OUR DEEDS SPEAK LOUDEST FOR US
Active projects
- Reconstruction of Facilities in the Chernihiv Region
- Support of the integration of Ukrainian civilians
- Establishment of a Mobile Sand Therapy Room and Provision of Sand Therapy in the Regions of Latvia
- Schools for Victory
In order to support Ukraine in mitigating the consequences of Russia’s invasion, the NGO “Tavi draugi” is continuing the implementation of the project “Renovation of the Novobikivska Secondary School and the Pediatric Department Building of the Chernihiv Regional Center for Primary Health and Social Care” in 2025. The project is scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2025. The total cost of the project is EUR 1,194,270.00, financed by the state budget of the Republic of Latvia.
During the most recent visit in March, representatives of the organization met with the construction company that will carry out the renovation of Novobikivska Secondary School and the first phase of the pediatric department building of the Chernihiv Regional Center for Primary Health and Social Care. During the meeting, contracts for the construction work were signed, as well as agreements with site supervisors.
On March 31, construction works began both at the Novobikivska school and at the pediatric department building of the Chernihiv regional center. The construction works at both sites are to be completed within three months.
During the visit, a meeting was also held with representatives of a Ukrainian law firm that provides legal services to the NGO. Future cooperation was discussed, as well as the preparation of documentation for organizing a procurement tender to select construction companies in Ukraine for the second phase of renovation works on the pediatric department building of the Chernihiv regional center.
Representatives of the NGO also met with the representative of the Latvian Embassy, Guntis Lapsa, and together they inspected the sites planned for renovation within the framework of the 2025 project.
Latvia’s support in restoring healthcare and educational institutions in the Chernihiv region is extremely important, as it will help provide residents with critically needed healthcare services, especially for children. It will also promote the continuity of general and vocational education, so that people can return to a more normal daily life as soon as possible, and children and youth can continue gaining essential knowledge and skills for life and career.
#LATDEV #AtbalstuUkrainu #attistibassadarbiba
The project is implemented with the financial support of the state budget of the Republic of Latvia, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFLA).
For more information, please visit the CFLA website.
Chernihiv Regional Primary Health Care and Social Care Center Pediatric Department Building
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Novobikovsk Secondary School
Project implementation period: 01.06.2023–31.05.2025.
The project “Support of the professional integration process of Ukrainian civilians in Latvia, exchange of experience and information in Latvia and the Baltic States” was approved in 2023.
The U.S. Department of State allocated USD 1.86 million to six non-governmental organizations in Latvia for programs to assist Ukrainian refugees in Latvia. This represents the largest U.S. government contribution to support Ukrainian refugees in Latvia.
The NGOs were selected through an open competition administered by the U.S. Embassy for funding through the 2023 Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act. The program addresses the unprecedented refugee influx caused by Russia‘s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
We, the association Tavi Draugi, are proud to be one of the funding beneficiaries. Within the project, we will set up and equip two mobile “Help Points“ to distribute information and provide critical services to Ukrainian refugees, as well as renovate the children’s daycare center at Ventspils iela 50, Riga.
Project purposes:
Total costs of the project: USD 298,512, where USD 249,912 of the eligible costs are covered by the U.S. Department of State and USD 48,600 are co-financed by the association Tavi Draugi.
Project location: Venstpils iela 50, Riga, and the whole territory of Latvia.
Project activities
Project Implementation Period: 21.04.2025.-31.07.2026.
On March 27, the association “Tavi draugi” signed a contract with the Central Finance and Contracting Agency for the implementation of project 4.3.6.4. “Development and Implementation of Support Instruments for Strengthening Family Functionality” – “Establishment of a Mobile Sand Therapy Room and Provision of Sand Therapy in the Regions of Latvia.”
The goal of the project is to develop and implement an innovative, mobile sand therapy support service that is accessible and provided in the regions of Latvia for children who have experienced peer-to-peer violence and children with harmful sexual behavior, tailored to their specific needs, in order to prevent the risk of repeated violence and reduce the long-term effects of violence.
To achieve the project’s objective, the following activities will be carried out:
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A new approach to providing sand therapy services in the regions of Latvia for individuals affected by violence will be developed and implemented, based on their specific needs, to prevent the risk of recurring violence and reduce the long-term impact of violence;
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A camper van will be rented and appropriately equipped for sand therapy purposes, and therapy services will be provided to children in the regions of Latvia.
Project outcomes:
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Development of new support service descriptions or improvement of existing support service descriptions;
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Provision of the support service – sand therapy;
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A mobile sand therapy room will be established and rented.
During the implementation of the project, twelve mobile sessions will be organized in each region of Latvia, during which 15 children who have experienced peer-to-peer violence or who exhibit harmful sexual behavior will receive the support service – sand therapy. The support services will be provided by two certified sand therapists.
Total project cost: EUR 115,135.04, of which EUR 97,864.78 (85%) is financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus), and EUR 17,270.26 (15%) by the state budget.
Project implementation period: 17.01.2024 – 15.02.2024
Latvian schoolchildren collect more than 10500 kg of donations for the Ukrainian Army
On the initiative of the students of Āgenskalns State Gymnasium, more than 100 Latvian schools have jointly collected 10 549 kilograms of donated items for the Ukrainian Army during the Schools for Victory campaign. The campaign is run in cooperation with the association Tavi Draugi, who sort the donations and deliver them to the soldiers at the front.
More than 100 schools across Latvia responded to the call to collect donations, initiated by students of Āgenskalns State Gymnasium and Tavi Draugi. From 17 January to 15 February this year, students collected donations for the Ukrainian army units Azov, Legion-V and Karpatskij Sič, where Sarmīte Cīrule, a nurse from Latvia, stands side by side with Ukrainian soldiers. Students donated food, hygiene products, hand and foot warmers and other much-needed items for soldiers.
Emīlija Kļaviņa, 11th Grade student at Āgenskalns State Gymnasium, initiator of the campaign: “It is already the second year since the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine. We are convinced that now is the time for us, Latvian schools, to join hands and strive for victory together. We are happy to see so many students helping the defenders of Ukraine, who were teachers, doctors, fathers, brothers and grandfathers of Ukrainian students before the war.”
With the help of Tavi Draugi and other organisations, part of the donations collected by the students have already reached Ukrainian soldiers at the front. Donations are still being accepted, so the total amount of donations collected during the campaign will increase.
“Schools for Victory” is the largest fundraising campaign for the Ukrainian army that we have ever run. We are deeply touched by the initiative and activity of the students. They were active in collecting donations, helping to sort them and volunteering at our warehouse. With their energy and zeal, they have given others a new impetus to act, to help and to do everything in our power to help Ukraine win,” says Beate Bevalde, a representative of the association Tavi Draugi.
