“Envy me – I attended all the seminars! I received enormous support and a real ‘push’ – the foundation for my idea is now laid!” – this is how participant Zita Jēkabsone-Saulīte described the Riga training cycle “How to Create Social Innovations in the Field of Social Services”, organized by the Society Integration Foundation (SIF).
The aim of the training was to provide in-depth knowledge, practical skills, and inspiration for creating and developing innovative social services. Judging by the participants’ evaluations, the goal has been achieved — they rated the training cycle 9.3 out of 10 points, highly valuing the acquired knowledge, ideas, contacts, and shared experience stories. In total, the Riga seminars were attended by 140 participants, including municipal social service specialists, NGO representatives, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders in the field of social services.
The sessions were led by professional and experienced experts from various fields:
Liesma Ose, communication and social work expert, lecturer at the University of Latvia;
Vita Brakovska, business trainer, lecturer at Riga Technical University, and head of the association “Knowledge and Innovation Society”;
Liene Kupča, innovation mentor and service design strategist;
Juris Osis, social service planning expert with long-standing experience in Riga City Municipality;
Una Lapskalna-Alksne, head of Ventspils Social Service.
To deepen understanding of social innovation and the specifics of the social services sector, the training cycle included three experience stories.
One of the speakers, Andris Bērziņš, head of the Latvian Samaritan Association, presented innovative services such as “Drošības poga” (Safety Button) and specially equipped minibuses for home care even in the most remote regions of Latvia.
Kristīne Freiberga, head of the Sigulda Municipality Social Service, shared insights into the most common challenges in the social sector and how the service addresses them.
Meanwhile, Žanete Jansone, board member of Hospiss Māja, spoke about introducing hospice care services in Latvia, related challenges, ensuring sustainability, and future plans.
Participants named a wide range of benefits from the training: new knowledge, inspiration, clarity, contacts and potential partners, answers to key questions, confidence in their ideas, motivation, and a deeper understanding of social innovation.
“It is important to listen to the target group, ask the right questions, look at the problem from a different perspective, and seek partners,”
– shared Kristiāna Stirāne, Project Manager at Children’s Hospital Foundation, after the second seminar “How to Find the Right Problem?”.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to attend these seminars. Outstanding lecturers – professionals who provide a broad perspective on the topics and the real situation around us. I gained knowledge and skills to see things differently. What I will immediately apply in my work is reviewing my services: what is unnecessary, what should be added or combined to create an innovative approach. I give it 10 out of 10 – thank you!”
– said Irina Žukova, board member of TAG-VējTur Ltd., after the third seminar “How to Design a Solution with a Social Innovation Approach”.
“The session provided understanding not only of what innovation is, but also of what qualifies as a social service under Latvian legislation. The lecturer’s examples of both successful and unsuccessful social services were very useful. Overall – very valuable time spent!”
– emphasized Diāna Mekša, head of the multifunctional center “Atver durvis Betānijā”, after the fourth seminar “Practical Steps in Developing Social Innovations”.
“The Hospiss Māja story was truly valuable, as were the lecturer’s insights and networking with other participants. Finally, there was a space to meet like-minded professionals. Very positive experience – thank you!”
– shared Margita Erele, head of the Social Services Department at the association “Rīgas pilsētas Rūpju bērns”, after the fifth seminar “Sustainability in Social Innovation and Cross-Sector Cooperation”.
The training cycle “How to Create Social Innovations in the Field of Social Services” consisted of five thematically linked seminars:
Introduction to social innovations and community-based social services;
Identifying the root causes of problems;
Developing innovative solutions;
Practical steps for implementing social innovations within the Latvian legal and service framework;
Sustainability, impact measurement, scalability, and cross-sector cooperation.
This training cycle is being implemented across all regions of Latvia. It has already concluded in Kurzeme and Riga, continues in Vidzeme and Zemgale, and will begin in Latgale on March 26.
More information is available [here].
Currently, all seminar spots are filled, but occasionally places become available if participants withdraw. Interested persons are invited to write to atbalsts.inovacijam@sif.gov.lv.
SIF expresses heartfelt thanks to all Riga training participants for their responsiveness, engagement, time, and energy, and for their commitment to developing social innovations in Latvia!
This training cycle is part of the ESF+ project “Support for New Approaches in Providing Community-Based Social Services” (No. 4.4.1.1./1/24/I/001), implemented by the Society Integration Foundation (SIF).
The project’s aim is to promote social innovation in the field of social services by developing modern, needs-based, and community-oriented solutions.
Photo gallery: https://www.sif.gov.lv/lv/galerija/bilzu-galerija
