On November 16-17, 2024, the second integration event of the project “STRONG TOGETHER-3. СИЛЬНІ РАЗОМ-3,” ID No. 2024.LV/UKR_KO/003, funded by the Latvian state budget programme “Cultural Orientation Courses and Integration Activities for Ukrainian Civilians,” organized by the Daugavpils University Society for Lifelong Learning, Culture, and Science Communication “Intellect Park,” took place.
The event brought together 60 Ukrainian civilians learning the Latvian language, exploring Latvian culture and society, and aiming to integrate into Latvian society. They were also accompanied by nine representatives from the host community.
During the two-day event, Ukrainian civilians and Latvian citizens engaged in informal activities, participated in an excursion to learn about successful small business models in Latgale, and gained inspiration for starting their own small businesses. This experience helped shape Ukrainian civilians’ understanding of Latvian social processes, values, and communication models.
On the first day of the integration event, the project participants visited the recreation complex “Lejasmalas” in Auleja Parish, Krāslava Municipality. The welcoming words were delivered by Maija Burima, Chairperson of the Society “Intellect Park” and the project manager, who provided an overview of the project goals and expected outcomes. She also introduced the programme, project implementers, and the team responsible for its execution.
The evening began with a film screening and discussion session. By watching film excerpts and engaging in conversations about Latvia’s history, culture, and the role of individuals in various historical contexts, the participants explored the significance of statehood in the 1920s-1930s for the 21st-century Latvian national identity and self-awareness. They also examined the role of individual personalities and the dynamics of power relations within different political systems.
Afterward, event participants took part in a team game, answering questions about Latvia’s nature, culture, traditions, and more. Each team included at least one representative from the host community, who helped participants learn supportive vocabulary and basic phrases in Latvian while sharing valuable information about Latvia.
Throughout the evening, everyone participated in an art therapy workshop, creating various aromatic decorations using plants and natural materials found in Latvia. During the activity, Ukrainian civilians learned new vocabulary, including the names of plants and spices in Latvian.
The project’s target group participated in workshops on storytelling therapy. Each participant had submitted a personal photograph linked to a meaningful event or situation from their life and created a narrative about it. Representatives from the host community led the workshops and took part, offering supportive phrases in Latvian to assist the participants in expressing their stories.
Everyone also participated in various games and activities, enhancing their communication skills, expanding their Latvian vocabulary, and gaining new knowledge about Latvian traditions, culture, and society. The activities provided opportunities to learn about traditional Latvian foods and culinary heritage, as well as to explore Latvian dances and games by practicing basic movements. Folklore was also a key focus, covering seasonal celebrations, festive rituals, and other elements of Latvian cultural heritage.
In the Conversation Language Club, Ukrainian civilians expanded their vocabulary, developed collaboration skills, and improved their ability to communicate with both fellow Ukrainians and representatives of the local population.
On the second day, Ukrainian civilians learned about successful small business stories in Latgale region.
The project participants visited the ceramic artists Valdis and Olga Pauliņi, who provided insight into the secrets of the craft, showing how clay can be transformed into works of art. Everyone had the opportunity to try their hand at pottery making and participate in firing the kiln, which generated great interest and evoked strong emotions.
After the pottery workshop, the journey continued to the home of Aleksandrs Maijers, a collector and craftsman of musical instruments in Ūdrīšu Parish, Krāslava Municipality. Together with his wife Inga Maijere, he has been making various musical instruments for over twenty years, including flutes, whistles, vargans, clay bells, jingles, rattles, and more. The master skillfully demonstrated the handmade instruments and offered everyone the opportunity to listen to the unique sounds of each one.
The next stop was the farm “Kurmīši”, which has been widely known for over 25 years for its homegrown and harvested herbal teas. Entrepreneurs Sandra and Ivars have created their family farm, serving as a great example of how to develop and establish an organic business. Everyone had the opportunity to learn about medicinal plants, the process of growing them, and how to prepare herbal teas, as well as taste and purchase products grown on the farm.
Next, the Ukrainian civilians and representatives of the host community visited the Latvian-bred horse breeding and organic farm “Klajumi” in Kaplava Parish, Krāslava Municipality, where Ilze and Viktors work alongside their sons. Viktor, the farm owner, led the tour, sharing the history of the farm’s establishment and answering questions about developing a business in rural Latvia. After the tour, everyone went for a horse ride and enjoyed the local scenery. The farm is also involved in preserving the culinary heritage of Latgale. The Ukrainian civilians were treated to a delicious traditional rural dish from Latgale. The project’s target audience concluded that “Klajumi” is a great example of how to preserve cultural and historical heritage, create a successful family business, and pass it on to further generations.
The event participants went on a tour of Krāslava, visiting the most famous tourism sites that best reflect the city’s cultural and historical heritage, such as the Count Plater Palace complex.
During these two days, the project’s target audience explored Latvian and Latgale culture, enhanced their knowledge of the Latvian language, and developed an understanding of Latvia’s social life, daily routines, values, and communication models. The integration event fostered the creation of new frameworks for cooperation between the people of Latvia and Ukraine.
Everyone agreed that participating in the integration events was a great opportunity to learn about Latvian cultural and historical traditions and values, as well as to gain insights into successful small business practices, helping to develop their own unique and original ideas.
The content and activities of the project are overseen by the Daugavpils University Association for Lifelong Learning, Cultural and Science Communication “Intellect Park”.
