On Friday, October 17, the educational event “EU in My School”, organized by the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES), took place at RTU Liepāja. The goal of the event was to raise awareness of the European Union’s investment in education, science, and urban development, while also encouraging young people to reflect on their own educational and career opportunities in Latvia and across Europe.
Approximately 180 young people aged 14 to 19 from schools in Liepāja and the Kurzeme region took part in the event. It was opened by representatives from the MoES Structural Funds Department, the Liepāja Education Department, and the European Commission Representation in Latvia, all of whom emphasized the importance of such initiatives in promoting youth engagement, education, and understanding of regional development.
“Learning new facts about one’s city is not only exciting, but also broadens our horizons and is a wonderful way to develop knowledge and skills throughout life. ‘Europe in My School’ invites young people to view Liepāja with fresh eyes — to discover familiar places from a new perspective. Many of these locations have been modernized with the support of EU structural funds. That is why it's important to recognize that these investments benefit everyone by creating a better environment for business, and a better place to grow and thrive,”
emphasized Ilze Miķelsone, Director of the MoES Structural Funds Department.
Līva Vilciņa, Head of the Development and Project Department at the Liepāja Education Department, added:
“Today, you will journey through a city that breathes and grows with your presence — the youth. The classrooms where you spend so much of your time, the concert hall, the beach, and many other places you will visit today were all developed or improved by people just like you, who saw an opportunity and realized it with the support of the European Union.
Remember — Europe is not just Strasbourg or Brussels. Europe is here in Liepāja. You are the future of this city.”
Signe Groza, Economic Adviser at the European Commission Representation in Latvia, addressed the young audience:
“You are a generation born and raised in the European Union. It will be up to you in the future to make important decisions about how resources will be used to support Latvia’s development.
In the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, €9.3 billion have been earmarked for Latvia in the European Commission’s proposal. By making smart use of the European Competitiveness Fund, Latvia can gain even more — by investing wisely in both competitiveness and the strengthening of Latvia’s and Europe’s security.
In the future, it will be your responsibility to help guide political decisions so that public investments deliver the greatest and most targeted benefits to society.”
The day began with an interactive orienteering game “Roadgames”, where young people explored Liepāja’s urban environment and learned about EU co-funded projects in the city. The game route included both well-known and lesser-known sites, helping participants better understand how EU investments in city infrastructure support entrepreneurship and create new career opportunities for youth.
The event also featured a booth “Europe for Youth”, jointly hosted by the European Commission Representation in Latvia, the European Parliament Office, and the EUROPE DIRECT Kuldīga centre. The booth offered activities that helped young people better understand EU values and opportunities.
Meanwhile, teachers attended an engaging workshop titled “European Union Insights and Practical Ideas for Strengthening Democracy”, led by Liene Valdmane, a methodology expert from the EU House Education Resource Centre. Educators praised the session as high-quality, informative, and practically useful. They explored EU principles and priorities, and gained practical tools and ideas to promote democratic culture in their schools and classrooms.
The event concluded with inspiring career stories, where young scientists Jānis Lazovskis and Vadims Parfejevs — participants in the Postdoctoral Research Project — shared their journeys in science and research, offering motivation and insight for the participants’ future decisions in education and career.
At the end of the day, the winners of the “Roadgames” orienteering competition were awarded — the most successful teams received symbolic prizes provided by the event’s partners. Special surprises and gifts were sponsored by:
Liepāja Olympic Centre, Liepāja Theatre, SUP School, Liepāja Education Department, Liepāja Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZ), Drift Hall, “Miko,” and RTU Liepāja.
Additional prizes were awarded for creative photo and video tasks. Two teams were recognized by the European Commission Representation in Latvia for their video challenge, which required them to film a 30-second clip in which each team member named an EU value and briefly explained how it benefits society. Highlighted themes included the benefits of democracy, freedom of speech, participation in elections, equality, and access to education.
Meanwhile, the Latvian Science Council selected and awarded the best photo and video entries that illustrated Liepāja’s potential as an “energy powerhouse” — showcasing moments when nature's forces symbolically transform into energy that brings light and motion.
The Ministry of Education and Science also recognized the best-performing and most engaged teams. The winning team of the day was “LJČVL”.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Education and Science as the managing authority for EU funds in education and science, in collaboration with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), the Liepāja Municipality, RTU Liepāja, and the European Commission Representation in Latvia.
“Europe in My School” is part of the European Commission’s communication campaign “EU in My Region”, which aims to raise awareness about EU investments across Europe. The “EU in My School” initiative specifically targets young audiences, working with schools, local municipalities, and EU fund project implementers to show how Europe is present in their everyday lives and regional development.
