The main activities of the Võro Institute are connected to the objective of supporting the preservation of the regional language and culture in contemporary society. Literature, media, cultural activities, recreation and schooling in the local language are needed today. Many challenges and questions arise when the language, which has been in oral use only until recently, is developed to meet modern pressures and demands. It is unrealistic to preserve a language when the modus vivendi of its use is unknown; it is impossible to use a language for literature or for media if it has not been studied sufficiently; it is not feasible to teach it at school without appropriate methodology and curricula, materials and trained teachers.

The Institute´s main activities include:

• linguistic studies

• sociological studies

• schooling

Practical needs motivate all of these research projects; they often lead us into areas that have not been studied yet or about which we lack knowledge. The results of our research projects guide not only our planning and decision-making, but also the decisions made at higher levels in government, they have been made available to others in both national and international academic series.

For an overview of the main activities of the Institute from 1998-2002, please see the Institute's "Self-Evaluation Report" (2003).