2024

Annika Tonurist

Our very first prize winner Annika Tõnurist has overcome tremendous personal challenges endemic among those raising up out of occupation into the newly freed Estonia of the 1990s. She is a teacher in rural Estonia South of Tartu. A place where she not only has been recognised as teacher of the year for her inspiration but where she helps lead the Estonian Defense Forces Home Daughters volunteer initiative to ensure Estonia never again faces the horrors of its past. She mentors new young teachers facing the struggles characteristic of the profession to see the brightness they may bring to the world. 

 Annika's two daughters nominated her, lifted their dream lifter, brought her incredibly moving and high-impact story of an unsung hero in Estonia's heartland to us all. 

Annika is a true Dream Lifter, the first Pamela Luise Dream Lifter Prize winner. Help us find the next in 2025. It up to us all to raise the stories of those who raised ours and be their hero.

"It is a tremendous honor to be selected a dream lifter – especially following Pamela Luise’s footprint, who inspired countless people globally and whose outstanding life made an actual difference.

In today’s society, filled with endless challenges to face and decisions to make, it is upon every individual to choose if and how they can contribute to positively impact as many lives as possible. And this is what being a dream lifter means to me: waking up every morning and making a conscious decision to find opportunities that empower, encourage, lift, and bring hope to the most hopeless situations."- commented Annika Tõnurist