To reduce prejudice and promote the inclusion of people with special needs in society, on Thursday, 8 May, the Ministry of Welfare, in cooperation with the multifunctional service centre “Ādažu Ūdensroze”, will organise “Forest Day” – a forest restoration community event. The initiative is intended as a joint effort to create a greener and more beautiful Latvia and as a reminder of the importance of an inclusive society.
The forest restoration activity will bring together clients of the “Ādažu Ūdensroze” day care and rehabilitation centre and specialised workshops in Carnikava – people with mental disabilities. To strengthen mutual understanding and inclusion, the event will also involve social workers, youth from the Ādaži floorball team, local residents, as well as Elīna Celmiņa, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Welfare, and Andris Kužnieks, Acting Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia.
A core value of Latvia and the European Union is that every person matters. To reduce the risks of social exclusion, since 2016 the Ministry of Welfare, in cooperation with local municipalities and with the financial support of the European Union funds, has been implementing projects under the deinstitutionalisation programme. These projects focus on developing community-based social service infrastructure, expanding and delivering services, and creating an inclusive environment that allows people with mental disabilities to live in a family-like setting and become part of their local community.
The “Ādažu Ūdensroze” day care centre currently provides services to 15 people with mental disabilities, while the specialised workshops in Carnikava offer home economics and handicraft classes, helping participants acquire skills needed for the labour market and promoting greater independence.
📍 Location: “Rīgas meži” territory between Ādaži and Carnikava
🕙 Time: 8 May, 10:00–14:00
🗺️ Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XwXr9gHdQoBZxzx48
