Personal

Märt and Alta Vähi were married in 1970 and have three children and now already eight beloved grandchildren.

In 1991, during the collapse of the Soviet Union, Märt and Alta, feeling God’s calling, moved with their entire family to Estonia — to the place where Märt’s father’s home had been before World War II. As war refugees, his parents arrived in Sweden in 1945, from where the family later relocated to Canada.

Canada became their home and the country where they built their family, but during the 1970s they spent seven years transporting Bibles into Estonia and other former USSR countries. After that, they returned to Canada, where Märt founded Smythe Street Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick, serving there for fourteen years as pastor, dean, and provincial government chaplain.

After settling in Estonia, Märt Vähi played an active role in establishing the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church (EKNK), founding new congregations, establishing a Bible school and launching its educational work, and together with colleagues he also founded the Estonian prison ministry. In 2005, Märt Vähi was consecrated as Bishop of the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church. All of this work continues to this day.

In November 2000, under the leadership and initiative of Märt Vähi, the NGO Hope Village (Lootuse Küla) was established, and practical work soon began on building the rehabilitation village and helping people struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. As chairman of the board of the NGO Hope Village, Märt Vähi leads the rehabilitation center’s activities and development, and as Bishop Emeritus of EKNK he also leads the EKNK Hope Village Congregation. Märt Vähi is one of the founders of the Hope Village Rescue Society NGO.

Märt Vähi’s work has received several recognitions in the field of social work. In February 2014, the President of the Republic of Estonia awarded Bishop Vähi the Red Cross Medal, 3rd Class.

Together with his son, Andrew Vähi, Märt began establishing and developing Hope Village in Canada in 2006, where the first houses have now been built and the first men are participating in the program.

Alta has been a faithful companion to her husband throughout her life. Likewise, she constantly serves at Hope Village, showing great love, care, and attentiveness. In her quiet manner, Alta is always involved in welcoming guests, providing accommodation and meals, participating in church services, organizing events, and teaching young people. The Vähi family home doors are always open to guests.

Raiman Kukk came to the Hope Village program for help in 2012, having by that time a 10-year history of drug addiction. Raiman’s life changed radically, and within him arose a desire to help others suffering from addiction. In 2014, Raiman graduated from the Baltic School of Ministry Bible school in Latvia. He continued his studies in Hope Village’s servant leadership program, which he successfully completed in 2015.

Since 2017, Raiman has worked at Hope Village as the assistant executive director. In 2018, Raiman was ordained as a deacon of the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church. Between 2017 and 2019, Raiman furthered his education at Tallinn School of Economics in the field of project management assistant studies. Since May 2018, Raiman Kukk has served as the Executive Director of Hope Village. In 2020, Raiman Kukk was ordained as a pastor of the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church.

Completed trainings:

• 2024 – TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) training
• 2023 – Restorative justice and conflict resolution training
• 2018 – Motivational interviewing training
• 2015 – BKI support person training

Marilin Kukk married Raiman in 2016. Marilin studied for two years at Hillsong Bible School in Australia. She also worked for five years as an assistant to the leader of the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church. In 2018, Raiman and Marilin welcomed their son Harman. In 2022, their daughter Harriet was born. Marilin is a strong support and help to her husband, and together they continue developing Hope Village.

Roman came to the Hope Village program in 2003 struggling with drug addiction. He successfully completed the program in 2004 and continued his studies in the servant leadership program, which he completed in 2005. Roman decided to remain serving at Hope Village in order to help alcoholics and drug addicts overcome addiction and support them in returning to society.

In 2008, Roman expanded his knowledge in Moscow at a rehabilitation work seminar led by internationally recognized addiction specialist Michael Dye. In 2009, he graduated from the EKNK Diaconal School and was ordained the same year as a deacon of the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church (EKNK). In 2016, Roman was ordained as pastor of the EKNK Hope Village congregation. Since 2021, Roman Lunjov has served as dean of the EKNK Russian Deanery.

Roman is a founding member and board member of the NGO Hope Village Rescue Society.

Over the years, Roman has grown and developed together with the team, taking responsibility for various areas of work. As program director, one of his primary responsibilities is leading the Hope Village center.

Roman and Olga Lunjov were married on June 30, 2007. Olga completed a master’s degree at Tallinn University, qualifying as a mathematics teacher. After marriage and graduating from university, Olga began working as the secretary of Hope Village. Roman and Olga are raising three sons together.

Reijo Orav arrived at Hope Village in 2018. He is a former alcoholic and drug addict with more than 23 years of addiction history. Reijo’s life changed radically, and since then he has had a desire to help others struggling with addiction.

Reijo Orav has knowledge and experience in working with substance addicts and prisoners. He is professional in applying rehabilitation and support methods in his work.

Since 2020, Reijo Orav has worked in the office of the NGO Hope Village, where he daily resolves social service-related issues for people in the program and prepares necessary documentation. Reijo has also completed debt counseling training and is able to provide initial advice for resolving debt-related issues.

Completed trainings:

• 2024 – TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) training
• 2023 – Restorative justice and conflict resolution training
• 2022 – AART (Aggression Replacement Training) instructor training
• 2021 – Debt counseling training
• 2020 – Basic computer training by the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Hele Orav married Reijo in 2024, and they live together at Hope Village. Hele also has a heart for helping people in need, and together they serve and help people in various congregations and camps across Estonia.

Arvi Raid joined the Hope Village program in 2014 to receive help in overcoming drug addiction. He successfully completed the program in 2015, after which he had to serve a seven-month prison sentence in Finland due to crimes committed in his former life. Arvi’s outlook on life had changed so radically that upon his release, he returned directly to Estonia and Hope Village with the goal of helping other addicts.

In 2017, Arvi studied for six months at the Hope Village Canada center under the guidance of Hope Village co-founder Andrew Vähi. At the beginning of 2018, Arvi returned from Canada and began leading the Hope Village Keila center, where he helped program graduates safely reintegrate into society. Since 2020, Arvi Raid has served as the facilities manager of Hope Village. In addition to his daily responsibilities, Arvi also teaches lessons, provides counseling, supervises work practice, and serves as a role model through his own life for those participating in the program.

In 2024, Arvi Raid was ordained as a deacon of the EKNK Hope Village congregation.

Since 2015, Arvi has visited schools across Estonia and delivered alcohol and drug prevention lectures to young people.

Arvi Raid is in constant contact with young offenders and addicts, serving as a support person for them and regularly visiting prisons across Estonia.

Completed trainings:

• 2024 – TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) training
• 2023 – Restorative justice and conflict resolution training
• 2022 – AART (Aggression Replacement Training) instructor training
• 2020 – Loov Ruum Trainings – peer support counselor training
• 2018 – Motivational interviewing training
• 2016 – BKI support person training

Margot Raid joined the Hope Village program in 2020. Margot restored order to her life and became a Hope Village employee. In 2022, Arvi and Margot were married. Together they are raising two children, Armand and Armin. Margot also helps women daily at Hope Village and supports her husband in helping people struggling with addiction.

Jaroslav came to Hope Village in 2012 to receive help in overcoming his drug addiction. At that time, he had struggled with addiction for 17 years. He successfully completed the rehabilitation program and continued in the Hope Village training program, designed for people who want to dedicate their lives to serving others. Jaroslav completed the training program in 2014 and decided to remain working and serving at Hope Village in order to help those in need, just as he himself once needed help.

As Industry Manager, Jaroslav is responsible for organizing industrial work, helping the men learn job skills, and developing consistent, responsible, and safe work habits in them. Jaroslav is also one of the rescuers of the Hope Village Rescue Society.

Completed trainings:

• 2024 – AM, B, BE, C, CE, and T category driver’s licenses
• 2024 – Emergency driving training
• 2018 – Motivational interviewing training
• 2015 – Volunteer rescuer level 1–2 training
• 2015 – Category C driver’s license

Jelena Dudtšenko, Jaroslav’s wife, has stood beside and supported him for many years through both good and difficult times. Jelena works in a service company in Laulasmaa and is a member of the EKNK Hope Village congregation.

Roman and Olga Lunjov were married on June 30, 2007.

Olga graduated from Tallinn University with a master’s degree, qualifying as a mathematics teacher. After getting married and completing her university studies, Olga began working as the secretary of Hope Village. Roman and Olga are raising three sons together.

Olga is also involved in financial administration and translation work.