“As usual every month, also in December volunteers of the Information Centre for Newcomers (ICN) organised a joint meeting to share ideas, experienced emotions and accomplished works. However, this meeting was special, because we also planned, how to improve the voluntary work organisation system in the next year,” informs Ilze Norvaiša, the coordinator of volunteers, who had prepared a special voluntary work canvas for this meeting, which could be filled during the meeting with planned ideas of volunteers for the new year. She reveals that some of these initiatives are planned to be implemented already in January 2020. Ashinsa, a volunteer from Italy, would like to organise a drawing contest for youth and children, in the framework of which also an exhibition and voting for the best works could be organised. Jashan, a volunteer from India, who lives in Latvia already for three years, would like to organise an intercultural evening, during which national dishes of different countries are tasted.
“It`s great pleasure that our brainstorm of ideas turned into actual event scenarios and enthusiasm to work! It is very important, because our aim is to involve volunteers in all stages of each event, starting from the birth of idea. Volunteers have to be given an opportunity to implement their initiatives, because then events have a very high value added, whereas volunteers - motivation to continue!” emphasises I.Norvaiša. “Thoughts and proposals of volunteers are also useful in order to improve the organisational part of our work. During the meeting, we also discussed various digital tools, which may be used in the future during the planning and communication process”.
As stated by Khushi, a volunteer from India: “It is cool that we can not only plan activities together, but also participate in other processes and propose our ideas. I use many different mobile phone applications and internet resources daily; therefore, I would willingly help to introduce any of these assisting tools in the organisation of our work!”
The meeting of volunteers, which took place on 16 December, ended with many practical ideas, initiatives and actual plans, but most important - with motivation to do and get involved. If you also wish to participate in the organisation of events or implement your ideas, apply and see you in the new year 2020!
If you want to become a volunteer and get involved in ICP activities too, apply by writing to info@integration.lv! Volunteers plan their activities once a month. The goal of their meetings is to plan activities, volunteer initiatives and participation in cooperation activities for the next month.
The activity of the Information Centre for Newcomers within the framework of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund is ensured and developed by the NGO “Shelter “Safe House””. The centre is co-funded by the European Union. Grant Agreement No. PMIF/12/2017/2/01.