How can children contribute to the celebration of European Cooperation Day? By making fifes out of carrots! More than 70 children from Latvia (Zālīte Special School) and Lithuania (Kelmė Special School) participated in a creative workshop “Music. City. Neighbours.” in Iecava Music and Art School on 21^st of September. The workshop was one of the hundreds of events organised across the Europe to celebrate the fifth European Cooperation Day. It was organised by three European territorial cooperation programmes: Latvia-Lithuania programme, Central Baltic programme and URBACT programme.

During the creative workshop, children together with musicians Nils Īle and Vilius Matutis made musical instruments and prepared a musical performance. Students of Iecava Music and Art School also participated in the performance. The TASTIEST music instrument produced and used in the event was a fife made of carrot. “The best thing about this instrument is that one can always eat it if failing to make it!” Lithuanian artist Vilius Matutis was joking while teaching children how to drill a carrot so it would make a perfect sound.

The participants of the creative workshop were greeted by the Head of Iecava municipality Jānis Pelsis. Information manager from Latvia-Lithuania programme Inga Ringailaite discussed with children cooperation between the two countries and how could children participate in various projects, like projects about sports and education. Representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia Līga Djačenko and Laura Cunska-Āboma introduced the work of Central Baltic programme and URBACT programme.

“The children are happy to participate in the event of European Cooperation Day. An opportunity to meet children from Latvia is an exciting event for them.” said Director of Kelmė Special School Dalia Viliūnienė. She believes cooperation with neighbouring countries is valuable in education and hopes that just established cooperation with Latvian counterpart shall continue also after this event.

Deputy Director of Zālīte Special School Ilze Arāja acknowledged that working together with children from Lithuania is beneficial for her students. Her view was confirmed by Dita and Kitija from Zālīte School – the girls smiled saying: “We like it here very much!”

European Cooperation Day is celebrated on 21^st of September across the Europe. On this day we celebrate the importance of European territorial cooperation and the results of implemented projects. Information about European Cooperation Day can be found at https://www.ecday.eu

To see more pictures from the European Cooperation Day celebration please visit our photo gallery here.