The Daugavpils University Society for Lifelong Learning, Culture, and Science Communication “Park of Intellect” has completed the implementation of the project “STRONG TOGETHER-4. СИЛЬНІ РАЗОМ-4,” ID No. 2025.LV/UKR_KO/018/L28, carried out within the Latvian state budget-funded programme “Cultural Orientation Courses and Integration Activities for Ukrainian Civilians”.
During the project, 125 Ukrainian civilians participated in the cultural orientation courses (three online groups and one on-site group). Participants were issued certificates confirming completion of the cultural orientation courses, during which they received information on Latvian history, the values of the Latvian Cultural Canon, public administration, the rule of law and civic participation in local community activities, society and everyday life, education, social and health care services, opportunities for starting a business, creative industries, and museums.
The cultural orientation courses were organised online using the ZOOM e-conference platform. A variety of up-to-date and diverse teaching and methodological materials were used in the learning process. As a result of the courses, Ukrainian civilians gained a deeper understanding of Latvia’s statehood, social environment, and core values, and were encouraged to apply this knowledge in practice, supporting their adaptation to Latvian society.
Target group – 330 Ukrainian civilians and 86 representatives of the host community.
The overall objective of the project was to provide cultural orientation courses and activities by involving two Latvian cultural institutions, thereby promoting cooperation between Ukrainian civilians and Latvian society.
The specific objective of the project was to strengthen Ukrainian civilians’ understanding of Latvian history, culture, and society through the implementation of cultural orientation courses and other socialisation and community activities, to promote the integration of the target group into Latvian society, and to encourage cooperation with the host community.
Project implementation began on 1 May 2025 and was completed on 31 December 2025.
Project Manager – Dr. philol., Professor Maija Burima.
During the implementation of the project, cohesion-building events were held twice – in October and November 2025 – with the aim of promoting intercultural communication. These included intercultural dialogue sessions, co-creation activities, and events fostering a cohesive society, such as co-creation workshops and studios (“Let’s Wrap a Gift!”, “Dance and Movement Therapy”, “Glass Decoration Making”, “Wooden Decoration Making”), the bread-making workshop “The Story of Latgale Bread”, the conversational language club “Between Us: Stories and Facts about Latvia”, interaction with VR glasses, and other activities.
During the event, participants learned about successful examples of small business development in Latgale by visiting the Krāslava Crafts Centre (Krāslava Municipality), the Latvian native horse breeding and organic farm “Klajumi” (Krāslava Municipality), the Museum of Happiness in Indra (Indra Parish), the museum “Andrupene Rural Homestead” (Krāslava Municipality), and Kristīne Nicmane’s ceramic workshop “Jašas Podi”.
In cooperation with the Latvian Writers’ Union and Rainis House in Berķenele, the activities “Poetry Days in Berķenele 2025” and “Poetry Days in Jūrmala” were held. Participants took part in the think tank “How to Write about Trauma?”, the masterclass “Translating Ukrainian Literature”, the lecture “The Tradition of Poetry Days Through Time: Non-Traditional Ways of Promoting Poetry and Literature, the Creative Process”, the interactive session “From Technology to Creativity – Just One Step”, and the activity “Under One Sun: Exploring Midsummer Traditions”.
To create new frameworks for cooperation between Latvian and Ukrainian residents and to lay the foundations for new community networks, the target group had the opportunity to participate in the “Entrepreneurship Initiatives Hackathon”.
The feedback provided by project participants indicates a high level of satisfaction with the learning process and its organisation. Particular appreciation was expressed for the support provided by the teaching and administrative staff, as well as for the structure of the classes, the accessible format, and the quality of the course content.
The project “STRONG TOGETHER-4. СИЛЬНІ РАЗОМ-4,” No. 2025.LV/UKR_KO/018/L28, was implemented with financial support from the Society Integration Foundation, using funds allocated from the Latvian state budget.
Responsibility for the content of the project activities lies with the Daugavpils University Society for Lifelong Learning, Culture, and Science Communication “Park of Intellect”.
