Acronym: NATURE THERAPY

Contract Number: ESTLATRUS/3.2/ELRII-351/2012/34

Beneficiary: Latvian Office of Euroregion "Country of lakes"

Beneficiary Address: Latvian Office of Euroregion "Country of lakes"

Country: Latvia

Region: Latgale Region

Project Location: Latgale Region, Latgale Region, Latgale Region, Latgale Region, Pskov Region, Pskov Region

Start Date: 01.03.2013

Project Duration: 14 months

Grant Amount: 198.202,50 €

Percentage Of Total Eligible Action Costs: 90%

Summary: As a result of socio-economic crisis during last 3 years in Daugavpils city & surrounding areas, Latvia, and Pskov Regon, Russia - the regions located near the national borders and far from main state centres - the amount of families at social risk has been critically increasing and there is lack of local initiatives to use local nature and human values. In the result of public survey 3 types of social risk families have been identified as the most problematic and in need of the support: large, one-parent families and families with children with special needs. Nature therapy is declared to be the most favourable therapy method with innovative and experiential approach accessible in local surroundings of the target region. Professional interest to nature therapy of social workers have been raised on both sides of the border. The social infrastructure have been evaluated as mostly rented and not sufficient. OVERALL OBJECTIVE of the Project: To contribute to the development of sustainable social environment and improvement of equal living standards using nature therapy as an innovative and experiential approach therefore making wider Latvia-Russia border area more integrated . SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: 1) to inform the target groups and public about project results and popularise nature therapy as an innovative local initiatives approach for rehabilitation of children with special needs and children of large and one-parent families living in the most remote border regions of Latvia and Russia. 2) to present and use the main types of nature therapy, emphasizing animal - assisted therapy, for social workers to strengthen their capacity and for local inhabitants to raise awareness on the nature ability to stimulate human senses in a way no man made environment can. 3) to increase the living standards and social environment accessibility for children with special needs and social risk groups by improvement of social infrastructure, strengthening and developing 7 local Latvian and Russian communities.

Project homepage: www.ezeruzeme.lv/lv/projekti/nature-therapy/

Measure name: Cooperation in spheres of culture, sport, education, social and health

Measure: 3.2

Involved partners:

1. Latvian Office of Euroregion "Country of lakes", Brivibas 13, Kraslava
2. Daugavpils city Social Department, Vienibas street 8, Daugavpils, LV-5401
3. Dagda local municipality, Alejas Street 4, Dagda, Dagda county, LV-5674
4. Livani local municipality, Rigas street 77, Livani, LV-5316
5. Ilukste local municipality, Brivibas 7, Ilukste, LV 5447
6. State Administration of Social Welfare of the Pskov Region, Nekrasova, 23, Pskov, 180001
7. Center for Curative Pedagogy and Differential Learning (Pskov), Jan Rainiss Str. 56, Pskov, 180002

Additional information:

1. Portfolio_351.pdf (pdf) 355.01 KB
2. Portfolio_351_RUS.pdf (pdf) 354.36 KB
3. informacionnii_list_2013_1.pdf (pdf) 773 KB
4. Zinu-lapa-Nr-2_LV.pdf (pdf) 686.1 KB
5. Zinu-lapa-Nr-2_RU.pdf (pdf) 888.51 KB
6. Result Sheet (pdf) 743.14 KB