A Place Where Young People Can Try, Make Mistakes and Create
In Rēzekne, there is a place where young people can come with an idea, find like-minded peers, experiment, make mistakes and create exciting events through their own initiative. A Watermelon Party, cooperation with local businesses, involvement in the European Parliament elections, friendship evenings, training sessions and much more – for five years such an environment in the heart of Latgale has been fostered by the association “Art Market.”
Last year, the organisation was nominated in the national competition “Best in Youth Work” in the category “Fastest Leap.” This year, Rēzekne has become the Youth Capital of Latvia, and one of the board members of the association, Liāna Merņaka, admits that the greatest credit belongs to the young people of Rēzekne themselves.
The Courage to Take Initiative
The association “Art Market,” one of the most active youth organisations in Rēzekne, brings together young people from the age of 13, with the most active core group being 15–16 years old. Some members now study in Riga but continue to participate in the city’s activities during weekends.
“Gradually we have formed a friendly community where belonging is not defined by where you live, but by your involvement. Everyone who wants to participate is welcome – over the years we have engaged more than 300 young people in various activities,” Liāna shares.
Liāna’s journey in the non-governmental sector and non-formal education began 17 years ago when she first visited the youth centre “JACis” in Rēzekne.
“The opportunity to implement my ideas, participate in projects and spend time with other young people in a supportive environment helped me develop leadership, communication and teamwork skills. At first I participated in projects as a volunteer and participant, later I started writing projects and organising activities myself. Today, in the ‘Art Market’ association, I volunteer by creating visual materials, since my profession is graphic design, and I also help with documentation and organisational matters,” Liāna explains.
Young People Do It Themselves
The year 2025 was particularly active for the association. Camps were organised, dozens of creative and educational workshops took place, as well as lectures, informal meetings and themed evenings.
Young people are especially interested in participating in Erasmus+ youth exchange programmes, training both in Latvia and abroad, involvement in city events, initiatives to improve the urban environment and volunteering.
Liāna emphasises that the most important aspect of youth work is not “how much,” but “how.”
“Our association is special because youth participation here is not a formality where adults do everything. Young people do it themselves – they write project applications, approach partners, attract funding and lead activities for their peers. Of course, we are the adults – three board members – who manage the legal side and coordination, but the main work is done by the young people themselves. I am really proud that the first project of the association was written entirely by the youth – we only reviewed it. That is the best way to learn that a project is not just a package of documents, but an initiative that requires responsibility, planning, teamwork and the ability to complete what you start.”
Respectful, Without Dictation, and Meaningful
One of the key principles of “Art Market” is a free and respectful environment.
“In our association there are no strict plans or orders ‘from above.’ Our main principle is to let young people generate ideas themselves. Even the strangest idea can become an excellent project if it is refined properly. We support young people and help structure their ideas, but we never force them,” Liāna explains.
Teachers and volunteers Jūlija Šķestere and Valentīns Isakovs have played a major role from the very beginning of the organisation. Over time, a team formed around them, the first projects were implemented, and more and more young people joined civic initiatives.
Young people who prefer to observe quietly are also welcome.
“Change does not happen immediately. A young person who at first was quiet and insecure may, after a year, already take responsibility and lead others. Especially if they understand that no one will laugh at them here and that they will be listened to. This approach helps young people move from observers to doers,” Liāna believes.
Particularly popular are peer-to-peer activities organised by the young people themselves – “Youth to Youth.” This form of non-formal education helps them develop practical skills such as public speaking, event hosting, understanding an audience and teamwork.
A Drive to Create Something Exciting
Sometimes civic engagement begins with a very simple question: why doesn’t our city have a cool event?
This is exactly how the idea for the Watermelon Party during the city festival was born. With sponsors attracted by the young people themselves, decorations and nearly half a tonne of watermelons distributed to festival participants, the event became more than entertainment.
It was training in cooperation, fundraising, organisation and responsibility for a shared result.
This year, the association launched a youth discount card initiative with local businesses and conducted its first youth survey. Ten cafés and restaurants in the city were awarded the title “Youth-Friendly Place 2026.” The initiative is planned to expand beyond Rēzekne.
“This is community building in a very practical and understandable way – young people and entrepreneurs learn to cooperate, while the city gains a friendlier environment appreciated by everyone,” Liāna says.
Civic Education and International Experience
Civic education also plays an important role in the association’s work. Last year young people created a social media campaign encouraging residents to participate in the European Parliament elections. They also took part in democracy-related projects, including cooperation with the U.S. Embassy, where discussions were combined with creative environmental installations and gamification elements.
Young people from the association have participated in more than ten ERASMUS+ international youth exchange projects, and one such project has already been implemented in the Rēzekne region. Six youth workers from the association have also had the opportunity to develop their professional skills through four international training programmes.
Another project, KA2 “SolarPex,” in which “Art Market” is a partner, is currently in its research phase. Young people and youth workers from Germany, Latvia, Italy and Spain are developing new educational methods and tools using the LARP (Live Action Role-Playing) approach. Participants will test these methods for a week in Rēzekne before later offering them to schools and youth workers across the European Union.
Volunteering – Skills for Life and Career
Volunteering has a special place in the story of “Art Market.” For many young people it is not just about helping at an event, but about learning essential skills for the future: project writing, camp leadership, working with children, communication, initiative, photography and video production, graphic design, marketing and more.
Another important aspect is inclusion. Rēzekne is a multicultural city, and the association operates in a multi-ethnic environment where young people feel they belong regardless of language or background. Many young people who initially struggled with language or confidence have overcome these challenges with the support of the association.
“The greatest joy in my work is seeing how young people grow with our support, become wiser and more confident, and develop pride in their city and their roots. That motivates and inspires me to continue,” Liāna says.
Civic Participation
The development of civic participation depends on trust and opportunities for young people to act. Such experiences help them learn cooperation, responsibility and confidence in their ability to influence what happens around them.
The work of non-governmental organisations demonstrates how participation strengthens communities and democracy in practice. In the current geopolitical context, this is especially important for Latvia – maintaining the ability to act responsibly, participate actively and stand up for the values and security of the country.
To support this development, it is important to understand young people’s civic knowledge, attitudes and experiences. By participating in civic education research, students, teachers and schools help generate insights that make it possible to create an environment where young people feel engaged and capable of acting for the benefit of society.
Youth civic knowledge in Latvia is studied and analysed through participation in the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (IEA ICCS 2027). Data has already been collected in the pilot phase and is currently being analysed to improve the methodology before the main study in 2027.
Latvia’s participation in the OECD CERI programme and IEA ICCS 2027 is ensured through the project “Participation in International Education Studies.” This is one of the initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science with support from European Union funds to develop a sustainable and effective education system.
This story has been created with the support of European Union funds.
