Among the volunteers of Open House Tallinn are many versatile people, including HR specialist Pamela Raestu. What are her memories and why did she decide to become a volunteer – read more below.
How long have you been a volunteer at Open House Tallinn?
I was a guide in 2023 and 2024 – the first year at the Maritime Academy and the second year at Salme Cultural Center. I had always been a visitor at OHT, but since I enjoy architectural history, I decided to challenge myself.
Why was it important for you to volunteer at OHT and what has it given you?
For me, volunteering at OHT is important because the experience challenges me in a positive way every time. Unexpected situations often come up, but at the same time I always hear wonderful stories from visitors – that adds so much value.
Can you share a memorable story or experience from OHT?
My most memorable experience is from 2023, when it turned out that the guide who was supposed to lead the first three tours of the day got sick. I had to cover the Estonian-language tours, but I also opened Google Translate and adapted my notes into English. For the Russian-language tour, I had the help of two assistants who did simultaneous translation. Even though it wasn’t the smoothest situation, we still managed to make the tour happen. Leading six tours in a row and telling the same story in both Estonian and English was quite exhausting by the end of the day. But I managed – and now it’s just a nice memory 🙂
What do you value most in architecture?
I especially like older buildings, particularly those built in the first half of the 20th century. Since I live in Kopli, in addition to being able to introduce visitors to the sites of North Tallinn, I have also learned a lot myself. I really enjoy getting to know my own neighborhood, and the history of Kopli and its buildings is truly fascinating.
Open House Tallinn will take place on October 11 and 12, 2025. Join as volunteer here.
