11-year-old Mai Ringo silences audience at charity concert in Jõhvi military base

The 15th annual charity concert 'Songs for a Soldier' took place at the Estonian Defence Forces' Jõhvi garrison on Wednesday. The heartfelt event supports 81 children whose parent was killed or seriously injured in military service. Young performer Mai Ringo, aged 11, moved the audience to thoughtful silence.

The Estonian Defence Forces' Jõhvi garrison hosted the 15th edition of the charity concert 'Songs for a Soldier' on Wednesday, bringing together gratitude, memory, and hope in a deeply moving evening dedicated to the families behind military sacrifice.

The concert is organised in support of 81 children whose parent has either fallen or sustained serious injuries while fulfilling their service duties. The event has grown over its fifteen years into one of the most emotionally charged charitable gatherings in the Ida-Virumaa region.

Among the performers who left a lasting impression was 11-year-old Mai Ringo, whose performance brought the audience to a moment of contemplative silence, a rare and powerful response that spoke volumes about the weight of the evening's message.

The concert wove together themes of gratitude for those whose courage has helped protect Estonia, and solidarity with the families who bear the heaviest personal cost of that service. Organisers emphasised that the support provided through the event goes directly to the children and families of fallen and wounded soldiers.

Now in its fifteenth year, 'Songs for a Soldier' has become a cherished tradition at the Jõhvi garrison, reflecting the close bond between the Estonian military community and the civilians who stand behind it.