The project’s aim is to improve the quality of life for members of various age groups exposed to social exclusion risks in the Latgale region, involving people from minority groups and implementing measures that promote development of a cohesive society.
Within the project measures will be carried out to reduce social exclusion of social exclusion risks groups – children, young people, seniors and new families with children and people with low income, including involvement of the minorities. Children, young people and seniors will be encouraged to participate in various events, thus promoting their involvement in the life of the local community. The project will also provide new knowledge and skills to the target groups.
The target group: children, young people; young parents, seniors, people with low income, people from minority groups, non-citizens.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with public organization "The Norwegian Red Cross" and 5 Latvian local governments.

Project results: The purpose of the project “We Live Together in Our Country” was to improve the quality of life of different age groups at the risk of social exclusion in the Latgale region, involving representatives of national minorities and implementing measures that promote the development of a cohesive society. Implementation of the project contributed to the programme’s goal of “The NGO Fund”: to enhance the development of a civil society and to strengthen support for social justice, democracy and sustainable development. Within the framework of the project the following activities were implemented that:
- reduced the social exclusion of those target groups that were at the risk of social exclusion in accordance with the statistical and research data: children, youth, seniors and young families with children, as well as people with low income, including representatives of ethnic minorities;
- encouraged the participation of children, youth, seniors, and representatives of ethnic minorities in diverse activities, encouraging their involvement in the life of local communities, as well as in the LRC as members or volunteers;
- provided the acquisition of new knowledge and skills for all target groups.
The target group of the project: children, young people, young parents, seniors, persons with low income, representatives of ethnic minorities, non-citizens.
The places where the project was implemented: the Daugavpils City, the municipalities of Daugavpils, Ilūkste, Krāslava and Preiļi.
The project results:
Within the framework of the project in cooperation with the municipalities of the Daugavpils City, the counties of Daugavpils, Ilūkste, Preiļi and Krāslava, seniors, young parents, persons with low income, children and young people were actively involved in activities.
The chosen target group of the project was actively involved in the local community life, intergenerational activities were implemented, and the intercultural dialogue and social integration were promoted.
Mutual cooperation among children, seniors and young families of various nationalities has been successfully developed, as well as traditions, customs and cultures of various nationalities have been introduced and an active civic position has been ensured after the completion of the project.
The process of obtaining citizenship was promoted as the representatives of ethnic minorities acquired knowledge needed for the naturalisation process.
7 participants of the training programme have undergone all required formalities in order to take the naturalisation examination and obtain the citizenship of Latvia.
Within the framework of the project training courses of Latvian language, the history and culture of Latvia were organised for seniors, people with low income and young parents. In total 130 persons participated in the courses.
Within the framework of the project joint activities were organised for senior groups in order to promote intercultural communication, the exchange of experience, the use of Latvian language in day-to-day communication: sessions of healthy lifestyle (healthy food, fitness etc.); handicrafts and exhibitions; the Club of Books’ Friends; quilling and origami sessions; knitting sessions; dancing sessions etc. Representatives of various nationalities were involved in all activities in order to promote mutual cooperation and establish regular, long-term contacts. In total 272 seniors were involved in these activities.
In parallel, joint sports, leisure and culture events and sessions were organised for children and young people with an aim to promote mutual interaction and long-term contacts among representatives of various nationalities, the everyday usage of Latvian language, as well as to get acquainted with traditions of other nationalities and to diminish prejudices:
- sports activities for children and young people;
- a club for people interested in Latvia and history;
- a learning club where children of various nationalities help each other in those subjects that cause difficulties for them (for instance, Latvian or Russian language).
In total 330 children and young people were involved in these activities.
Within the framework of the project lectures for young parents were organised on the issues of child care, peculiarities of age and development periods etc. 53 participants regularly attended the activities for young parents.
Inter-county competitions of team sports, competitions and exhibitions of creative works were organised as part of the project. These events were planned and implemented by local initiative groups with the support of the LRC Committee and the municipality. The audience of the above-mentioned events reached 3000 persons.
Within the framework of the project 4 intergenerational events were organised that were attended by 487 participants.
In order to promote the understanding of people about the possibilities to influence the decision-making process, as well as to strengthen the abilities to cooperate in formal and informal groups with an aim to reach common goals, as well as to promote the involvement of people in the LRC or informal groups, the following events will be organised on the territories of all municipalities:
- A training cycle on civic participation for seniors, young people, people with low income and young parents.
- The training themes: “What is a NGO? Why NGOs are important? What can I do in order to change life in my rural district/county/city?”
94 persons took part in the training on civic participation.
During the project seniors, young people, people with low income and young parents were involved in events organised and services rendered by the LRC in order to acquire skills for voluntary work. In total 61 project participants were involved.
Cooperation partners of the project: the Preiļi County Council, the Krāslava County Council, the Daugavpils City Council, the Daugavpils Rural Municipal Council and the Norwegian Red Cross.
Representatives of partner organisations will participate at the meetings of the project management group that will be organised both in Riga and in the counties depending on the topical issues and needs of the projects. The management group was in charge of making decisions about changes in the project activities, in case such are needed, therefore the partners were fully involved during the project implementation.
The partner organisation published information about the project course and results on its homepage, thus involving in the provision of the project’s publicity and the popularisation of results.
The partner of the Norwegian Red Cross was involved in the planning of the project activities, as well as delivered a lecture to the project participants “Social Integration Problems and Best Practice Examples in Norway”. 71 participants attended the event.
After the completion of the project, activities and events will be continued for representatives of various generations and nationalities.
The capacity of the LRC in the area of protection of social risk groups and the participation in the formation of political processes has increased.