“Tavi draugi” charity project in Latgale strengthens communities through practical support

This year, the charity organisation “Tavi draugi”, in cooperation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is implementing a charity project in Latgale aimed at providing practical support – food and hygiene packages — to socially vulnerable groups, while also strengthening the local community. Since June, the project’s activities have been coordinated from Lūznava Manor in Rēzekne Municipality.

Throughout the year, the project plans to provide 60 low-income and financially disadvantaged people each month with food and hygiene packages, as well as organise shared meals, meetings and other activities that help local residents meet, get involved and feel a sense of belonging to their community. The assistance is intended for various socially vulnerable groups: low-income people, large families, seniors who live alone, parents raising children with special needs, as well as people facing serious health challenges.

Monta Vecozola, project manager and representative of the charity organisation “Tavi draugi”: “The aim of the project is to help those residents of Latgale who are struggling in their everyday lives. At the same time, it is equally important to show people that they have not been left alone and that there are people around them who are ready to notice, listen and help. The local community knows best who currently needs support, which is why the greatest strength of our project is the people of Latgale who are involved in providing assistance. Through this project, we see how much can be achieved when an organisation, municipality, local manor, volunteers, senior communities and the people receiving assistance come together as one team. In this way, we are building not only a chain of support, but also a stronger community.”

So far, assistance packages have already been delivered to residents in Krāslava, Viļāni, Lūznava, Lendži Parish and elsewhere in Latgale. From April to June, 60 packages were prepared for the families of students at Aleksandrova Boarding School, 30 for seniors and people living alone in Lūznava, while another 30 were received by residents and visitors of the Viļāni Social Centre and Day Centre. In June, 30 assistance packages were delivered to Lendži Parish and the surrounding area, with particular attention paid to people living alone and seniors. In August, assistance packages were delivered to Baltinava and the surrounding area, with particular support provided to bedridden and seriously ill people and seniors. Assistance for residents of the Ludza district is also planned in the near future.

Eight local volunteers are currently actively involved in the project. They help prepare and distribute food and hygiene packages, as well as identify people who need support. The involvement of seniors from local communities is particularly important. They know their neighbours and other local residents well, which means they can help identify people whose everyday difficulties are not always visible from the outside.

An important part of the project is also spending time together. The project team, together with local residents and seniors, took part in the Great Cleanup Day in Lūznava, where soup was cooked over an open fire for the participants. At the Art Picnic, a stew was prepared together with residents of the Viļāni Social Centre. Representatives of the project’s funding organisation also took part in these activities. In Lūznava, a meal was also prepared together with the local community, with the project’s experience presented as a successful example of interdisciplinary cooperation within the “Erasmus+” project of Lūznava Manor.

The “Tavi draugi” charity organisation thanks Rēzekne Municipality for the opportunity to establish the project’s base at Lūznava Manor, as well as the management and staff of Lūznava Manor for their daily involvement in the project activities and for ensuring operational support.

The project activities in Latgale will continue throughout the year, providing practical assistance to people in different communities across the region every month, while also creating opportunities to meet, work together and strengthen the chain of mutual support.