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The European Days of Local Solidarity 2018 – big changes come from local actions

On 12 – 18 November in the municipalities of Latvia European Local Solidarity Days (EVSD) took place, like in several European countries. Bauska, Skrunda, Līvāni, Pārgauja and Engure municipalities in co-operation with their twin municipalities from Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine jointly celebrated the centenary of Latvia, carried out exciting workshops, seminars and drawing competitions.

The EDLS is an annual 2-week campaign run by European cities and regions committed to inform and mobilise their citizens on global solidarity and sustainable development issues. Grounded on the European values of democracy, diversity and solidarity, the EDLS promotes decentralised cooperation and city-to-city cooperation as a successful instrument for global sustainable development. We are proud that also Latvian municipalities are joining EDLS.

The epicentre of the European Local Solidarity Days in Latvia this year was Bauska Municipality. They hosted the delegations for week-long exchange of experience from their twin municipalities - Khashuri (Georgia) and Soroca (Moldova).  The guests got acquainted with the topical issues of the Bauska municipality in the fields of education, culture, social assistance and services, organization of public utilities and entrepreneurship. The Georgian partners also brought the works of the new artists, which, together with the best works of the children's drawings of the Bauska municipality formed the exhibition "United in diversity: Latvia and Georgia".

 

Children's and youth drawing competition "United in Diversity: Latvia and Ukraine" took place in Skrunda municipality and the delegation from their twin city Kosiv (Ukraine) was hosted. Within the framework of the EDLS was organised creative workshops and events during which residents and guests from Ukraine were able to get henna tattoos of the Latvian and Ukrainian national ornaments, as well as get acquainted with the culinary heritage of both nations and work in the hat shop.

A group of pupils and teachers from the Imereti region in Georgia visited Pārgauja municipality already in early autumn, but in the framework of the EDLS a children's drawing contest was organised.  The laureates of the contest were awarded during the concert of the centenary of Latvia. Emphasizing the cooperation with the Riscani district in Moldova, as well as the fact that the country is known for the production of woollen products, people and other interested persons were invited to the felting workshop during which the original products were made.

Līvāni municipality hosted a delegation from the Kamianets-Podilskyi twinning city from Ukraine. Glass blowing workshop and Latvian ornament workshop were organised in the Latgale Arts and Crafts Centre. There was also a children's drawing competition "United in diversity: Latvia and Ukraine".

In Engure municipality Smarde Elementary School hosted the drawing competition "United in Diversity: Latvia and Moldova".

The Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, in cooperation with several local authorities of Latvia, has been implementing the EDLS for the third year. It is organized within the framework of the project “Working together towards empowering local and regional governments for effective development outcomes in EU partner countries” implemented by the LALRG and co-financed by the European Commission. The activities of the European Local Solidarity Days are also financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.

Pictures from the events see here.