Sandra Zalcmane, the head of the Society “Shelter “Safe House”, informed that 76 persons from Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Iraq participated in the social inclusion training programme within the project “The Support Actions for Persons under International Protection” for three months. Trainings about Latvia were provided for three groups. Five classes, a training visit to the BUTS training centre and a visit to the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation were organised for each of them.
Attendees were informed that, in addition to trainings, the informative material “Latvian – a country near the Baltic Sea” was updated, as well as a special informative material about Latvian children was created during the implementation of the programme.
The first two interactive pieces/animations of 10 planned pieces about the beginning of life in Latvia have been created involving the project target group in the activity. Pieces are created as easy-to-perceive and compelling for minor children and persons with weak writing and reading skills, there are plans to use them as a visual aid in the training programme about Latvia.
Also, information was provided that the website created by the society last year www.beglis.lv/refugees.lv was being updated within the scope of the project.
When answering to the questions of deputies about problems related to the acceptance of refugees, S.Zalcmane indicated that the problem of finding a home in the first three months was the most topical for refugees.
“The first months are the most difficult for refugees, because they must provide themselves and their family with all the essentials. This problem may be solved by a nine-month allowance, thus moving allowances from the last three months to the first three months to make it easier for the person, who has obtained the status of a refugee, to start independent life in Latvia”.
She identified the short period of learning Latvian as the second most topical problem. “If a refugee is learning Latvian in the centre for accommodation of asylum seekers “Mucenieki” for three months, then the resulting knowledge of Latvian is quite insignificant. Learning of the language may be continued in the State Employment Agency, however, the period of studies is insufficient”. As a solution, S.Zalcmane offered deputies to extend this period to at least three months.
Information was prepared by: Rasa Salina (Rasa Saliņa), Communications and Social Media Expert, e-mail: rasa.salina@gmail.com