A summer camp bridges communities in Saulkrasti

The University of Latvia joined the Interreg Europe SIRM project as a partner. SIRM aims to support project partners in identifying solutions for the socio-economic integration of third-country nationals.

After the project’s launch in 2023, project partners visited Rzeszów, a Polish city in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, which borders Ukraine. Partners explored good practices developed in response to the arrival of Ukrainian families.

The Latvian partner took these ideas back to the Saulkrasti municipality and used them as inspiration to create a summer camp for Ukrainian and local children.

Saulkrasti organised the camp in July 2024. Over 30 youths participated in the camp. Organised near the seaside, the programme included activities such as learning Latvian, cultural workshops, and creative sessions where the children explored both countries’ traditions. They cooked both Latvian and Ukrainian dishes and played sports together to break down language barriers.

By creating a safe, non-formal setting, the camp helped children connect more naturally, build confidence, and develop respect for their cultures and experiences.

Are you looking for practical ways to strengthen social cohesion among refugees, immigrants, and their host communities in your region? Listen to the Interreg Europe podcast episode 3, When Europe cooperates: building inclusion through a summer youth camp, to discover how Saulkrasti turned inspiration from Poland into action.

You’ll hear from a SIRM project partner from the University of Latvia, who helped bring inspiration from good practices in Poland to Saulkrasti. The episode also features one of Interreg Europe’s Thematic Experts, who sheds light on how the municipality developed its policy based on the Polish good practice.