1989 was the year of great changes, not just in Estonia, but all over Europe.

On August 23rd 1989 approximately two million people across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined their hands forming a 600 km long human chain called the Baltic Way through the Baltic countries, thus demonstrating their unity in their efforts towards freedom. The three Baltic States declared their independence less than two years later.

On November 9th the physical Iron Curtain separating Eastern Europe from the West – the Berlin Wall came tumbling down. One piece of the demolished wall that formerly stood near the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin can now be seen in front of Vabamu Museum on the corner of Toompea and Kaarli streets as it was donated to the city of Tallinn by the Senat of Berlin.

In December 1989 a revolution was sparked in Romania which resulted in overthrowing the long-term Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu.

“Born in 1989” is a project that unites six countries – Estonia, Poland, Germany, Romania, Hungary and Slovenia – to tell the stories of the historic events unravelling in each of the participating countries in the year of 1989. The project is supported by European Commission’s CERV-2024-CITIZENS-REM programme and according to their policy all participants have signed the Child Protection Policy: