HEADLINES
2.7 million euros invested in societal integration Over the past three years 76 projects with funding to the value 2.7 million euros have been implemented as part of the EU PHARE 2002 grant programmes and administered by the Society Integration Foundation (SIF). The aim of the programmes was to support public initiatives which promote societal integration thus stimulating mutual understanding and cooperation among people of different nationalities living in Latvia. The Director of the SIF Secretariat, Nils Sakss, indicated that 38 projects encompassing civil participation and political integration, culture and education, and information and scientific support have been implemented as part of the PHARE 2002 grant programme Promotion of Societal Integration in Latvia. These projects were granted 1.6 million euros. During the programme, cooperation and dialogue between ethnic groups has been developed implementing cultural and educational activities. Also, studies on the integration of non-citizens and national minorities were carried out in order to better understand and analyse the problems of national minorities. Activities of the projects included the organising of 125 seminars, ten conferences, three festivals, five children's and youth camps, seven exhibitions, 27 concerts, two forums, creating three documentary films, carrying out two research projects, the publishing of seven books, 18 booklets and brochures, and also the establishing of twelve resident support centres and four internet websites. Mr Sakss considers that one of the most successful projects was Roma Child in School: You are Welcome. The project received funding of 90.7 thousand euros with the aim to stimulate the adaptation of Roma children to the general education system and the better integration of their families into society. The 38 projects of the second PHARE grant programme, Developing and Strengthening Civil Society in Latvia, were granted 1.1 million euros. During the implementation of this programme the society's understanding of its possibilities to participate in civil society initiatives was broadened, the working environment of NGOs was improved and valuable environment protection activities were implemented. Many activities organised under the second programme were similar to the activities of the first programme. In addition, there were two electronic forums, eight experience-exchange trips, and the development of an emergency social care team. About one hundred representatives of non-governmental organisations, local municipalities, educational establishments and other institutions from all regions of Latvia presented the results of their projects and conclusions at a conference. It is planned to summarise the projects and publish this information in a booklet that will be available in both Latvian and English languages. After the conference Mr Sakss concluded that the overall results of the programmes show that there are many organisations in Latvia which are willing to work actively in the field of societal integration and civil society. People are ready to devote their time to help their peers and to implement ideas which are important to society at large. LETA (20.12.2005) LETA (29.12.2005) Conference "Ukrainians in the Baltics" organised in Riga On 9 December 2005, the second international conference on Ukrainians in the Baltics was organised in Riga. The discussion concerning many significant issues connected with Ukrainians living outside their country was opened by Alexander Jurov, a representative of Ukraine, at the Latvian Academic Library. He outlined some historical and political aspects of the life of Ukrainians living in the Baltics and also spoke about Ukrainian education in general. Several reports were also presented in the meeting: Naturalisation of Ukrainians in Latvia: Problems and Solutions; Ukrainians in Latvia from the End of the 19th Century until 1945; Challenges for Ukrainians Living in the Baltics; Open Europe – Open Education (Latvia – Ukraine); Languages of the Ukrainians Living in Latvia; the V.Karazin National University (Harkov) and Latvia – in Latvian Academic Library Resources; Historical Aspects of Studies on Ukrainian Literature's Connection with Latvia; Culture in Emigration: The Phenomenon of Ukrainian Culture in Latvia; and Ukrainistics in Baltic State Archives. The conference continued on 10 December with discussions covering the following topic areas: Cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine in the Sphere of Science and Technology and Ukrainian Cultural Information Space in the Baltics; The Mission of Cultural Education Associations in Preservation of Cultural Traditions of Ukrainians in Latvia; and Ukrainians Living in the Baltics Today - Future Perspectives. The meeting was organised by the Latvian Ukrainian Society, in association with the Latvian Academic Library, the Ukrainian Information Centre, the Ukrainian Cultural Education Society in Latvia Dnipro, the Riga Ukrainian Secondary School, the Lithuanian Ukrainian Society, the Estonian Ukrainian Congress, the Society Ukraine-Latvia, the Baltic Russian Institute, the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, and the Embassy of Ukraine to Latvia. LETA (09.12.2005) National Minority Art Festival in Riga On 30 November 2005, the National Minority Art Festival Equal in Diversity 2005 organised by the Latvian Association of National Cultural Societies (LANCS) began in Riga. It started with a concert given by family groups in the LANCS hall. The festival featured a concert of national minority creative ensembles in the Ave Sol hall and a conference entitled Ideas of Ita Kazakevoca Today in the LANCS Great Hall. Guests from similar organisations in Estonia and Lithuania participated in this conference. An exhibition of paintings, We Live in Latvia – 2005, was opened to the public in the Great Hall, followed by a concert given by the winners of the ancient Russian romance contest at the Riga History and Navigation Museum. On 3 December, an event dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the poet Aleksandrs Bloks took place in the White Hall of the Riga Latvian Society House and a performance entitled National Colours of Romantic Music took place in the Golden Hall of the Riga Latvian Society House on 5 December. LETA (30.11.2005) Project "From Heart to Heart" devoted to Jewish culture and traditions in Latvia On 2 December 2005, a project From Heart to Heart was presented in the Riga Jewish Community Centre. The aims of the project were to promote a better understanding of Latvian Jewish culture and history, to stimulate dialogue between Jews and other nationalities, to increase the understanding of the Holocaust as a tragedy for all of Latvia and to promote mutual tolerance and respect. About thirty representatives of regional municipalities and schools, as well as state officials, cultural and educational workers and scientists participated in this project. As a continuation of this project, seminars for teachers and for workers from local municipalities will be organised until August 2006. Project activities will also include the establishment of memorials in the places of Jewish massacre during the Holocaust, the publication of books in Latvian about Jewish history and traditions, the organisation of exhibitions and Jewish culture days in various regions of Latvia. The Jewish Sabbath was then celebrated after the presentation of the project, a tradition which is several thousand years old. The project was supported by the European Union and Society Integration Foundation, and implemented by the Latvian Council of Jewish Parishes and Communities, the Riga Jewish Community Education Support Fund Milev el lev and the Latvian Jewish society Shamir. BNS (01.12.2005) For more information:
Newsletter "Societal Integration in Latvia: Towards Mutual Understanding and Cooperation" is a compilation of press releases and news reports drawn from the mass media and official sources. Not all of the views published reflect the official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
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