Since the spring of 2022, the Education Development Centre (EDC) has been actively engaging in supporting the Ukrainian civilians, their family members and youth by organising various activities for the acquisition of Latvian language. By attracting various funds, in 2022, approximately 350 Ukrainian civilians were provided with the opportunity to learn Latvian, including adults, students and youth. The project “To live in Latvia 2023” (No. 2023.LV/UKR_KO/05) provides various educational activities for the Ukrainian civilians in 2023. Within the framework of the project, opportunities will be provided to look into and become acquainted with various topics required for a better life in Latvia (history, culture and values of Latvia; public administration and rule of law, education, society and daily life, participation in the activities of local community etc.), as well as to get acquainted in practice with the cultural life of Latvia and provide support for the Ukrainian students in the schools of Latvia.
Goal of the project is to implement the cultural orientation courses and measures that could facilitate integration of the Ukrainian civilians in Latvia and enhance cooperation with the local community.
During the period from August to the end of December 2023, more than 365 participants engaged in the project activities. The Ukrainian civilians passed cultural orientation courses including both acquisition of programme and on-site and remote consultations. Acquisition of the content in practice is provided through the measures of cultural history, such as cultural and arts events, excursions and cultural cafes for the Ukrainian civilians and their family members together with the local residents.
Significant part of the project is work with the Ukrainian students attending schools in Latvia. We offered them to participate in the adaptation measures together with local students upon commencement of the school year and provided consultations during the first months of the school year to assist their studies, mainly for the improvement of the official language skills.
The event is financially supported by the Society Integration Foundation assigning the funds of the state budget of Latvia.
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01/12/2023
During this project the Ukrainian civilians and their families together with the local community could attend and discuss various cultural events. The visitors point out that they would like to attend theatre more frequently to get acquainted with the culture and have a slight relax from the daily care and concern:
- On 4.11.2023, together we went to the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and attended the Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre to watch the show “Ar balles kurpēm Sibīrijas sniegos” (With Ball Shoes in Siberian Snows),
- On 3.12.2023, we attended the show “Spēlēju, dancoju” (Played, danced) in the National Theatre.
- On 6.11.2023, we attended the show “Smiļģis” in the Dailes Theatre.
- On 7.12.2023, we attended the show “Mātes piens” (Mother’s milk) in the Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre.
- On 16 and 17.12.2023, families with children were very happy to apply for attending the Christmas show “Sudraba slidas” (Silver skates) in the National Theatre.
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13/11/2023
During the week of the national celebration in November, the cultural cafe "Destinies of the residents of Latvia in the 20th century. Fight for the freedom of Latvia" and excursion to the Garden of Destiny (Likteņdārzs) were organised.
On 11 November at the cultural cafe, participants – Ukrainian civilians together with the residents of Latvia got acquainted with the events related to the Latvia’s way to freedom by the narrative of the historian, Mag. Hist. Milana Drugoveiko, then watched movie "Dvēseļu putenis" (Blizzard of Souls), discussed their impressions about the film and, having enjoyed tea and snacks, went to the 11. novembra krastmala to commemorate freedom fighters of Latvia. During the event, it was possible to relate events dating back more than a century to the modern traditions of celebration of the independence of Latvia. The event was supplemented by the emotional story about the destinies of residents as included in the feature film “Blizzard of Souls”.
On 12 November we went on excursion to Koknese to attend the Light Show "Lāčplēsis" (Bear Slayer) at the Garden of Destiny. On our way to the event, we stopped to taste the delicious Skrīveri candies “Gotiņa”, as well as, prior to the story of the Bear Slayer, walked at the Koknese castle ruins. The story surrounded us in the dark territory of the garden and led us through the events of the epos and real paths and objects in the garden.
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28/09/2023
In September and October, Ukrainian civilians and their family members went on an exploration trip outside Riga – to Kuldīga and Sigulda. Interest in these days of excursions was huge, and the events provided opportunities to look back at the history, the most interesting points of interest and stories about people, as well as to participate in practical workshops. After these excursions, the EDC received a huge number of appreciations, praises for organisation of excursions, as well as expressed wishes to participate in new excursions in the future: “Latvia is a very beautiful, neat and hospitable country.”, “Thanks to Latvia and all the residents of Latvia for their support and goodness!”, “I wish to find out more about the cities and history of Latvia together with you”, “Of course, I would like to see more places and attend various cities”.
Fotos from Kuldiga
Fotos from Sigulda
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04/09/2023
We launch the project with adaptation events for schools in Latvia, aimed especially at the youth of Ukraine at the end of August 2023. One of the project tasks was to involve and support Ukrainian students and youth attending Latvian schools. Therefore, a few days before the school year starts we organised entertainingly educating activities for the Latvian and Ukrainian students. Together they attended the RTU Centre of Inquisitiveness “Futurimo”, Riga Circus and watched classes and the Riga Circus School, as well as participated in the interactive classes and conversations at the Education Development Centre about the education and schools in Latvia and the specific characters of Latvian language. In September and October, we continued cooperation with youth and invited them to weekly consultations-classes on the EDC premises. These consultations-classes were organised according to the needs and questions of the students.
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