On November 11, the 26th integration training group of the project “Support Activities for Persons Under International Protection III” completed by participating in final lectures, including those devoted to Latvian traditions and public holidays, led by the lecturer and the organiser of intercultural communication activities Ramona Liepiņa. Persons under international protection from Russia, Belarus, Syria and Azerbaijan engaged in the lesson with great interest and passion, they asked questions because they saw a lot of similarities between traditions of our countries, so they shared how the festival was celebrated in their cultures. R.Liepiņa admits that culture and traditions could be discussed all day long, because there are so many important aspects that are important to tell, show and compare with the cultures from which they come.
It is always very interesting for everyone to know that name days are celebrated in Latvia, then this time we found a day in the calendar, when they can celebrate their name day, for almost every member of the course, for example, Maria, Christian, Boris, Vladislav, Victoria, Maxime, Irina, Elena, etc.
After the lesson, everyone was invited to participate in the November 11th event of the Information Centre for Newcomers to jointly learn the nature of the day and create a Latvian map from lighted candles in the courtyard. Then all the members of the group together with the lecturer R.Liepina went to put flowers together at the Freedom Monument and to light candles on the quay, thinking both about Latvia and about peace for everyone in their country.
As the members of the group from Syria acknowledged, they would always remember this day because they themselves would not have come to the quay, so they were delighted that on this day there was an integration course and, together with the group and the translator, they had this opportunity to experience and feel the Latvian community and patriotism.
Support Actions for Persons Under International Protection III project is implemented with the support of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and is co-financed by the European Union. Grant agreement No. PMIF/9/2020/3/02