Sister City: Narva, Estonia

On April 2, 2014, The Town of Bel Air and the city of Narva, Estonia joined virtually to sign a sister city agreement. Narva is a town of 54,300 residents, and it is located on the eastern border of Estonia.

81957489-republic-of-estonia-vector-map

A sister city agreement is a formal partnership between two cities, often from different countries, designed to promote cultural, economic, and social ties. These partnerships aim to foster mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation through a variety of exchanges and projects, including educational programs, business partnerships, tourism, and cultural exchanges. The goal is to build long-term relationships that can benefit both cities in areas like trade, technology, and the arts.

Sister city agreement file-2 v2 (002)

The Maryland / Estonia Partnership

In 1992, the U.S. National Guard created a State Partnership Program to develop relations with the countries that regained independence after Soviet occupation. In 1993, Estonia was partnered with the Maryland National Guard, which added a civilian component to foster people-to-people exchanges. As a result, many Estonian towns have sister cities in Maryland.

Document (1)

In 2003, the Maryland-Estonia Exchange Council, Inc. (MEEC) was formed with a mission of advancing the friendship of Maryland and Estonia by providing opportunities for partnerships that enhance cultural exchanges and strengthen political, economic, and educational bonds.

Celebrating Ten Years

Cultural, educational, medical and political exchanges have been ongoing between Bel Air and Narva since the virtual signing of our sister city agreement in 2014. Over the last 10 years, Bel Air and Narva have celebrated a meaningful and rich history of friendship and cooperation. To commemorate the success of the partnership, in April 2024, Bel Air and Narva celebrated the 10th anniversary of the signing of their sister city agreement with a proclamation presented to the Vice President of MEEC, Barbara Tower. 

Narva Proclamation 2024Town Commissioners Jakob Taylor, Mary Chance, Paula Etting, MEEC Senior Vice President Barbara Tower, Town Commissioners, James Rutledge III, Steven Chizmar

Bel Air / Narva Initiatives

Harford Community College nursing students teach HIV prevention to high school students in Estonia

In 2017, a group of nursing students from Harford Community College (HCC) along with a contingency of nurses from the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center traveled to Narva, Estonia to provide HIV prevention education to high school students. Over the course of five days, the HCC nursing students taught at least 625 10th, 11th, and 12th graders HIV and AIDS prevention. 

Articled published in The Aegis January 11,2018

High school students in Narva, Estonia, listen to Harford Community College students about the imporHigh school students in Narva, Estonia, listen to Harford Community College students about the importance of safe sex in preventing the spread of HIV. (Courtesy photo/Tina Zimmerman)

"Relationships" International Art Exhibit at the Liriodendron Mansion

Celebrating decades of partnership between Maryland and Estonia, The Liriodendron Mansion hosted its first ever international art exhibit from September 16 through November 4, 2018. The exhibit, titled "Relationships," featured Estonian paintings, drawings, sculpture and textiles that reflect the country's rich cultural heritage and modern life shaped by foreign rule and decades behind the Iron Curtain. The Liriodendron also celebrated the culture of Estonia throughout the "Relationships" exhibit with a traditional Estonian music and dance performance, a lecture on Maryland and Estonia's evolving friendship, and screenings of two documentary films, The Singing Revolution (2006) and To Breathe as One (2009).

 Liriodendron Celebrates Maryland Estonia Partnership with First International Art Exhibit

  relationships exhibit liriodendron 1relationships exhibit liriodendron 

Children's Digital Art Exchanges

The Bel Air Branch of the Harford County Public Library and libraries in Narva created connections with children's digital art exchanges, "Acts of Kindness" (January 2019) and "Spring in Our Town" (May 2024). Children and teens in Narva, Estonia and Harford County exchanged artwork digitally to foster friendship and advance goodwill across cultures and countries.

441548098_847066177454065_6338039689631698966_n442410319_847066427454040_485043355365364253_n441953197_847066410787375_4279162043042931498_nThe digital children's art exchange, "Spring in Our Town," celebrated springtime in Bel Air and Narva.

Additional Information

Narva Days Proclamation, 2015

Maryland enacts cooperative partnership with Estonia 

30 Year Celebration Maryland-Estonia: State Partnership Program

Two Mary's Lands Separated by an Ocean

Bel Air signs agreement with first sister city - Narva, Estonia Published in The Baltimore Sun April 3, 2014 (updated May 31, 2019)

Bel Air officials proclaim June 4 "Narva Days" in recognition of sister city's festival Published in The Baltimore Sun June 3, 2015 (updated May 31, 2019)

Narva, Estonia mayor and deputy mayor visit sister city of Bel Air Published in The Baltimore Sun May 17, 2017 (updated June 1, 2019)

Embracing Estonia's singing revolution Published in The Seattle Times January 30, 2018

EstoniaEstonians enjoy a collective culture - and that includes sharing food and drink. (Rick StevesEstonians enjoy a collective culture - and that includes sharing food and drink. (Rick Steves, Rick Steves Europe)

Become a Citizen Diplomat for Bel Air

The Bel Air / Narva Partnership needs more citizen diplomats to support current and future initiatives with the city of Narva in: Health, Education, Cultural Exchange, and Workforce Development. 

For more information or to become a citizen diplomat for the Bel Air / Narva Partnership, email Barbara Tower at BTower@ccbcmd.edu.

Narva