December is the time when the annual forum “What you sow, you will reap” takes place in the Children and Youth Center of the Talsu region, where young people who have something to say and who want to be heard participate. They both present their own implemented projects, discuss and also receive thanks for the work done, who have invested their time and energy for the benefit of society.
We meet with some young volunteers a couple of days before the forum. Their volunteer work is also helping to create the forum, and this year they are also involved in preparing packages for lonely seniors in Tulsa County. One of them is Oskar Ugrik, who does good deeds to encourage others to do the same. “If I take the first step, there will be a crowd effect, which will also make others want to do good,” Oskar is sure. “When you do volunteer work, you don’t ask for anything in return – it’s simply your kindness.” Oskar has helped to create an interactive walking trail in Vandzene, which leads in the footsteps of Baron Heiking, to manage the camp and also to call for help from the People’s House.
In order to count volunteer hours, young people must sign a contract at BJC and pick up volunteer work books. This year, 26 have done it, 16 have submitted it back. Ten of them have accumulated more than 60 hours and received certificates during the honoring at the forum, which can be added to their CV later, while six received thanks. In addition, new this year – young people could also accumulate non-formal education hours for seminars, courses or trainings and receive certificates for this. This aspect motivates young people to participate more. “We have noticed that employers are increasingly looking not only at work experience, but also at what you do in addition – for example, volunteer work,” explains Katrīna Segliņa, a youth worker at the BJC in Talsu region.
But Agneta Ratniece, who accumulated 102 hours, won the special volunteer work award, which was made in the shape of a staircase. “As much as possible, I tried to get involved in youth work, in the organization of events, in the project of the youth club “Kontakts”. Wherever I was given the opportunity, if I had free time, I went there. This is not my first year, but I wanted to prove that I can achieve something when working with young people and test my limits. It gives me self-confidence,” Agneta admitted after receiving the award.
The forum also honored the best youth organization, which received a saddlebag as the main prize. Not even hoping for it themselves, the youth of Vandzene came to it, and their youth worker Liva Kirkopa tried emotionally to control her tears. Later in the interview, Liva admitted that it was because her young people really are colossal badasses: “They help me, I help them, and only together can something succeed. I love working with them!”
Photo: Teresa Mattison
The material was created with the funding of the Media Support Fund from the funds of the Latvian state budget. SIA “TV9 Pakalni” is responsible for the content.
2024-12-16 11:11:00