From February 13 to 15, representatives of the municipality of Ropaži County, the Asylum Seekers Accommodation Center "Mucenieki" and the Football Club "Valor" visited Norway, in the municipality of the city of Elverum, to meet at the final conference of the project "Measures related to integration in Mucenieki", summarizing the acquired knowledge and practical half working with the integration of asylum seekers and non-citizens who have acquired refugee status into the local community.
The experience of Elverum, the cooperation city of Ropaži county, in integration issues is a valuable basis for Latvia to take over. At the final conference, the activities and events completed during the year within the framework of the project were presented, the reality of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office, the Asylum Seekers Accommodation Centers (Mucenieki and Liepna) in terms of reception and accommodation was presented, as well as the successful practice of promoting integration through sports was presented - especially football for lessons. The conference was attended by representatives of the Norwegian Red Cross, a player from the football club "Elverum Football" from Latvia, a coach and a representative of Elverum municipality on refugee issues.
The delegation visited the cultural heritage center of Norway - an open-air museum and museum complex, viewing the life of the Roma people of travelers and getting acquainted with various life stories of refugees from all over the world, thus gaining perception experience and getting to know the aspects of history as a factor that shapes society. Integration into the local community in Elverum takes place to a great extent through sports, involving not only children and young people in training and events, but also their parents as coaches and as volunteers. This is considered one of the most powerful techniques for the integration of non-nationals. The Latvian delegation was given the opportunity to look behind the scenes of not only football, but also handball, as well as watch a handball match, which is the most popular sport in Norway.
This was the second and final study mission to Norway, within the framework of the project "Integration-related measures in Muceniekos", which involves taking over the experience of working with asylum seekers in the local community, focusing on consultations on promoting integration through culture and sports. The good practices will be compiled in a manual, the publication and presentation of which is planned for March 27, 2024, and it will be handed over for further work to organizations dealing with the involvement of refugees and asylum seekers in Latvia. It will also be dubbed in English, adapted for representatives of foreign countries who have settled in Latvia.
During the visit, the initial recognition was confirmed that Norway's experience of integration policy is significantly different compared to Latvia's approach to this topic. For harmonious integration of newcomers, good practice is intensive learning of language, culture, social skills and other values in a separate program once refugee status is obtained. This is a way that helps to successfully continue working, getting educated at a higher level, and thus successfully integrating into the local society. Educating the local community to eliminate discrimination also goes hand in hand. In Latvia, issues of a political scale are referred to the responsibility of state institutions.
As part of the project, until the end of March 2024, swimming lessons for adults and young people, creative workshops "Get to know Latvia in Europe!" and Mamanet workouts for women. Also, the presentation of the Handbook and the project's closing event are planned for March 25.
Līga Mekša, Agnese Bērziņa, public relations specialist Liene Mihailova, day center manager Anita Antone, Nauris Bērziņš, manager of the Asylum Seekers Accommodation Department of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Department, Nauris Bērziņš, assistance expert Andrejs Račkovs, football club "Valor" coaches Dāvids Chudars, Renārs Škesters Kambals and Rauls Kviesītis. The expenses of the secondment are covered from the budget funds of the project "Measures related to integration in Muceniekos" (No. LV-LOCALDEV-0007). The project is implemented in the program "Local development, poverty alleviation and cultural cooperation" co-financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through EEA grants.
