On July 12, 2018, the representatives of Bauska, Vecumnieki, Iecava and Rundāle counties gathered in Īslīce SOS Children’s Village for the official opening of the project.

Ilze Paleja, National Director of the SOS Children’s Villages Latvia, gave an introductory speech. She welcomed the idea of ​​the project and the expected work, which is in line with the new developments of national legislation and DE-Institutionalisation processes regarding the specialization of foster families and expected establishment of foster care support centers in future. The director also acknowledged that a lot of work and energy was already invested.

Project manager Ilze Bumbiere informed about the project idea and the ERDF funding, which amounts to 195,015.01 euros. Information on the activities and events planned until the end of 2019 in four counties of Zemgale region was provided by the project coordinator from Latvian side Irēna Kalniņa. Olga Iljina, the project coordinator of the partner country, spoke about the experience and work of the SOS Children’s Villages Lithuania. Lithuania started working with foster families, adoptive parents and guardians already in 2016, and this project will be a huge step forward. Aivars Melderis, the head of the Social Service of Bauska region, also expressed support for the project idea and the current cooperation.

Currently, work has been started to find out the wishes and needs of foster families, guardians and adoptive parents living in Zemgale and to identify the necessary support by conducting family surveys. The project team works in the premises of Īslīce SOS Children’s Village, where all interested parties are welcome. More detailed information is available by phone 27880031.

This and all the following articles are prepared by Irēna Kalniņa, project coordinator in Latvia

From left to right: Olga Iljina (project coordinator Lithuania), Ilze Bumbiere (project manager),  Irēna Kalniņa (project coordinator Latvia)

One of the first meetings for project implementation with representatives of municipalities