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The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: Luke 20:17
On the first day of the conference, NGO representatives from nine EU Member States will meet with the leading Latvian experts in the field and NGO representatives to discuss good practice in the cooperation between both sectors regarding the ex-prisoner resocialisation process from 14:30 to 17:30 at the Europe House, 28 Aspazijas bulvāris, Riga.
With this conference, the Prison Fellowship Latvia aims to strengthen Latvian and all EU society's social commitment that all individuals who have served a sentence and have no desire to re-offend and return to prison be given assistance to escape their criminal background. The organisers stress that no institution alone has all the necessary resources to integrate even one ex-prisoner into society, thus close institutional cooperation is required
At the conference, a speech about the role of NGOs in the work with people at risk of crime in the Baltic Region will be given by Avo Üprus, the founder of the Baltic Institute for Crime Prevention and Social Rehabilitation. The German speaker Marie-Therese Reichenbach will share the experience of Member States in social work with migrants. During the discussion, the participants will share their experience regarding different dialogue formats between the state and civil society.
On 19 May, the participants will take a symbolic "road to cooperation" and visit all Latvian social rehabilitation centres that have joined the Resocialisation and Integration Association. A commemorative object devoted to the Latvian Presidency and the international NGO cooperation started during the Presidency will be unveiled at each of the centres. In honour of the started partnership, the NGO representatives will gift commemorative objects of their own in each of the centres.
The firs stop at 10:00 is the House of Charity of the Nova Vita Foundation on 14 Katoļu iela, Riga. The guests will be addressed by the Head of the Board, Valija Anskaite, and representatives from Malta and the Netherlands will share their experience. The commemorative object will be unveiled by the community members and the artist Magone Boleiko.
The second stop at 12:30 is Ratnieki Social Rehabilitation Centre of the Integrācija Sabiedrībai Association in Babīte district, Silmalas. The guests will be addressed by the Director of the Association, Jurijs Kapustins, and representatives from Estonia and Sweden will share their experience. The commemorative object will be unveiled by the community members and the artist Laura Ose.
The third stop at 16:00 is the Zilais Krusts organisation's social rehabilitation centre in Lielvārde district, Druvas. The guests will be addressed by the President of the organisation, Kārlis Dreimanis, and representatives from Lithuania and Finland will share their experience. The commemorative object will be unveiled by the community members and the artist Laura Ose.
The fourth stop at 19:00 is the Bruknas muiža cultural and spiritual centre of the Mountain's Blessings community in Bauska district. The guests will be addressed by Father Andrejs Mediņš, and representatives from Spain and Romania will share their experience. The commemorative object will be unveiled by the community members and the sculptor Sandis Aispurs. At the end of the day, the conference participants will be able to enjoy piano concert by Father Andrejs Mediņš at 21:00-22:00.
On 20 May, national and NGO representatives will discuss the work done and the future cooperation from 9:00 to 12:00 in Brukna.
The heads of rehabilitation centres, representatives from the Latvian Prison Administration and the Latvian State Probation Service will share their future vision. At the end of the discussion, NGO representatives from nine EU Member States will sign a memorandum encouraging to a social commitment in Europe.
A recap of the project will be broadcast on Re:TV, 30 May at 15:00. The video with an English translation will be published on the blog. Read about the project activities also on the Facebook page of Prison Fellowship Latvia.
