Throughout the day on 26 March, within the project “Support Measures for Persons under International Protection III”, participants from Afghanistan, Belarus, Ukraine, Iran, Turkey, Latvia, Columbia and Russia learned about the Latvian Cultural Cannon “Visual Art”!
The chilly Saturday morning started with the persons under international protection making their way to the Latvian National Museum of Art together. Some of the participants came by foot, some of them arrived as far as from Purvciems, Mucenieki, Ķengarags and even Ikšķile, but they were united by one goal – an opportunity to meet and to gain new impressions and inspiration.
An inquiring excursion through the museum was followed by the next stop point, while exploring new scenery of Riga along the way: Ķīpsala, Daugava from a different viewpoint, Dzegužkalns park, Spilve Airport. When the bus had already reached Bolderāja, a question was asked: “Are we still in Riga?” We drove past the Daugavgrīvas fortress. Then the Pauls Jaunzems stone sculpture park appeared before eyes of the participants. Fairly significantly, the artist himself has described one of the sculptures “Meditation about roots” – “...I think a lot about the thousands of people who have been uprooted from their homeland and try to set roots elsewhere in the world,” very precisely also portraying the feelings of our participants today, as they start their life in Latvia.
Upon our return to Riga, we visited the creative association for youth “Trepes” where its manager Ramona Liepiņa introduced everyone present with this building’s history and opportunities of voluntary work at various organisations. Also people who currently have the status of an asylum seeker were encouraged to get involved. Involvement would facilitate learning about the local community, help socialise, engage in projects and gain new knowledge.
The attendees listened with deep interest to a young refugee man and a refugee family from Turkey telling inspiring stories of their experience, how they arrived at Latvia, started a new life here, started a business and sharing experience-based suggestions to those who have just recently reached Latvia.
A high number of gathered participants from Afghanistan were taken by surprise. The special traditional Afghan dish kabuli pulao was ordered at “Hot kebabs” – one of the few places in Latvia offering halal food. It is especially important that people from Afghanistan who received refugee status several years ago are employed here.
The closing activity of this day was spent in the premises of the Artists’ Union of Latvia where participants had the opportunity to take part in a creative workshop, creating doves together with the artist Sandra Sabīne Jaundāldere, and to leisurely enjoy the bright artistic work exhibition.
In the end of the event, the participants acknowledged the importance of togetherness, inclusion and being an equal person. For some this was the first time visiting a museum, for some others – the first time going sight-seeing in Riga. Everyone went home filled with inspiration!
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
