As part of the cross-border project “TRUST2INTEGRATE”, representatives of the Social Service of the municipality of Haapsalu (Estonia) visit Ogre

On April 25 and 26, Ogre visited Haapsalu as part of the TRUST2INTEGRATE project co-financed by the Estonian-Latvian cross-border cooperation program representatives of the Social Service of the city municipality (Estonia) together with their clients from the Häapsalu social house. Young people from the specialized workshops of the Social Service of Ogre region also participated in the two-day program. The main goal of this project is to promote social trust and inclusion, to promote opportunities for people with special needs to integrate into the labor market, as well as to develop awareness in society and to explain the valuable work abilities and human importance of these special people.

This was already the third meeting of the representatives of Ogre region and Häapsalu municipality, but this time it was created with a special program focused on training in the catering sector. The meeting took place in the recently opened social skills education and entrepreneurship center “Ogres Zelta liepa”.

In a cozy atmosphere, the participants learned how to set tables, prepare different types of food and serve guests. A three-course meal was prepared and enjoyed together. This was a valuable experience for the representatives of Estonia, because until now it has been a challenge to involve people with special needs in the catering sector. On the other hand, the social enterprise “Ogres Zelta liepa” is one of the rare examples in Latvia, which develops dynamically and engages people with various disabilities in work.

On the first day, April 25, the participants also visited the specialized workshops of the Ogre County Social Service, where they learned about the creative and functional development of various materials, candle making and experienced a wonderful concert by the Ogre preschool educational institution “Zelta Sietiņš”. On April 26, the participants went to the specialized workshops in Jumprava, where they learned technical skills in working with leather material processing and creating creative objects. At the end of the visit, the participants of Hāpsalu and Ogre counties together created a tree of life made of buttons, which Zanda Vītola, head of specialized workshops in Ogre county, presented as a gift to representatives of the Social Service of Hāpsalu municipality. The next meeting is scheduled for June 13 and 14, when representatives of the municipality of Ogre region and young people with special needs from the Social Service will visit the social center of the municipality of Haapsalu.

The information was prepared by project representatives