The practice provided multidisciplinary support to migrants: Latvian language courses and language clubs (including introduction to Latvian culture via films, books, visits to a museum and theatre), translation services, publishing an online informative resource in 4 languages on migrants’ rights and accessible services, online and offline individual social and legal issue consultations, support group meetings, as well as consultation on the principles and norms regulating the establishment and operation of non-governmental organizations.

The objective of the initiative was to enhance the contribution of third country nationals to the development of civic society and interest representation in Latvia by providing a multidisciplinary support to migrants – developing their Latvian language skills, providing legal and social services, thus enhancing the integration of third country nationals in Latvia. 

The practice involved Latvian language classes, Latvian language club meetings (including introduction to Latvian culture via films, books, a visit to a museum and theatre); the publication of an online informative resource in Latvian, Russian, English and French on the rights and services available to third country nationals in Latvia; online and offline social and legal service consultations based on individual needs, support group meetings, as well as consultations on the principles and norms for the establishment and operation of non-governmental organizations in Latvia. 

The project combined Latvian language training with opportunities to practice the language by also learning more about Latvia - culture, rights and services available to third country nationals in Latvia, as well as opportunities to establish non-governmental organizations to represent interests or provide support to third country nationals. 

64 Latvian language classes (2 hours) were provided to 30 persons. 20 Latvian club meetings (2,5 hours) involved 24 persons practicing the Latvian language, watching films and reading books in Latvian, as well as visiting the ethnographic museum and a National theater performance (with the assistance of an interpreter). Based on the language club meetings a manual for practicing Latvian language was published. 

The online informative resource in Latvian, English, Russian and French on the rights and services available to third country nationals focused on residence permits, employment, housing, health care, education, social protection, entrepreneurship, as well as general information on Latvia. It also included contacts to state institutions, non-governmental institutions, health care institutions and law enforcement institutions. 

Finally, 73 individual online and offline consultations of social workers and lawyers were provided, as well as 20 consultations on the principles and norms to establish and maintain a non-governmental organization. 

Participants stressed opportunities: 

• to get to know each other thus increasing social networks among locals and third country nationals (some continued engaging in the activities carried out by the NGO and talking to Latvian media about migrants’ interests),

• to create a manual for practicing Latvian, 

• learn to know Latvian culture, analysing parallels with their own culture, traditions and history. 

The short duration of the project (due to national management of EIF) did not allow this activity to be systematic (instead of periodical), decreasing the motivation for the implementing organization, as well as third country nationals and locals involved. 

Direct beneficiaries were 30 third country nationals involved in the project. But, as some of the outcomes (e.g. online informative resource on rights and services) are available without limitations, the practice can benefit all third country nationals in Latvia. 

The project was funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals, with 75% of the funding coming from the EU budget, and 25% of the funding coming from the Latvian state budget. The total cost of the project was 23 692 LVL (or approximately 33 749 Euro).