Our+Friend+IN+Latvia

Dear project partners,

We are students from Kraslava Gymnasium, Latvia. We are glad that we can take part in this project. We hope that we will exchange information and learn a lot about injustices in Latvia, Canada and other parts of the world.

Some information about Latvia. The Republic of Latvia was founded in 1918. It has been continuously recognised as a state by other countries since 1920 despite occupations by the Soviet Union (1940-1941, 1945-1991) and Nazi Germany (1941-1945). On August 21, 1991 Latvia declared the restoration of its de facto independence. Latvia is the central country of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). On the world map Latvia is to be found in North-eastern Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. The landscape of the country is marked by lowland plains and rolling hills. Area: 64,589 sq.km or 24,937 sq.miles. Latvians and Livs are the indigenous people of Latvia.

The ethnic mix of the population of Latvia is largely the result of massive post-war immigration. Population: about 2,306,600

Ethnic composition: 58.2% Latvian, 29.2% Russian, 4.0% Belorussian, 2.6% Ukrainian, 2.5% Polish and other nationalities. Official Language: Latvian. (more about Latvia: www.latinst.lv)

Lately we have a migration problem. The emigration of Latvians to other European countries has increased following Latvia’s accession to the EU. Figures provided by the Ministry of Economics show that about 40,000-50,000 Latvians work in other EU Member States. The majority of Latvian emigrants work in Ireland.

The main reasons for emigration are low salaries, and lack of future vision. People leave for a short period of time, initially to earn money, but after having adapted to a new country many do not want to return. While abroad, Latvians mainly engage in blue-collar work; however, this does not necessarily mean that only unskilled professions leave to work abroad. The differences in wages are so extreme that people can earn significantly more by doing unskilled work abroad than in a qualified job in Latvia.

Emigration has resulted in a labour force deficit and in an increase in salary levels in the country, which in turn has led to a corresponding rise in inflation. The lack of unskilled manpower in Latvia has resulted from emigration and from the fact that more Latvian people want to educate themselves and to look for 'intelligent workplaces'. We live in the region called Latgale or the Land of Blue Lakes. There are about a thousand lakes in it. The deepest lake in Latvia is Dridzi and it is found in our Kraslava district.

Our hometown Kraslava, one of the most beautiful and most visited towns in the region, is located in the so-called Switzerland of Latgale (about 260 km southeast of Riga, our capital), in the area where the foothills of the Eastern Latvian Highland descend closest to the Daugava, longest river of Latvia.

Its population is about 12 thousand people.

Kraslava was mentioned for the first time in documents in 1558, but the town started developing in 1729, when the count Ludvig Plater bought Kraslava. For nearly two centuries the Platers family determined Kraslava`s economical and cultural life. Kraslava attracts visitors with its impressive historic and architectural monuments in both the town and its surrounding area. In our district there are 273 beautiful lakes.

Local people face economic and social problems: unemployment, poverty, inflation. There is lack of workplaces and young people go to bigger cities and abroad to find better-paid jobs. The government is trying to change the situation for the better. Recently they have approved a plan for cutting inflation in Latvia.

Our school, Kraslava Gymnasium is a state secondary school. There are about 350 students and about 30 teachers there. Average class size is about 20 students. Students from class 7 (13 years of age) to class 12 attend our school. The students take part in different contests and projects. Evaluating these achievements and the exam results, the school is among 10 best schools in our country. We are proud of it.

The school facilities include a library, a school museum, two gyms (small), 2 computer labs, a video class, a dining room. Lessons start at 8:15. We have about 7-9 lessons every day. Lunch break is 40 minutes long. Senior students (class 10-12) have compulsory after-school activities like drama club, dancing or choir singing.

We have quite a lot of school events and discos almost every Friday.

Also, there are school rules. One of them forbids smoking in the school territory. We are a group of 11b and 11d class students:

Vadims - I am a 17-year-old boy. In my free time I go out with my friends, surf the Net, listen to music and watch films.

My name is Gunta, I'm 18, I play saxophone, sing and dance folk dances.

I am a sweet girl by name Jelena! I am 17, I love dance and music, I can say these things is my life! My e-mail asv17@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Ligita. I’m 17, like listening to the guitar, laugh a lot and do crazy things.

I am a 17-year-old student-Ineta from Latvia. Health, trust, hope and freedom are the main things in my life! My e-mail inetaorube@inbox.lv

Lelde – a girl who loves dancing and enjoy spending time with friends. I am 100% optimist!!!!! I often smile J about myself … my e-mail lelde@inbox.lv

All know me as Anzhelika. I am 17 years old. I can’t imagine my life without music and dancing. I also like cooking and painting. I always try to keep my head up and smile! My e-mail – Anzhelie@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Andra. I am 18. I love animals, especially horses. I also enjoy dancing. My e-mail - babe15@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Sandra. I am 17 years old. I like arts and dance folk dances. I like to spend my spare time with my friends. My e-mail – sandritta@one.lv

My name is Diana! I’m 17 years old! I like different sport activities. And I hope I will meet new and interesting friends. e-mail – dian4ik_k@inbox.lv

My name is Inga, I am 18 years old. I like reading books, textile art and enjoy spending free time outdoors. My e-mail is beinspired@inbox.lv

My name is Julia. I am 18 years old. I like to learn something new every day! J. My e- mail is julikas@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Kate. I am 18 years old. I like folk dances and fun. My e-mail is katy_s89@list.ru

My name is Dmitrijs. I am 17 years old. I like sports activities and especially karate.

My name is Maris, I’m 17, I like dancing Latvian folk dances and I can also do break dancing a little bit. My e-mail: igromania@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Roberts. I am 18 years old. I am trying to spend every day usefully. I like to find something new and interesting every day.

My name is Harolds. I am 17 years old. I like sport activities and especially snowboard. My e-mail: nike112@inbox.lv

My name is Rasma. I’m 17 years old. I like dancing and singing. And I would like to try some new things. My e-mail is Dear project partners,

We are students from Kraslava Gymnasium, Latvia. We are glad that we can take part in this project. We hope that we will exchange information and learn a lot about injustices in Latvia, Canada and other parts of the world.

Some information about Latvia. The Republic of Latvia was founded in 1918. It has been continuously recognised as a state by other countries since 1920 despite occupations by the Soviet Union (1940-1941, 1945-1991) and Nazi Germany (1941-1945). On August 21, 1991 Latvia declared the restoration of its de facto independence. Latvia is the central country of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). On the world map Latvia is to be found in North-eastern Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. The landscape of the country is marked by lowland plains and rolling hills. Area: 64,589 sq.km or 24,937 sq.miles. Latvians and Livs are the indigenous people of Latvia. The ethnic mix of the population of Latvia is largely the result of massive post-war immigration. Population: about 2,306,600 Ethnic composition: 58.2% Latvian, 29.2% Russian, 4.0% Belorussian, 2.6% Ukrainian, 2.5% Polish and other nationalities. Official Language: Latvian. (more about Latvia: www.latinst.lv) Lately we have a migration problem. The emigration of Latvians to other European countries has increased following Latvia’s accession to the EU. Figures provided by the Ministry of Economics show that about 40,000-50,000 Latvians work in other EU Member States. The majority of Latvian emigrants work in Ireland. The main reasons for emigration are low salaries, and lack of future vision. People leave for a short period of time, initially to earn money, but after having adapted to a new country many do not want to return. While abroad, Latvians mainly engage in blue-collar work; however, this does not necessarily mean that only unskilled professions leave to work abroad. The differences in wages are so extreme that people can earn significantly more by doing unskilled work abroad than in a qualified job in Latvia. Emigration has resulted in a labour force deficit and in an increase in salary levels in the country, which in turn has led to a corresponding rise in inflation. The lack of unskilled manpower in Latvia has resulted from emigration and from the fact that more Latvian people want to educate themselves and to look for 'intelligent workplaces'. We live in the region called Latgale or the Land of Blue Lakes. There are about a thousand lakes in it. The deepest lake in Latvia is Dridzi and it is found in our Kraslava district. Our hometown Kraslava, one of the most beautiful and most visited towns in the region, is located in the so-called Switzerland of Latgale (about 260 km southeast of Riga, our capital), in the area where the foothills of the Eastern Latvian Highland descend closest to the Daugava, longest river of Latvia. Its population is about 12 thousand people. Kraslava was mentioned for the first time in documents in 1558, but the town started developing in 1729, when the count Ludvig Plater bought Kraslava. For nearly two centuries the Platers family determined Kraslava`s economical and cultural life. Kraslava attracts visitors with its impressive historic and architectural monuments in both the town and its surrounding area. In our district there are 273 beautiful lakes. Local people face economic and social problems: unemployment, poverty, inflation. There is lack of workplaces and young people go to bigger cities and abroad to find better-paid jobs. The government is trying to change the situation for the better. Recently they have approved a plan for cutting inflation in Latvia.

Our school, Kraslava Gymnasium is a state secondary school. There are about 350 students and about 30 teachers there. Average class size is about 20 students. Students from class 7 (13 years of age) to class 12 attend our school. The students take part in different contests and projects. Evaluating these achievements and the exam results, the school is among 10 best schools in our country. We are proud of it. The school facilities include a library, a school museum, two gyms (small), 2 computer labs, a video class, a dining room. Lessons start at 8:15. We have about 7-9 lessons every day. Lunch break is 40 minutes long. Senior students (class 10-12) have compulsory after-school activities like drama club, dancing or choir singing. We have quite a lot of school events and discos almost every Friday. Also, there are school rules. One of them forbids smoking in the school territory. We are a group of 11b and 11d class students: Vadims - I am a 17-year-old boy. In my free time I go out with my friends, surf the Net, listen to music and watch films.

My name is Gunta, I'm 18, I play saxophone, sing and dance folk dances.

I am a sweet girl by name Jelena! I am 17, I love dance and music, I can say these things is my life! My e-mail asv17@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Ligita. I’m 17, like listening to the guitar, laugh a lot and do crazy things.

I am a 17-year-old student-Ineta from Latvia. Health, trust, hope and freedom are the main things in my life! My e-mail inetaorube@inbox.lv

Lelde – a girl who loves dancing and enjoy spending time with friends. I am 100% optimist!!!!! I often smile J about myself … my e-mail lelde@inbox.lv

All know me as Anzhelika. I am 17 years old. I can’t imagine my life without music and dancing. I also like cooking and painting. I always try to keep my head up and smile! My e-mail – Anzhelie@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Andra. I am 18. I love animals, especially horses. I also enjoy dancing. My e-mail - babe15@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Sandra. I am 17 years old. I like arts and dance folk dances. I like to spend my spare time with my friends. My e-mail – sandritta@one.lv

My name is Diana! I’m 17 years old! I like different sport activities. And I hope I will meet new and interesting friends. e-mail – dian4ik_k@inbox.lv

My name is Inga, I am 18 years old. I like reading books, textile art and enjoy spending free time outdoors. My e-mail is beinspired@inbox.lv

My name is Julia. I am 18 years old. I like to learn something new every day! J. My e- mail is julikas@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Kate. I am 18 years old. I like folk dances and fun. My e-mail is katy_s89@list.ru

My name is Dmitrijs. I am 17 years old. I like sports activities and especially karate.

My name is Maris, I’m 17, I like dancing Latvian folk dances and I can also do break dancing a little bit. My e-mail: igromania@inbox.lv

Hi, my name is Roberts. I am 18 years old. I am trying to spend every day usefully. I like to find something new and interesting every day.

My name is Harolds. I am 17 years old. I like sport activities and especially snowboard. My e-mail: nike112@inbox.lv

My name is Rasma. I’m 17 years old. I like dancing and singing. And I would like to try some new things. My e-mail is rasminaa16@inbox.lv

My name is Inese. I am 17 years old. I like active lifestyle; I am crazy about motorbikes and music. My e- mail: kamnegadas@delfi.lv

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