The Latvian language is more than a way to communicate—it’s a key part of
the country’s identity, history, and sense of community. In the same way, exploring
Latvia’s nature isn’t just about enjoying the scenery; it’s a way to understand the
culture, connect with people, and feel at home.
In 2024, Speak Riga focused on two main areas of activity: teaching Latvian to
newcomers of Riga and engaging Ukrainian students by organizing activities with
their peers to explore Latvian nature.


Into the Language

Language and cultural differences, unfamiliar customs, and the absence of
informal social support networks can leave newcomers to a country vulnerable to
social exclusion. To help bridge these gaps and strengthen social connections in Riga,
Latvia, the project “Speak Riga: Language Exchange Groups for Newcomers” was
launched.


With financial support of Riga City Community Integration Program from
March to November 2024, it organized Latvian language exchange groups at various
proficiency levels, guided by volunteer mentors – buddies. Additionally, the project
featured cultural exchange events planned collaboratively by group members,
fostering deeper community ties and mutual understanding, involving 118 participants
in total.


While all participants began with great enthusiasm, we observed that
motivation tends to be particularly strong among migrants who are in relationships or
have started families with Latvians, as well as those who face mandatory language
proficiency requirements for their work. Though everyone joined with the shared goal
of participating in a language group, each individual sought to express themselves in
their own unique way. Despite differences in character and background, Buddies tried
to find a common language—a bond that connects throughout every lesson.


The opportunity to learn a language for free is also a challenge, as this model
means that a significant number of participants drop out without any financial regret.
Long-term motivation to learn Latvian is also hampered by the fact that around 95%
of Latvians aged 25-64 speak at least one foreign language (according to Eurostat*).
Even newcomers themselves admit that it is very easy to get by without knowing an
official language of Latvia. And additionally, learning Latvian is very challenging due
to several linguistic features that set it apart from many widely spoken languages.


After 12 sessions, Anna, the volunteer Buddy in the project said: “I have a
friend who doesn’t speak Latvian perfectly, and this experience of teaching the
language reminded me how difficult Latvian is. (..) It has made me more empathetic
towards him, and that alone was worth doing this. Also, I don’t have any daily contact with expats, and it’s interesting to learn why people have moved to Latvia from India,
Sri Lanka, and other culturally less close countries. It also naturally reduces prejudice
(..)”.

The strength of the SPEAK methodology lies in Buddies’ flexibility, their
ability to be creative and adapt the format to the participants’ preferences, language
level and group dynamics, thus creating a free and relaxed atmosphere. Buddies say
their biggest motivation comes from seeing participants make progress, their
eagerness to keep learning, the chance to connect with each other, and the joy of
sharing the language learning journey together.


Another volunteer Buddy, Katrīna, admitted: “I realized that I like leading groups of
people, teaching a language, especially using unconventional, creative methods – I
want to do it in the future. There is a feeling that a big challenge has been
accomplished, there is satisfaction; after this challenge, I am not afraid to set new
goals and achieve them.”


Into the Nature

Latvia is one of the greenest countries in Europe, as 54% of it is covered in
forests. People in Latvia spend a significant amount of time in nature, as it offers
personal benefits like reduced stress and improved well-being, while also providing
opportunities to socialize and connect with others in a relaxed environment.


At the end of the 2014 Speak Riga together with Riga 15 Secondary School
students and support of the European Union Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
implemented the project “Into the Nature: Integration of Young Ukrainians”. Around
90 young people were involved in the project, 55 of whom were from Ukraine, and
the remaining 35 were of Russian origin or other nationalities living in Latvia and
studying in the same class with them. They worked in 3 separate groups, each
participating in a cycle of 4 activities.


Through different non-formal education methods students discovered nature in
Riga and its surroundings. They got to know the beech trees and the work of an
arborist, learned orientation skills in the dunes, indulged in forest therapy and
explored the bog. After the project, students shared that they had learned how to
navigate nature using a map and how to find their way out of a forest if they got lost.
They experienced a bog for the first time, learning how to move safely in it, why it
can be dangerous, and why its water is safe to drink. They also said that they have
learned to identify different trees, discovered how arborists work, and practiced
climbing up and down trees. For many, it was their first time experiencing the
sensation of being high up in a tree.


Through this experience, the project aimed to motivate the young people to
become more socially active and present, to integrate and build deeper connections
within the classroom as a collective as well as between each other. In reality students shared a range of reflections regarding a long-term impact on them: some expressed
plans to spend more time outdoors, while others realized they don’t enjoy forests or
being outside. Some mentioned a newfound awareness and consideration for bogs and
activities in such environments. Many noted improved social skills and greater ease in
connecting with classmates, as well as overcoming personal fears, such as a fear of
heights.


During the projects we were reminded that integration isn’t a one-size-fits-all
process but a mosaic of small, personal victories—finding a friend, learning to say
“hello” in Latvian, or feeling at ease in a foreign land. The big challenges newcomers
face daily, whether personal, linguistic or logistical, hopefully always can potentially
be balanced by simple moments of connection, achievement, and joy.

*Eurostat. (2022). Foreign language skills statistics – Statistics Explained. European Commission. From
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Foreign_language_skills_statistics

By: Ilze Seipule

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