2022 – Projects in Latvia

Study Visit “Reality of Youth work”

European Association “World-Our Home” organized the Erasmus + Youth Worker Mobility Project – Study Visit “Reality of Youth Work” from September 2-8. The project was organized by the European Association “World-Our Home” employees Natālija Covvo, Dace Deksne and Jūlija Springe. 29 participants from 12 European and neighboring countries participated in the project – Latvia, Azerbaijan, Greece, Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Jordan, Israel, Portugal, Russia, Spain and Moldova.

The main goal of the project “Reality of Youth Work” was to present work with youth in Latvia, share experience with partners, improve work methods with young people and strengthen cooperation between the Program and Partner countries in the field of youth.

The purpose of the study visit was to learn about the reality of youth work in Latvia, in the Latgale region; improve youth work methods, learn about work with youth in cities and rural regions and compare them; promote partnerships between organizations from the program and partner countries; understand the impact of youth centers in the local community.

During the project, youth workers got to know the work with youth in Latvia, youth policy, methods. During the project, participants developed ideas for youth initiative projects, got to know the ideas of local youth initiative projects, met with local young people, members of Rēzekne City Council and Rēzekne district municipality, discussed issues related to youth work. The participants got to know the youth work of the city of Rēzekne, as well as the youth work of the Rēzekne district. Visits were organized to the city’s youth centers, as well as the regional youth center in Kaunata.

Within the framework of the project, we cooperated with the Eastern Latvian creative service center “Zeimuls”, Eleonora Ivanova, the youth affairs specialist of the Eastern Latvian creative service center “Zeimuls”, took part in the implementation of the project, we also thank the deputy chairman of the Rēzekne city Aleksejs Stecs, the deputy of the Rēzekne district council Guntis Rasims, the head of the education and sports department of the Rēzekne county council Guntars Skudra, the head of the Kaunata youth center Tamara Kablanova and the head of Kaunata Kultural hourse Lina Šlapakova.

Link for the Video:

https://youtu.be/zDwPW0HAzxA

Training course “Development of Creative and Critical skills of youth workers”

European Association “World-Our Home” implemented the Erasmus + project: Training course “Development of Creative and Critical skills of youth workers” which was organized from 14th – 21st May 2022 in Rezekne, Latvia.

European Association “World-Our Home” hosted 32 participants (youth workers) from 10 European countries from Turkey, Spain, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, Croatia, France, Slovakia and Latvia.

During the project participants developed the skills and competences necessary for working with young people as well as for personal and professional development.

During this training course participants were introduced to practical ways to promote creative and critical thinking and how to use them in a balanced, coordinated way with young people, to generate new ideas.

Project is financed by the European Commission, programme Erasmus + and Agency for International Programs for Youth.

Link for the Video:

https://youtu.be/flDRc6b4CKc

European Solidarity Corps project “Volunteering for development”

The volunteer from Turkey Bektas Gulcan worked in European Association "World-Our Home” as volunteer. He will work in European Association "World-Our Home” till July 2023. His duties are to work in the office, to create some new ideas for the projects, to help in writing the youth projects , to inform Rezekne society about traditions and culture of his country of origin, thus motivating for participation in various European youth exchanges and European Solidarity Corps programme. The volunteer helps in daily work of the staff, communication with partners via e-mail, organization of different events, help with “World-Our Home” home page.

The volunteer from Turkey Mert Yildirim worked in Social Department of the municipality of Rezekne from August 2022 till April 2023. The main tasks for the volunteer who worked in Social Department consisted of organizing creative activities in the Day center, language workshops, working in the Multifunctional center with young people with disabilities.

The European volunteers can make the Center's life more colourful, active and international.

The main motivation of the organization EA “World-Our Home” for implementation of volunteering activities is to promote solidarity between different generations, nations, cultures and religions, to contribute to strengthening democracy, citizenship in Europe and European cooperation.

The project objectives are the following: to give young people opportunities to learn new set of professional skills, gain experience in leadership, team building and communication, develop intercultural dialogue and cooperation between young people and local inhabitants for better employment opportunities in the future. Through this project we want to promote solidarity between nations, to integrate and unite the European volunteers and local young people, promoting European cultures, languages and European Solidarity Corps programme, as well as to make changes in young people's life and environment around them. The project has a great importance in social integration, promotion of motivation of young people from Latgale region to participate in European youth projects. In result of the project the partner organizations will gain new experience in cooperation with partners and implementation of a qualified project.

European Solidarity Corps project “Quality Label 1”

The volunteer from Ukraine Maria Pakhomova worked in Social Department of the municipality of Rezekne from May 2022 till May 2023. The volunteer from Georgia Miranda Dumbadze worked in Social Department of the municipality of Rezekne from December 2022 till December 2023. The volunteer from Turkey Mustafa Yasar worked in Social Department of the municipality of Rezekne from December 2022 till December 2023. The main tasks for the volunteer who worked in Social Department consisted of organizing creative activities in the Day center, language workshops, working in the Multifunctional center with young people with disabilities.

The main motivation of the organization Rezekne City Council Administration “Social Department” to participate in the European Solidarity Corps programme and implement of volunteering activities is to promote solidarity between different generations, nations, cultures and religions, to contribute to strengthening of democracy, citizenship in Europe and European cooperation as well to develop skills of all volunteers and people involved in the work of Social Department.

Through the volunteering activities we are able to provide intercultural learning opportunities for our local citizens, as well as for young people and pensioners, giving them a unique opportunity to learn about other countries’ customs and traditions, but at the same time sharing with the volunteers culture, traditions and customs of our nation that is different from many Western European countries.

The volunteer from Turkey Sukruye Yildiz worked in the Pre-School “Namiņš” in Rezekne, Latvia from December 2022 till December 2023. The volunteer from Turkey Badri Dgebuadze worked in the Pre-School “Namiņš” in Rezekne, Latvia from December 2022 till December 2023.

The main tasks for the volunteer in the kindergarten "Namiņš" consisted of assisting teachers during the workshops, support activities related to the meal serving, preparing the lessons and education tools together with teachers, talking to and playing with children, providing them with language lessons, organizing different music, dance, sport games and activities. The main motivation of the organization EA “World-Our Home” for implementation of volunteering activities is to promote solidarity between different generations, nations, cultures and religions, to contribute to strengthening democracy and citizenship in Europe and European cooperation.

The project objectives are the following: to give young people opportunities to learn new sets of professional skills, gain experience in leadership, team building and communication, develop intercultural dialogue and cooperation between young people and local inhabitants for better employment opportunities in the future. Through this project we want to promote solidarity between nations, to integrate and unite the European volunteers and local young people, promoting European cultures, languages and European Solidarity Corps programme, as well as to make changes in young people's life and environment around them. The project has a great importance in social integration, promotion of motivation of young people from Latgale region to participate in European youth projects. As a result of the project, the partner organization will gain a new experience in cooperation with partners and implementation of a qualified project.

Youth exchange project “Nature and Youth”

The European Association "World-Our Home"organized the Erasmus + exchange project "Nature and Youth" from July 6-15 2022. Project was implemented in the framework of the EA "World-Our Home" Erasmus + accreditation project Nr. 2022-1-LV02-KA151-YOU-000059732.

36 participants from 5 European countries participated in the project from Latvia, Portugal, Spain, North Macedonia and Lithuania.

The goal of the youth exchange project "Nature and Youth" is to promote the importance of a clean environment, the protection of the environment and nature, and the promotion of an environmentally friendly, healthy lifestyle. The main idea of ​​the project is to draw young people's attention to the connection between the environment, economy and society, to give an opportunity to pay more attention to ecological problems in European countries.

During the project, young people raised their understanding of nature, environment, culture, improved their commitment to environmental protection, animal rights, young people increased awareness of an active, environmentally friendly lifestyle, became aware of cultural and environmental differences between different countries, got to know local nature and culture.

The project program touched on a topic related to the environment every day - environment, recycling, ecotourism, animal protection, environmental pollution and its prevention.

EA "World-Our Home" organization and project participants also donated animal food to the Rēzekne animal shelter. Young people were active and donated food, thus showing their attitude towards animals and charity actions.

During the project, young people have learned a lot about the environment, ecology, ecotourism, animal protection, have made new friends from different European countries and of course also got to know the culture and traditions of other countries.

Thanks to the Agency for Youth International Programs in Latvia and the Erasmus + program for the opportunity to implement this project. The project was financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Commission.

Link for the Video:

https://youtu.be/H_Hi7uDXhQ4

https://youtu.be/dZtZu8voxIs&t=38s

Youth exchange project “Let`s go to the nature”

The European Association "World-Our Home" organized the Erasmus + exchange project "Let's go to the Nature" from June 6-15.

35 participants from 5 European countries participated in the project from Latvia, Poland, Italy, Estonia and Turkey.

The goal of the youth exchange project "Let's go to nature" is to promote the importance of a clean environment, the protection of the environment and nature, and the promotion of an environmentally friendly, healthy lifestyle. The main idea of ​​the project is to draw young people's attention to the connection between the environment, economy and society, to give an opportunity to pay more attention to ecological problems in European countries.

During the project, young people raised their understanding of nature, environment, culture, improved their commitment to environmental protection, animal rights, young people increased awareness of an active, environmentally friendly lifestyle, became aware of cultural and environmental differences between different countries, got to know local nature and culture.

The project program touched on a topic related to the environment every day - environment, recycling, ecotourism, animal protection, environmental pollution and its prevention.

We would like to say a big thank you to the representatives of SIA ALAAS, Edite Čepule and Jurij Petkevičs, who organized an environmental education activity for young people, during which the young people learned a lot about the life of waste, and shared their experience.

We would also like to thank the representatives of the Rāzna National Park Nature Education Center, Regīna Indriķe and Diāna Selecka, for the organized study visit. At the nature education center, young people played the environmental game "Salmon Spawn", got acquainted with information about the specially protected natural areas of Latvia, including the nature center of the Rāzna National Park.

EA "World-Our Home" organization and project participants also donated animal food to the Rēzekne animal shelter. Young people were active and donated food, thus showing their attitude towards animals and charity actions.

During the project, young people have learned a lot about the environment, ecology, ecotourism, animal protection, have made new friends from different European countries and of course also got to know the culture and traditions of other countries.

Thanks to the Agency for Youth International Programs in Latvia and the Erasmus + program for the opportunity to implement this project. The project was financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Commission.

Link for the Video:

https://youtu.be/1-xvrvGfnDI&t=15s