Call 2021, Round 1, European Solidarity Corps - Quality Label
Submission Deadline (Brussels Time) 2022-12-31 12:00:00
Strategy and Activity Plan
In this section, you are asked to explain your longer-term goals, plans, expected benefits and the link with the objectives of
the programme. Make sure to read the questions carefully and address all sub-questions.
Please describe your longer term objectives as a Lead organisation in the European Solidarity Corps. What are the
societal needs and challenges that you are seeking to address? Please describe your strategy for achieving these
objectives.
Long-term goal:
To promote the involvement in cultural and social processes of different communities, incl. young people, by
implementing a diverse interdisciplinary cultural event program on issues of public importance, as well as informing the
society, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public bodies about the opportunities offered to young people and
communities by the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and generally volunteering, thus contributing to diverse, inclusive
and socially active society in Latvia.
Challenges to address and strategies:
1) Necessity of increasing civic engagement - for democracy and human rights, for climate action.
The results of the European Social Survey show that only a small part of Latvian society is civically active (9% of the
population, compared to 30% in the Scandinavian countries).
The mission of KKC since its first day has been to foster the civic engagement by creating an open and safe environment
where people with different backgrounds could interact with each other, discuss, and exchange ideas. So far, together
with our partners, we have organized various events and participated in local and international projects aiming to raise
awareness about issues of public importance (such as human rights or climate changes, etc.) and to encourage civic
engagement. ESC volunteers are welcome to get involved in the co-organization ofthese events as well as to implement
their own ideas, using their experience, skills, and interests with the support of staff.One of such initiatives was the
funding of the first Community Fridge in Latvia by ESC volunteer in 2019, to involve local community is reduction of food
waste, and received a wide, positive response from the public. Many of our partners are not aware of the ESC program
opportunities and we would love to encourage them for becoming volunteer hosting organisations by sharing our
experience and knowledge.
2) Necessity of increasing inclusion and promoting diversity as a value.
Society is polarized by economic, political, ethnic, and other factors. The level of intolerance towards various social
groups and minorities is still high, especially in Latvia, where the intolerance index is one of the highest in Europe. Hate
speech, xenophobia, and hate crimes are current problems throughout Eastern Europe, including Latvia.
This is a great environment where ESC volunteers can get involved in co-creating socially meaningful projects and
promote EU values, according to their skills and interests. We can offer volunteers to co-create various cultural and
educational events to raise awareness about human rights, environment and other social importance topics with
campaigns, discussions, workshops, exhibitions, performances, etc. The building is currently in reconstruction to install an
elevator to become more accessible. We are proud that the team of KKC is multicultural and inclusive, we keep improving
and show example to many other organisations and local communities. What is more, to foster the culture dialogue and
diversity, knowledge transfer, and to promote the development of new public activities, KKC cooperates with international
artists and experts in various fields.
3) Necessity of promoting youth development and ESC opportunities.
In Latvia 1/10 (~30 000) of youth aged 15-29 according to Eurostat data neither work nor study (EU average 12.5%). The
International Youth Program Agency's 2019 report concludes that not all of the opportunities of participation in youth
projects and youth centers are being used by youngsters who have access to them. Therefore, more emphasis should be
put on motivating young people to get involved and informing them about the opportunities for personal and professional
growth offered by volunteering and ESC program. Therefore one of the KKC’s goals is to foster awareness of
volunteering and ESC to society, NGOs and public bodies by using our experience and resources - significant visits (50
000 visitors per year) and social networking audience (Facebook 30 000 followers, Instagram 4 000, Twitter 6 500),
strategic publicity in various public (Latvian radio, TV news, etc.) and commercial (Satori, Arterritory, TVNET, Delfi, print
EN 36 /48
Submission Deadline (Brussels Time) 2022-12-31 12:00:00
Strategy and Activity Plan
In this section, you are asked to explain your longer-term goals, plans, expected benefits and the link with the objectives of
the programme. Make sure to read the questions carefully and address all sub-questions.
Please describe your longer term objectives as a Lead organisation in the European Solidarity Corps. What are the
societal needs and challenges that you are seeking to address? Please describe your strategy for achieving these
objectives.
Long-term goal:
To promote the involvement in cultural and social processes of different communities, incl. young people, by
implementing a diverse interdisciplinary cultural event program on issues of public importance, as well as informing the
society, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public bodies about the opportunities offered to young people and
communities by the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) and generally volunteering, thus contributing to diverse, inclusive
and socially active society in Latvia.
Challenges to address and strategies:
1) Necessity of increasing civic engagement - for democracy and human rights, for climate action.
The results of the European Social Survey show that only a small part of Latvian society is civically active (9% of the
population, compared to 30% in the Scandinavian countries).
The mission of KKC since its first day has been to foster the civic engagement by creating an open and safe environment
where people with different backgrounds could interact with each other, discuss, and exchange ideas. So far, together
with our partners, we have organized various events and participated in local and international projects aiming to raise
awareness about issues of public importance (such as human rights or climate changes, etc.) and to encourage civic
engagement. ESC volunteers are welcome to get involved in the co-organization ofthese events as well as to implement
their own ideas, using their experience, skills, and interests with the support of staff.One of such initiatives was the
funding of the first Community Fridge in Latvia by ESC volunteer in 2019, to involve local community is reduction of food
waste, and received a wide, positive response from the public. Many of our partners are not aware of the ESC program
opportunities and we would love to encourage them for becoming volunteer hosting organisations by sharing our
experience and knowledge.
2) Necessity of increasing inclusion and promoting diversity as a value.
Society is polarized by economic, political, ethnic, and other factors. The level of intolerance towards various social
groups and minorities is still high, especially in Latvia, where the intolerance index is one of the highest in Europe. Hate
speech, xenophobia, and hate crimes are current problems throughout Eastern Europe, including Latvia.
This is a great environment where ESC volunteers can get involved in co-creating socially meaningful projects and
promote EU values, according to their skills and interests. We can offer volunteers to co-create various cultural and
educational events to raise awareness about human rights, environment and other social importance topics with
campaigns, discussions, workshops, exhibitions, performances, etc. The building is currently in reconstruction to install an
elevator to become more accessible. We are proud that the team of KKC is multicultural and inclusive, we keep improving
and show example to many other organisations and local communities. What is more, to foster the culture dialogue and
diversity, knowledge transfer, and to promote the development of new public activities, KKC cooperates with international
artists and experts in various fields.
3) Necessity of promoting youth development and ESC opportunities.
In Latvia 1/10 (~30 000) of youth aged 15-29 according to Eurostat data neither work nor study (EU average 12.5%). The
International Youth Program Agency's 2019 report concludes that not all of the opportunities of participation in youth
projects and youth centers are being used by youngsters who have access to them. Therefore, more emphasis should be
put on motivating young people to get involved and informing them about the opportunities for personal and professional
growth offered by volunteering and ESC program. Therefore one of the KKC’s goals is to foster awareness of
volunteering and ESC to society, NGOs and public bodies by using our experience and resources - significant visits (50
000 visitors per year) and social networking audience (Facebook 30 000 followers, Instagram 4 000, Twitter 6 500),
strategic publicity in various public (Latvian radio, TV news, etc.) and commercial (Satori, Arterritory, TVNET, Delfi, print
EN 36 /48
