Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3

Extensive Project for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals in Latvia Has Come To a Close

30.06.2015. According to society “Shelter “Safe House”” and Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS, June 30 marks the end of the project for the integration of third-country nationals Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3 launched on November 28, 2014 and supported by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals. It was aimed at developing diverse support, adaptation, and integration opportunities available to third-country nationals* as well as motivating the target group to engage in social processes. According to representatives of the society, information about integration matters published on the website www.patverums-dm.lv was viewed by over 14 000 people.

The following activities were organized under the project in order to improve the opportunities to learn and practise Latvian, ensure accessibility of social support and establish social contacts:

Latvian language course for various language skill levels as well as an opportunity to take the state language exam in 6 towns across Latvia – Aluksne, Balvi, Liepaja, Stopini, Olaine, and Riga.

For the purpose of reducing the psychological language barrier of participants the said towns also hosted Latvian conversational language clubs where the participants were given a chance to develop their language skills and go on various trips to get to know Latvian culture, traditions, history, and heritage.

Creative Integration classes – support measures for vulnerable groups of third-country nationals as well as cooperation opportunities in volunteer work for international youth encouraged applying Latvian language skills in daily life and motivated to continue learning Latvian.

Within the framework of the said activities 2 volunteer trainings were organized and separate youth activities were initiated.

On Ricu Racu information day held on June 13 participants of all project activities gathered at the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia. The event was a chance for the participants to meet new people, tell about their region and present the guide Quest for Diversity compiled by them, receive project expert consultations on important issues as well as practise Latvian on trips and at various creative workshops.

Professional consultants helped find individual solutions for various daily, social or legal issues as well as orientate themselves in the resources available in Latvia. Consultations were mostly given on residential permits, employment, family reunion, inheritance issues.

Solutions for problem situations third-country nationals faced were shown on LNT channel as an 8 episode series Find Out Where to Find Out as well as at online TV NVOTV roundtable discussions. Accessibility of information was also ensured by the online resource www.dzivotlatvija.lv.

For the purpose of promoting development of NGOs of active immigrants a mentor programme was piloted to encourage engagement of third-country nationals. Third-country nationals and mentors of recently naturalized Latvian citizens were engaged in an activity organized by the Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS. They improved their leadership capacity, developed an initiative binding to their community and received the necessary support for its implementation. In order to facilitate social awareness of migrants in Latvia an online platform www.voiceofmigrants.eu was developed for the project target group to tell about themselves and their lives in Latvia.

NGO capacity and cooperation matters during the project were solved with the help of improving a Dialogue platform. Within the framework of this platform meeting NGOs active in the area of immigrant integration exchanged topical issues and needs of the third-country nationals as well as discussed the essential political instruments – planning EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund activities in Latvia, legislation and action policy affecting immigrant integration.

The project is co-financed by the European Union. Implementation of the project "Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3" is co-financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (75%) and state budget (25%). This publication is supported by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals. Responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the society “Shelter “Safe House””.

The Information day Riču Raču gathers more than 250 third-country nationals from six Latvian cities

25.06.2015. On June 13, the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum held the Information day Riču Raču organized by the associations Shelter “Safe House“ and Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS and intended for participants of the Latvian language courses and project activities – third-country nationals with their families from six Latvian cities, such as Olaine, Stopiņi, Alūksne, Balvi, Liepāja, and Rīga.

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In the framework of the event, participants had the opportunity to meet third-country nationals involved in activities of the other regions, tell about their region and present the roadmap Searching for Diversity that they had prepared, obtain advice from the project specialists regarding some topical questions, and practice the Latvian language by taking part in tours and various creative workshops.

Inese, Latvian language teacher from Alūksne, tells that participants of the course were diligent in studying Latvian during the entire project period, and today they are joyful because many of them have been able to surprise themselves with the results. „I wish for everyone to be as positive-minded as these people were while attending the course. It is one thing to study when you are forced to do so; it is quite another when you study out of your free will. People in our course were interested in the language and it was out of their free will that they came to study with us; that is very important".

Gunta Vīksne, Coordinator of the Project, adds: „To create and maintain people`s motivation for learning, we tried to be creative in teaching Latvian throughout the entire project period as this approach plays a crucial role in the language acquisition process. Additionally to the Latvian classes, various creative workshops and trips were organized on a regular basis where people could learn things of their interest as well as study and use the Latvian language in an informal and unconstrained atmosphere." She indicates that it was a pleasure to meet so many nice people from the whole of Latvia who had come to the Information day and are willing to integrate. „Events of this kind are very important also for us as project implementers because they depict the real situation – people are motivated and willing to integrate in the society.“

Visitors of the Information day, too, are generous with words of appreciations to the organizers. Sophie from Azerbaijan: „Thank you very much for the opportunity to learn the Latvian language and be here today. So many new impressions! Here, at the Open-Air Museum, one can genuinely feel the Latvian culture and history.“

Zinaīda: „My heart rejoices when people from so many nationalities gather together and enjoy themselves, motivate and encourage one another. That gives strength and inspiration for further studies. Thank you for the wonderful day!“

The project is co-financed by the European Union. Implementation of the project "Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3" is co-financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (75%) and state budget (25%). This publication is supported by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals. Responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the society “Shelter “Safe House””.

Closing Event of the Integration Project for Third-Country Nationals to be Held on June 29

15.06.2015. Society “Shelter “Safe House”” welcomes everyone to the closing event of the project Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3at 13:00, 29 June 2015, at the NVO building*, Laimdotas iela 42, Riga. Project results and future plans will be presented at the event. Project developers, sponsors, partners and the target audience of the project are welcome to attend the event.

The organization “Shelter “Safe House”” in association with its partner – Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS – have been implementing the support project Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3 aimed at developing and improving diverse support, adaptation, and integration opportunities available to third-country nationals as well as motivating the target group to engage in social processes since 28 November 2014. The project will be completed on 30 June 2015.

RSV by 14:00, June 25 by email to rasa.salina@gmail.com or over the phone by calling 22026355.

You are welcome to participate in the Informative Day "Riču Raču” on June 13!

In order to inform the third-country nationals residing in Latvia of the informative integration resources available to them, as well as to reveal the Latvian culture and traditions, the non-governmental organizations “Shelter “Safe House”” and “Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS” are organizing the Informative Day “Riču Raču” in the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia (Brīvības gatve 440, Riga) on June 13.

10:00 – 11:00 Arrival and registration

11:00 - 11:10 Opening of the Informative Day

11:10 – 12:20 Performances, greetings from the participants of the Informative Day

12:30 - 14:00 Guided tour around the museum

14:00 - 14:30 Consultations provided by "Shelter “Safe House"" specialists regarding the issues important for the third-country nationals. Creative workshops.

15:00 - 16:00 Creative workshops. Discussion/Exchange of views. Leaving for home.

Join us! :)

Contacts for media Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa), phone: 22026355, e-mail: rasa.salina@gmail.com

Web blog is being developed with the stories of migrants who live in Latvia

08.06.2015. The Project "Voice of Migrants" has been launched in collaboration with Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS and “Shelter “Safe House””, to raise awareness about migrants in Latvia.

The author of the project Alexey Anisimov from Russia who studies law in Riga considers that it is necessary to have a platform where migrants could tell their own stories about their lives in Latvia and is firmly convinced this could help to brake the existing prejudices towards migrants. This idea started on the basis of mentoring program organized by PROVIDUS while observing the discussions about migration issues, especially when it comes to the question about EU quotas for refugees.

The Project’s home page http://voiceofmigrants.eu will be launched on the 9^th of June. Migrants who live in Latvia legally for more than 1 year are invited to send their life stories, telling about how they came to Latvia and what it is like to live here, as well as to share their adventures and challenges. Video and photo format is welcomed, too.

More information about the technical details of the project can be found in Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/voiceofmigrants

E-mail for applying as a blogger vomvolunteer@gmail.com

The blog is created within Project „Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration – 3” (agreement No.IF/2013/1.a/1). The Project is implemented by Society “Shelter “Safe House”” in collaboration with Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS. The project is co-financed by the European Union. Implementation of the project "Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration – 3" is co-financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (75%) and state budget (25%). This publication is supported by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals. Responsibility for the content of this blog lies with Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS.

Second Volunteer Training Seminar has Taken Place

21.05.2015. To inform volunteers about the different opportunities, in which they (especially young people) can get involved, and useful ways of spending their free time, the second non-formal education training seminar “What to do when there is nothing to do?” was held in April as part of the project “Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3”. Training was conducted by Ginta Salmiņa, representative of the Baltic Regional Fund.

During the training, ideas were developed and specific recommendations were proposed for various ways of spending free time, or the time when young people are not in educational institutions and/or are unemployed, as well as various options and their benefits were analysed. Topics of “What to do when there is nothing to do?”: volunteering – at a local and European level; training and educational opportunities – in person and using on-line offers; youth internship and exchange opportunities; advantages and challenges of youth organizations and non-governmental organizations; starting your own business, particularly analysis of social business opportunities; project programmes and opportunities offered by them in the new planning period (2014-2020), especially reviewing the Erasmus+ programme.

“When working with young people on a daily basis, we plan our activities together and implement them during the project, like the musical evening at “Get Smart Cafe” that will take place on May 14. It is cool to see how we can believe in ourselves and celebrate the diversity of our society with seemingly simple tools, involving peers of various backgrounds. At the same time, it is very important to look at the work already done and consider other options. That is how ideas are born for an even wider and more interesting range of activities that can be carried out with limited resources,” said volunteering instructor Reinis Grāvītis. He notes that, during the various activities, participants of the said seminar acquire useful knowledge and, after training, they have the opportunity to become “ambassadors of volunteering and opportunities”, informing other people about the extensive opportunities that are available today.

Volunteers, including volunteers representing the direct target group of the project, are involved in all activities of the project “Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3”, allowing them to gain a lot of experience in various fields and increase the number of social contacts.

Third-Country Nationals Study Latvian Language and Get to Know Latvia

20.04.2015. To develop various support, adaptation and integration possibilities available to the third-country nationals*, as well as to increase the motivation of the target group to participate in social processes, the non-governmental organization “Shelter “Safe House””, by involving its collaboration partner the association "Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS", launched a support project “Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3", at the end of the last year which ends on 30 June this year.

More than a hundred and fifty third-country nationals are attending the Latvian language courses in six project implementation places – Riga, Olaine, Stopiņi, Liepāja, Alūksne, Balvi, there are two training groups of different proficiency level provided in every city and town. In total, there are 12 study groups.

To support the Latvian language learning activities at the local and regional level within the framework of the project, there are also integration programmes for practical use of the Latvian language provided, in which the third-country nationals involved in the project participate. There are 13 conversational clubs in the above mentioned cities and towns, 10 of them are in the regions. In Riga, the activity is offered for seniors and other vulnerable groups, as well as there is one group working with the foreign students – third-country nationals. During the classes, the participants get to know the culture, traditions, history of Latvia, its objects of cultural heritage; thereby community resources of local significance – museums, libraries, schools, culture centres – are involved, thus reducing psychological barrier to start speaking Latvian. Since the launch of the Project, the participants of Riga training course have attended the National Library of Latvia, the participants of Stopiņi Municipality training course visited Kr. Barons’ Memorial Museum, and the third-country nationals of Alūkne were involved in weaving Alūksne town anniversary belt.

There are also Integration classes offered to people of different age and nationalities within the framework of the project. In total, 58 integration classes – support activities – have been already organized, 30 of which were held in the regions, 28 classes were held in Riga for a specific target group – seniors and other vulnerable groups. There are approximately 80 third-country nationals involved in the Integration Programmes. The following activities are carried out within the framework of the Integration classes: creative activities of the programme “Diversity of the Latvian Cuisine” (Riga); creative activities – workshops of the programme “Stained Glass of My Life” (Riga); the programme of the socio-psychological support club "One for Another" (Riga); the programme of creative activities "Latvian Crafts" (Riga); integration activities in Stopiņi, Alūksne, and Balvi.

To provide support for the project target audience, volunteers of the association are also involved in the activities – both Latvians and third-country nationals; several motivation increasing seminars to raise awareness of volunteering have been held within the framework of the project.

To improve the availability of information on the services and rights available to third-country nationals in Latvia, individual help is provided to people before or after their entering into Latvia, offering specialist advice by telephone and e-mail, as well as meeting them personally. In four months, 40 third-country nationals used expert services, in total 77 consultations were provided. Lawyer G. Miruskina (G. Miruškina) points out that people were mostly interested in such topics as family reunion, employment, and inheritance issues.

With a purpose to reflect problem solutions topical for the third-country nationals and to provide an opportunity for the project target group to get acquainted with the information both before entering Latvia and when they are already in Latvia, special story cycle “Find out where to find out” is offered within the framework of the project. Similarly, access to the information about the services and the rights available to the target group is provided on the website www.dzivotlatvija.lv, as well as during the NVOTV round-table discussions on integration.

To promote active formation of immigrant social organizations, a mentor programme for facilitating participation has been prepared within the framework of the project involving mentors – third-country nationals. The aim of the said programme is to involve third-country nationals, recently naturalized Latvian citizens from immigrant families, as well as non-citizens to participate in civic activities, to create initiative groups and associations for identification and representation of the immigrant interests. It is planned that mentor pilot projects will be launched in the near future.

NGO capacity and collaboration issues are addressed during the project by the help of the Dialogue Platform. Two meetings have already been organized within the framework of the project where NGOs that are active in the field of immigrant integration shared current events of the field and the needs of third-country nationals, as well as discussed the most important policy tools – planning of the activities of the EU Asylum and Migration Fund in Latvia, legislation and policies influencing the integration of immigrants.

*Third-country nationals are all persons other than citizens of EU, EEA states or Swiss Confederation.

Non-formal education training "The ABC of volunteering"

16.03.2015. When? 21st March 2015 Where? Youth studio "BaMbuss", Brīvības gatve 204, Riga

Registration for seminar<<

The project is co-financed by the European Union. Implementation of the project "Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3" is co-financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (75%) and state budget (25%). This publication is supported by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals. Responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the society “Shelter “Safe House””.

Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS is launching a mentoring program

29.01.2015. Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS is launching a mentoring program for non-citizens, recently naturalised non-citizens and third country naturals permanently residing in Latvia. The aim of the training program is to develop leadership skills, to gain knowledge of project management and to enhance civic participation skills, so that the participants of the program can get then actively involved in social life of Latvia, vocalize their concerns and engage in advocacy for their rights as well as rights of the migrant and non-citizen communities.

Eligibility criteria:

Applicants should be working or studying in Latvia;
Experience in civic activism and/or volunteering is desired (but not essential);
We are interested in your motivation – letter of motivation has to be included in the application.

What do we offer to the participants?

An opportunity to develop leadership and mentoring skills;
An opportunity to gain project management skills;
New knowledge regarding participation opportunities and methods in Latvia;
To attain small stipend to cover the expenses of participants’ first initiatives in the field of third country nationals’ and non-citizens’ rights’ protection.

The seminars will begin in early February, taking place twice a week, in the evenings and will run for two months, following additional period of time for project implementation.

Where do I apply ?

Please send you CV and the letter of motivation to ilze.arnesta@providus.lv by the 3rd^th of February, 2015.

The event is organized within Project „Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3". The Project is implemented bySociety “Shelter “Safe House”” in collaboration with Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS.The project is co-financed by the European Union. Implementation of the project "Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 2" is co-financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals (75%) and state budget (25%). This publication is supported by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals. Responsibility for the content of this publication lies with Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS.

Third-Country Nationals Welcome to Take Part in Integration Courses and Activities in six Towns All Across Latvia

03.12.2014. In order to develop diverse support, adaptation, and integration opportunities available to third-country nationals* and to motivate the target group to engage in social processes in November 2014 NGO "Shelter "Safe House"" in association with its partner Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS launched a support project Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 3. Project period: November 28, 2014 - June 30, 2015.

Project activities include Latvian language courses in six towns across Latvia: Aluksne, Balvi, Liepaja, Olaine, Stopini, Riga at various language skill levels mostly for seniors, youth, international students – third-country nationals.

! Latvian language course schedule:

January 6 at 18:00, Liepaja, Liela iela 14;

January 7 at 17:30, Balvi, Brivibas iela 47;

January 8 at 18:00, Aluksne, Kanavinu iela 14;

January 9 at 18:00, Olaine, Stacijas iela 38a;

January 9 at18:00, Stopinu novada Sauriesi, Burtnieku iela 7;

January 13 at 17:30, Riga, Lacplesa iela 75-1;

For more information and to apply for project activities contact: Gunta Viksne (Gunta Vīksne), tel: (+371) 67898343, (+371) 25565098, email: drosa.maja@apollo.lv.

All the aforementioned towns will also host Latvian conversational language clubs that will introduce the target group to Latvian culture, traditions, history, landmarks through engaging community resources of local importance: museums, libraries, schools, cultural centres thus reducing the psychological barrier to speak Latvian.

Daily use of Latvian will be encouraged by the opportunity to engage in volunteer work as well as integration classes for people of various age groups and nationalities – support measures for socially vulnerable groups of third-country nationals. Creative workshops commenced in previous** integration projects – masterclasses will be continued in Riga while in Stopini, Aluksne, and Balvi project target groups will be made aware of the importance of such activities in establishing social contacts as the local socially vulnerable groups – seniors, people with disabilities, women, families with children will be engaged in order to improve availability of social support.

In order to improve accessibility of information on services available to third-country nationals and their rights in Latvia the project will provide individual assistance before or after arriving in Latvia through expert consultations over the phone, electronically and face to face.

Special series of stories Find out Where to Find out! will show solutions for problem situations often faced by third-country nationals by ensuring the project target group with access to the series when in Latvia as well as before arriving.

Accessibility of information on services available to third-country nationals and their rights will be ensured through the website www.dzivotlatvija.lv as well as via roundtable discussions on NVOTV for Integration on-line with the opportunity to ask question before the show as well as during the live broadcast.

Informative Day Ricu Racu (Riču Raču) will serve as an opportunity for the target group to not only meet third-country nationals engaged in activities in other regions by practising Latvian language skills and telling about their region but also be consulted by project staff-field experts, project consultants, project partner`s Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS experts on topical immigration issues.

In order to encourage shaping of public organizations of active immigrants we will kick-start a mentor programme to facilitate engagement of third-country nationals aimed at involving third-country nationals, recently naturalized Latvian citizens from immigrant families as well as aliens in civic activities, forming initiative groups and societies to explore and represent immigrant interests.

NGO capacity and cooperation matters will be resolved during the project through improving Dialogue platform. During Dialogue platform meetings NGOs active in the area of immigrant integration will share the latest developments of the area and needs of third-country nationals and discuss the most significant political instruments – planning activities of the EU Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants in Latvia, laws and action policy affecting immigrant integration. Meetings will also ensure engagement in discussions on matters discussed at the Consultative Board for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and Supervisory Board for the Implementation of Guidelines on National Identity, Civic Society, and Integration Policy.

Total project budget is EUR 169,939.12 of which EUR 127,454.34 are financed by the Fund and EUR 42,484.78 are state funded.

*Third-country nationals are all persons other than citizens of EU, EEA states or Swiss Confederation.

**The Project is a sequel to the integration projects for third-country nationals Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration and Diverse Solutions for Public Education and Integration 2 implemented in 2013 and 2014.

Foto galerijas