THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008

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Elk Grove Educators, Officials Experience Estonia As Part of Second Half of Exchange

By TOM ROBB

Journal Reporter

A delegation that included Elk Grove Village Trustee Pat Feichter, two representatives from Elk Grove Township School Dist. 59 and several other area educators returned from a weeklong visit to Estonia last week.

The delegation that included Grove Jr. High teacher Jenny Morales and Dist. 59 Asst. School Supt. Dr. Nancy Wagner spent seven days traveling, departing Chicago on Saturday, Apr. 12 and returning one week later on Saturday, Apr. 19.

The group traveled to the Estonian capital city of Tallinn as well as the Estonian cities of Tartu and Kuressaare. They saw familiar faces of members of an Estonian delegation that visited Elk Grove Village last month.

The Northwest suburban delegation met with educators, high-ranking government officials from Estonian Parliament and United States Embassy in Estonia as well as Estonian students.

The vice-speaker of Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament), Mr. Jüri Ratas hosted a breakfast at the Riigikogu.

Morales and Wagner toured Estonian schools giving lessons to hundreds of children about the United States system of Democracy.

Elk Grove Village has had a relationship with Estonia for the last few years but that relationship is coming to an end. This year's exchange will be the last one.

The Democracy Project, run through the U.S. Dept. of Education, has deemed Estonia a successful enough democracy that they no longer need the help of the U.S. government.

Elk Grove Village is not finished with its international diplomatic efforts in this area, however.

Feichter told the Elk Grove Village Board of Trustees that the village will participate in an exchange program with the African country of Ghana next year through the Democracy Project.