Common language is one of the crucial prerequisites for a person’s well-being, professional growth and integration into society in general; therefore, participants of the project were offered to learn Latvian and develop their colloquial language skills. Studies were also presented as e-courses – in the Moodle environment, which will be available to participants after the project as well, in order to continue improving their proficiency of Latvian.
In order to provide support to the target audience of the project, the society’s volunteers were involved in the activities as well. Within the framework of the project, several motivation-boosting seminars were held for them, aimed at shaping the understanding of voluntary work. Volunteers included both Latvians and third-country nationals.
Every week, women and children from both third countries and Latvia actively participated in creative workshops for children and parents, as well as in the self-help group “For Each Other” by engaging in interactive activities.
Third-country nationals – seniors were also involved in integration activities of the project; together with Riga Alliance of Active Seniors (RASA) they participated in joint integrative activities that promoted unity, integration into society and support for both the direct target group of the project and Latvian seniors.
In order to ensure integration activities of third-country nationals prior to their arrival in Latvia, within the framework of the project, special interviews named “NGO TV for Integration” were organized with third-country nationals from Moldova, Uzbekistan, Russia, Chile, Brazil, Nigeria, USA, etc., who have been staying in Latvia for a certain time already. Whereas, the special television series “Man ir..” (I have..) broadcasted by LTV7 allowed each and every one interested to get acquainted with real life stories about the achievements of third-country nationals in Latvia. Recorded broadcasts can be viewed on the society’s home page at http://patverums-dm.lv/lv/video-galerijas.
Within the framework of the project, “Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS” supplemented the online resource www.dzivotlatvija.lv, in order to provide immigrants with all the information they might need about rights, obligations and possibilities in Latvia. By visiting this site, everyone has a chance to find out about crucial needs of third-country nationals (family, employees, students, and entrepreneurs), including participation possibilities that promote participation of this target group in the integration process. It is recommended to get acquainted with the information placed on the home page prior to arriving in Latvia.
In order to shape society’s understanding of immigration and integration of third-country nationals, as well as to promote qualitative dialogue on this topic, special discussions concerning topical integration and immigration issues – Citizens’ Debates – were held. Within the framework thereof, suggestions were developed on how to facilitate the employment of immigrants in certain fields, improve their social security and provide all immigrants with compulsory integration courses when starting living in Latvia. The results of the debates will be used in the development of the concept of the Immigration Policy, which is planned to be done by the Latvian government by this autumn.
“By implementing this project, we supported the people who had come to our country and who need help in integrating into Latvian society. Since practitioners of the field have been involved in the organization’s team for seven years already, during this time, we have identified and offered solutions for problems that are the most crucial for immigrants by providing legal consultations and offering extensive integration courses. In the course of the project, all participants of the activities met each other during three great “Riču Raču” events in the cities of three different regions, where they found new friends from other regions. These were not only useful but also highly emotional events, which allowed people to feel their belonging to Latvia. Despite that the project will end on June 30, we invite to follow the announced free integration courses on our home page www.patverums-dm.lv, since it is a possibility for everyone to be active both in his/her private life and in integrating into Latvian society in general,” as pointed out by Sandra Zalcmane, head of the society “Shelter “Safe House””.
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 the society “Shelter “Safe House””.