 million. Across ten countries, Mondo managed 35 projects in the fields of humanitarian aid, Global Education, environment, digital competencies, livelihoods, and education. Mondo continues to be the most wide-reaching partner of the Estonian state in development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and Global Education.

Read more in Mondo’s 2024 financial and activity report (currently only in Estonian).

Pictured: Mondo supported 44 housing centers for idp-s in Ukraine in 2024 to survive the winter.