Last weekend, Israeli Ambassador Orly Gil and US Ambassador John L. Carwile visited the “Imanta” structural unit of the Riga Municipal Children and Youth Centre, which houses 37 children and young people separated from their families. The ambassadors, together with the embassy staff and Israeli students studying at the Riga Stradins University Medical Faculty, joined forces to improve the outdoor area of the centre, so children and young adults can enjoy it in warm weather.
The Israeli and US ambassadors planted thujas along the fence, painted swings, restored children's playgrounds, installed a new swing and a new streetball court, repaired an outdoor fireplace, and did other landscaping work. The landscaping took place from early morning to afternoon, while the children had remote learning in accordance with epidemiological requirements. The helpers arrived at different times.
This initiative was proposed by the Israeli embassy because every year in Israel, during spring the Day of Good Deeds is celebrated, when everyone is invited to do a good deed, which can be a small favour for others to a global social project.
Both Mārtiņš Moors, Head of the Social Administration of the Riga City Council Welfare Department, and Kaspars Jasinkevičs, Director of the Riga Municipal Children and Youth Centre, praised the initiative and the positive cooperation for children and young adults. They also mentioned that they will definitely be expecting the ambassadors once more, when it is possible to visit the centre so that the ambassadors have a better idea of how children live in out-of-home care in Riga.
The Riga Municipal Children and Youth Centre provides long-term social care and social rehabilitation services to orphans and children left without parental care. In total, the municipality has six structural units with 196 positions. The "Imanta" structural unit can accommodate 45 children and young adults in six apartments.
Published: 21.04.2021.
