Innovation: We Live Together in Our Country
Latvia
AAI Domain: Participation in society (social connectedness, voluntary activities)
Latvia has made considerable economic and social progress in the last 25 years including becoming members of the European Union in 2004 but there are still deeply entrenched economic and social inequalities that often run along ethnic and cultural lines. In the Latgale region, in the south of Latvia, there are a large number of Russian speaking citizens and there is a pressing need to build social cohesion through greater integration. Socially innovative projects can bring people together for their own benefit and that of local communities and wider society.
The Red Cross Societies of Latvia and Norway secured funding from the Social Integration Foundation, a national organisation established in 2001 to promote and finance innovative projects that promote social integration, through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for a project in the municipalities of Daugavapils, Ilukste, Kraslava and Prejli in the Latgale region of southern Latvia. The project – We Live Together in Our Country – aimed to bring people of all ages who are at risk of social exclusion together in a variety of activities that would build a stronger sense of social connectedness and community.
The project activities were diverse and included short courses in Latvian history and culture, healthy lifestyle classes to promote balanced diets and physical activity as well as a range of recreational and leisure activities including a book club, origami classes, handicraft and sporting activities for younger people. Courses on civic participation through volunteering were organised by the Red Cross societies and the local municipalities to build capacity for social engagement in the future.
We Live Together in Our Country aimed to include young people, new parents and older people who were all at risk of social exclusion but who could come together to share experiences and knowledge. The ethos of the project was to build greater understanding between different groups and forge a common, inclusive identity for people of all ages.
In relation to active ageing, the project had the potential to positively influence social connectedness across communities with Latvian or Russian as their first language regardless of their age or culture. A range of recreational and learning opportunities were available through the project and capacity building for volunteering and being active citizens was an important part of it that would have given it a legacy even after the funding for the project ended.