Personal

Märt and Alta Vähi married in 1970 and have three children and now eight beloved grandchildren. In 1991, during the collapse of the Soviet Union, sensing God's calling, Märt and Alta moved with their entire family to Estonia — to the place where, before World War II, Märt's father's home had been. As war refugees, his parents reached Sweden in 1945, and the family later relocated to Canada. Canada became their home and the country where they raised their family, but in the 1970s they spent seven years smuggling Bibles into Estonia and other Soviet Union countries. After that they returned to Canada, where Märt founded the Smythe Street Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick, serving there for fourteen years as pastor, dean, and as state chaplain in the provincial government. After settling in Estonia, Märt Vähi was actively involved in the founding of the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church (EKNK), establishing new congregations, founding a Bible school and starting its educational work, and together with colleagues he established 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 Märt Vähi's leadership and initiative, the NGO Village of Hope was founded, and soon practical construction of the Village of Hope began, along with work with alcohol and drug addicts. As chairman of the board of the NGO Village of Hope, Märt Vähi directs the rehabilitation center's activities and development, and as bishop emeritus of EKNK he leads the EKNK Village of Hope Congregation. Märt Vähi is also one of the founders of the NGO Village of Hope Rescue Society. Märt Vähi's work has received many recognitions in the field of social work. In February 2014, the President of the Republic of Estonia honored Bishop Vähi with the Order of the Red Cross, 3rd Class. Together with his son Andrew Vähi, Märt began establishing and developing the Village of Hope in Canada in 2006, where the first houses have now been built and the first men are going through the program. Alta has been her husband's faithful companion throughout life. She also serves continuously at the Village of Hope, showing great love, care and attentiveness. In her quiet way, Alta always takes part in welcoming and hosting guests, in catering, in worship services, in organizing events, and in teaching young people. The doors of the Vähi home are always open to guests.

Raiman Kukk came to the Village of Hope program seeking help in 2012, by which time he had 10 years of drug addiction experience. Raiman's life changed radically and a desire arose in him to help others struggling with addiction. In 2014 Raiman graduated from the Baltic School of Ministry Bible school in Latvia. Raiman stayed on to study in the Village of Hope serving leader program, which he successfully completed in 2015. Since 2017 Raiman worked at the Village of Hope as deputy CEO. In 2018 Raiman was ordained as a deacon in the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church. Between 2017 and 2019 Raiman expanded his knowledge at the Tallinn School of Economics, studying as a project manager assistant. Since May 2018, Raiman Kukk has been the CEO of the Village of Hope. In 2020 Raiman Kukk was ordained as a pastor in the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church. Completed training:

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

Marilin Kukk – married Raiman in 2016. Marilin studied for two years at the Hillsong Bible school in Australia. Marilin also worked for 5 years as the assistant to the church leader of the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church. In 2018, Raiman and Marilin's son Harman was born. In 2022 their little daughter Harriet was born. Marilin is a support and help to her husband and together they continue developing the Village of Hope.

Roman came to the Village of Hope program in 2003 with drug addiction. He successfully completed the program in 2004 and stayed on to study in the serving leader program, which he graduated from in 2005. Roman decided to continue serving at the Village of Hope to help alcoholics and drug addicts overcome addiction and support them in returning to society. In 2008 Roman further developed his knowledge in Moscow at a rehabilitation seminar of the internationally recognized addictologist Michael Dye. In 2009 he graduated from the EKNK Deacon School and the same year was ordained as a deacon of EKNK. In 2016 Roman was ordained as pastor of the EKNK Village of Hope congregation. Since 2021 Roman Lunjov has been the dean of the EKNK Russian Deanery. Roman is a founding member and board member of the NGO Village of Hope Rescue Society. Over the years, Roman has grown and developed together with the team, taking responsibility for various areas. As program manager, his main responsibility is leading the Village of Hope center. Roman and Olga Lunjov got married on June 30, 2007. She completed a master's degree at Tallinn University, where she earned a mathematics teacher qualification. After marrying and graduating from university, Olga started working as a secretary at the Village of Hope. Roman and Olga's family is raising three sons.

Reijo Orav arrived at the Village of Hope in 2018. He is a former alcoholic and drug addict with over 23 years of experience. Reijo's life changed radically and after that he has a desire to help other addicts. Reijo Orav has knowledge and experience working with substance addicts and prisoners. He is professional in his methods. Reijo Orav has worked at the office of the NGO Village of Hope since 2020, resolving everyday social field questions of those in service and preparing necessary documents. Reijo Orav has also completed debt counseling training and can provide initial advice on resolving debts.

• 2024 – TBRI – Trust-Based Relational Intervention training
• 2023 - Restorative justice conflict resolution training
• 2022 – AART – Aggression Replacement Training instructor training
• 2021 – Debt counseling training
• 2020 – Unemployment Insurance Fund computer training in Excel, Word and Powerpoint basics.

Hele Orav married Reijo in 2024 and they live together at the Village of Hope. Hele's heart is also to help those in need, and together they serve and help people in various congregations and camps across Estonia.

Arvi Raid came to the Village of Hope program in 2014 to get help overcoming drug addiction. He successfully completed the program in 2015 and afterwards had to serve 7 months in a Finnish prison for crimes from his former life. Arvi's outlook on life had changed so much that, upon being freed, he returned directly to Estonia, to the Village of Hope, with the aim of helping other addicts. In 2017 Arvi studied for half a year at the Village of Hope Canada center under the guidance of Village of Hope co-founder Andrew Vähi. In early 2018 Arvi returned from Canada and began directing the Village of Hope Keila center, where he helped people who had completed the program safely integrate into society. Since 2020 Arvi Raid has been the administrative manager of the Village of Hope. Arvi's daily tasks also include teaching lessons, counseling, supervising work practice, and being an example with his own life to those in the program. In 2024 Arvi Raid was ordained as a deacon of EKNK Village of Hope. Since 2015 he has been visiting Estonian schools and giving alcohol and drug prevention lectures to young people. Arvi Raid is in constant contact with young offenders and addicts, is a support person for them, and regularly visits Estonian prisons.  

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

Margot Raid arrived at the Village of Hope program in 2020. Margot got her life in order and became a Village of Hope employee. In 2022 Arvi and Margot got married. Arvi and Margot are raising two children, Armand and Armin. Margot also helps women at the Village of Hope every day and supports her husband in helping addicts.

Jaroslav came to the Village of Hope in 2012 to get help overcoming his drug addiction. His drug addiction experience was 17 years. He successfully completed the rehabilitation program and continued in the Village of Hope training program, which is intended for people who want to dedicate their lives to serving others. Jaroslav completed the training program in 2014 and decided to stay working and serving at the Village of Hope to help those who need help, as he once needed. As industry manager, Jaroslav's responsibility is to organize the work in industry, help the men learn to work, and to develop in them consistent, responsible and safe work habits. Jaroslav is also one of the rescuers of the Village of Hope Rescue Society.

• 2024 – Driving licenses AM, B, BE, C, CE, T categories
• 2024 – Emergency vehicle training
• 2018 – Motivational interviewing training
• 2015 – Volunteer rescuer training, levels 1-2
• 2015 - C-category driving license

  Jelena Dudtšenko – Jaroslav's wife – has been at Jaroslav's side for years and supported him through good and bad. Jelena works at a service company in Laulasmaa and is a member of the EKNK Village of Hope congregation.

Olga Lunjova Roman and Olga Lunjov got married on June 30, 2007. She completed a master's degree at Tallinn University, where she earned a mathematics teacher qualification. After marrying and graduating from university, Olga started working as a secretary at the Village of Hope. Roman and Olga's family is raising three sons. Olga also handles financial accounting and translation.

Tani Roos and Einike Pähn-Roos – full-time volunteers Tani Roos is a long-time friend of Märt Vähi, with whom in the 1970s he transported Bibles into Estonia and the then USSR countries. In 2012 Tani came for the first time to help install floor heating in one half-finished Village of Hope residence. From this developed a common work and calling, and Tani, with his previous construction experience, is a great help in developing the Village of Hope. In 2014 Tani married Einike and they live together at the Village of Hope. Einike has had an important role in starting the Village of Hope women's work. Tani and Einike help and serve as full-time volunteers at the Village of Hope.