Large Family of the Year 2025: the Romantšuk family from Viljandimaa is raising four children

The title of Large Family of the Year and the €10,000 scholarship sponsored by Bigbank was awarded to the Romantšuk family, raising four children in the village of Pinska in Viljandi municipality. The winner was announced, and the prize handed over on Sunday during the Large Family Day held at Tallinn Zoo, which gathered over a thousand participants from across Estonia. For the second year in a row, the event was also supported by Lidl Estonia.

The mother of this year’s winning family, Eleri, works as a librarian at Heimtali Basic School, and the father, Rustam, is an entrepreneur and head of a computer and printer repair business in Viljandi. Their children are 16-year-old Lisandra, 14-year-old Raian, 9-year-old Renate, and 7-year-old Eleanora. According to Aage Õunap, President of the Estonian Association of Large Families, this year’s winning family is active and caring, and their impact extends well beyond their own home. They actively engage in community life, support other families, contribute to the development of children and youth, and participate in initiatives that make communal life better. Their lifestyle reflects a strong spirit of cooperation, a sense of responsibility, and a sincere desire to give back to society. This is a family that doesn’t ask what the community can do for them—but what they can do for the community.

Now in its 16th year, the Large Family of the Year competition received applications from 50 families with four or more children from all over Estonia. According to Aage Õunap, recognising and highlighting families is important and a tradition worth maintaining. “These families are a daily example of how love, unity and mutual support form a solid foundation for the future. Recognition provides emotional support and societal confirmation that their efforts are seen and appreciated,” said Õunap.

According to Jonna Pechter, Head of Bigbank Estonia, the bank supports the Estonian Association of Large Families and the Large Family of the Year competition as a cornerstone of Estonian life. She confirmed that large families deserve special recognition in society, as they show us all that it is possible to pursue your dreams while raising children – just more richly and with more children. “What I especially liked about this year’s winning family is their love for reading, sports and music. They value their family deeply while also contributing actively to their community,” commented Pechter on the jury’s decision.

The €10,000 scholarship awarded by Bigbank is intended to support the children’s hobbies and offer opportunities for learning and development. “I’m confident that in addition to the public recognition, the scholarship will be of real help and inspiration to the Romantšuk family in organising joint activities and helping their children pursue their dreams,” said Pechter.

Large Family Day was also supported by Lidl Estonia, who contributed with healthy snacks and an orienteering game. “Supporting large families is the only right choice for us, and we understand how important they are for the entire Estonian community. Since growing children need to eat healthily, the fruit provided by Lidl certainly went to the right place. Perekaart holders also receive discounts on selected products at Lidl, including fruit and vegetables, and on Large Family Day we truly see how many of these families there are in Estonia. We’re very pleased to be able to offer large families a truly wonderful day, enjoying the best of Lidl’s product range,” explained Lidl Estonia’s Communications Manager, Katrin Seppel.

The mother of the Large Family of the Year, Eleri, holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences (Organisational Communication) from the University of Tartu. She works as a school librarian and volunteers in children’s reading programmes (Lugemisisu, Kultuurikonksuke). Eleri is an active member of the boards of the NGO Viljandimaa Lasterikkad and JCI Viljandimaa, and also volunteers for the Estonian Coeliac Society. She loves reading and inspires others to do the same. In April 2024, she founded her own book club “Lasterikkad loevad” (“Large Families Read”). She has also appeared several times on the ETV talk show Ringvaade to talk about books and reading.

The father, Rustam, is an entrepreneur. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information and Communication Technology from the Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences and has also completed a teaching course at the University of Tartu. He worked for seven years as a teacher and IT manager at a school. Rustam is chairman of the local NGO Ehitaja AÜ and has played a key role in revitalising village life over the past decade. He is also a member of the Viljandi municipality's social committee. Since 2018, he has helped students in the IT field at Viljandi Vocational Training Centre complete their internships by mentoring and teaching them in his company, ArvutiParandus.

The family’s eldest daughter, Lisandra, studies at Viljandi Gymnasium and attends Viljandi Music School where she plays the piano. She has performed several organ concerts at Viljandi St. Paul’s Church and participated in various writing competitions, receiving special awards. Lisandra is talented in literature, arts/crafts, and music. The only son, Raian, is a dedicated and successful wrestler at the Tulevik Wrestling Club in Viljandi and won second place in the U15 41kg category at the 2025 Estonian Championships. Daughter Renate is a rhythmic gymnast who has competed in several Estonian Gymnastics Federation events across Estonia, including international competitions, and achieved high podium placements in tough competition. The youngest of the family, Eleanora, is a talented young singer who took 3rd place in the “Viljandi Municipality Song Child” competition in 2024.

All active and committed families with four or more children are welcome to participate in the annual Large Family of the Year competition. In selecting candidates and choosing the winner, the jury evaluates the family's values, with a strong focus on internal cooperation and functioning, community involvement, resilience, and balance in handling the challenges of everyday life.