Supported by the ACF, Latvia implements 11 initiatives for mitigating the consequences of the war in Ukraine
Within the Action projects call for proposal, the Active Citizens Fund (ACF) has so far supported 11 initiatives aimed at involving Latvian civil society in various activities related to the hostilities taking place in the Ukraine, such as providing support to the citizens of the Ukraine and mitigating the consequences of hostilities.
In order to support civil society organizations that were able and willing to respond promptly to the hostilities taking place in the Ukraine, at the end of February, the Latvian ACF, similarly to the ACF operators of other countries, encouraged to make use of the Action projects call and submit initiatives for the involvement of the Latvian society in support of the Ukrainian population, as well as for mitigating the consequences of the hostilities. A total of 22 applications were received, 11 initiatives were approved for support. Both national-level organizations that provide support all over Latvia, as well as smaller regional and local-level organizations have received funding. 5 projects will be implemented in Latvia, 3 of which in Riga and 3 in Vidzeme, Kurzeme, and Zemgale.
“When planning the Action project call for proposals and providing a special part of the budget for the support of NGOs for solving unforeseen and urgent situations, we did not even imagine that this project call would play such an important role one day. In this call, we received the first project ideas related to the mitigation of the consequences of hostilities in Ukraine already a few days after the beginning of the hostilities, which shows the ability of the civil society sector to react – here and now," stresses the chairperson of the ACF board Kristīne Zonberga.
Volunteers are the most important resource for providing effective assistance
In several ACF Action projects, organizations will implement activities for identification, coordination, training of volunteers, as well as the creation of volunteer work systems that are comprehensible to everyone, which will make it easier for all Latvian residents who wish to invest their time and energy in helping their fellow Ukrainians in these difficult circumstances to get involved. These activities are particularly important because – as the project submitters pointed out – there is currently a high motivation in Latvian society to help and a desire to actively participate in public processes, but people do not always know where their help is needed, and at the same time, many civil society organizations urgently need to increase the number of volunteers.
Help centres for emotional and practical support
As part of the ACF Action projects, the operation of several assistance centres will be supported for the citizens of the Ukraine, with the ACF funding mainly being used for the coordination of volunteers involved in the activities of the centres. Thus, for example, the ACF funding will co-finance aid coordination at the donation centre located at Ventspils iela 50 in Riga, where the association "Tavi draugi" (“Your Friends”) has been active since the beginning of hostilities. The representatives of the association indicate that currently, an average of 30 transport units leave for the Ukraine every day, delivering exactly those urgent things that the Ukrainian population has asked for, and the ACF funding will ensure the continuity of the coordination of this work for at least 2 months.
In Riga, the foundation "Palīdzēsim.lv" and the association "Palīdzēsim viens otram" will be supported as well, which will ensure a quick and meaningful response to the received requests for help for victims of war. The financing of the project will help the organizations carry out the necessary coordination work in order to be able to attract the necessary donations from individuals and companies and distribute them, both by handing them over to the Ukrainian refugees in Latvia and by sending them to the Ukraine. The ACF also supported the association “Pilsēta cilvēkiem” (“City for people”), which plans to continue, within their project, to coordinate volunteer work for the implementation of the bicycle donation campaign, to which many Latvian residents have already responded. As part of the project, volunteers will ensure the delivery of bicycles from donation points throughout Latvia to Riga, organize bicycle maintenance workshops, as well as carry out special bicycle distribution events for Ukrainian refugees.
Assistance centres for Ukrainian residents with ACF support will also operate in other Latvian cities: for example, within the framework of the project, the association "Iespēja visiem” (“A Chance for Everyone”) will provide the operation of an assistance centre in Limbaži, the Vidusdaugava NGO center – one in Jēkabpils district, the association "Tabitas sirds" – one in each Southern Kurzeme district and Liepāja city, and the Saldus District Development Association – a centre in Saldus district.
Information platforms for accessible, up-to-date, and intelligible information
Under circumstances where the citizens of Ukraine need clear and easily accessible information on available support in Latvia, the project activities of the association “Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem” ("I want to help refugees"), which aim at maintaining various virtual and face-to-face inquiry offices, are particularly important. The association will ensure the maintenance of an information point of non-governmental organizations in the Ukrainian refugee centre on Kaļķu Street, which collects information about the activities of civil society in support of the Ukrainian population in Latvia, the maintenance of a virtual calendar of events (https://podiyi.lv) and the renewal of its information, collecting events organized both by civil society and the state in support of the Ukraine, as well as the virtual map of charitable organizations (palidzibaskarte.lv; kartadopomogy.lv), which is the only resource in the country that currently summarizes the humanitarian aid offer both for immigrants who want to receive help, and for socially active residents of Latvia who wish to provide humanitarian aid.
Reducing misinformation and respectful dialogue in society
Aware of the importance of a cohesive society and reliable information at this time, several organizations have focused their activities on strengthening the cohesion of Latvian society and reducing misinformation. So, for example, the association “Laikmetīgās mākslas centrs” ("Contemporary Arts Centre”) will highlight the importance of constructive dialogue and respectful conversation as part of the Action Project, while the association “Sadarbības platforma” ("Cooperation Platform") will work with disinformation issues in their project, both by implementing educational classes for various groups of society and creating a "living history book of today" with true stories of war witnesses.
“Under the Action projects of the ACF, civil society organizations will act as a large spider web, which will coordinate, structure and concertedly connect aid providers with those who need this help the most, and at the same time will help to involve the citizens of Latvia in these currently decisively important civic initiatives speedily. This is very, very important at this time,” says Ansis Bērziņš, head of the ACF programme, summarizing all the Action project ideas supported by the ACF.
