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Latvian Partner

Proposals for W-EDUCATION

Bauska District and Council

Our Country

Egija Stapkēviča, Main expert of Development and Planning Department

1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz

November 18, 1918 –Proclamation of Latvia’s independence

Translation

“For the Fatherland and Freedom”

•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz

November 18, 1918 –Proclamation of Latvia’s independence

Latvia celebrates its 90 Anniversary

Occupied by the Soviet Union (1940-1941, 1945-1991) and Nazi Germany (1941-1945)

Restored its independence and sovereignty in 1991

Joined the United Nations, WTO, European Union, NATO


Latvia - Geography• Located on the East coast of the Baltic

Sea, central country of the Baltic States.

• Strategic location: international crossroad for trade, commerce, cultural exchange.

• Area 64,589 sq. km (twice the size of Belgium).

• Consists of fertile lowland plains, most of the territory > 100 m above sea level, highest point: 311.6 m.

• Extensive network of rivers, thousands of lakes and hundreds of km of undeveloped seashore lined by pine forests, dunes, and white sand beaches.


Latvia - Geography

• Regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, Latgale

• Population in 2008 – 2 270 894 people

• Urban 68%, rural 32%

Administrative Territorial Reform

• The goal - to form capable authorities to ensure their functions and dynamic development of the local territories.

• In September 2008: 550 authorities – 26 regional and 524 local: 59 cities and towns, 37 counties, 428 parishes.

• Mostly there are small authorities (for 2,3 mil. peoples)

• In average in one authority live 4,3 thousands inh.

• In Bauska District for 50 811 inh. 18 authorities.

• To be changed from 2008 till 2010.


Rīga – capital of Latvia

• Founded in 1201.

• Home to 788 000 residents – one third of Latvia’s population.

• Centre of finance and economy.

• Popular tourist destination well connected with European cities.

• Largest city in the Baltic States.

http://www.li.lv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=449


Rīga – capital of Latvia

• Hosted Eurovision Song Contest, 2006 NATO Summit.

• Site of 2006 World Hockey Championships.

• Listed on UNESCO World Cultural Sites.

• Art Nouveau (Jugendstill) architectural capital of the world.


Education

• The Latvian State guarantees free primary and secondary (high school) education.

• More than 90% if children attend state schools.

• Latvia has a long history of a vibrant academic life and over 60 higher education institutions.

• In Bauska District: 16 primary schools, 12 secondary (high school) schools, 1 vocational secondary school, 3 higher education institutions (Riga’s branch)


Culture

• Latvian cultural heritage dates back well over a thousand years.

• For Latvian’s the four most popular holidays are Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter and Jāņi.

• The celebration of the summer solstice, or Jāņi is one of the oldest and most popular pre-Christian traditions in Latvia.


Culture

- For Latvians, singing is something that unifies.

The Song and Dance Celebration is a unique cultural phenomenon that has thrived for 135 years.

UNESCO list “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.

< 30 000 singers, dancers, musicians - in the 2008 Song and Dance Celebration.


Nature

• Latvia can truly be viewed as one huge nature park – white, sanday beaches, green forests, clean air, water and soil, and ecosystem barely touched by civilization.

• Lush forests cover nearly one half of Latvia’s territory.

- The longest beach in Europe – 500 km of sundy coastline, 2256 lakes, 12 500 rivers.


Nature

Latvia is home for a variety of species, including many extinct in other parts of Europe.

-10% of the world’s black stork population nests in Latvia.

-Yes, there really are ‘blue cows’ in Latvia.


Official language: Latvian

Hi – Sveiks!

Good-bye – Uz redzēšanos

Yes – Jā

No – Nē

Thank you – Paldies

Please – Lūdzu

Sorry - Atvainojiet

Bauska District Council

Second level local authority, formed by 17 other local municipalities. Responsible for: public transport, tourism, environment protection and management, Bauska Castle, education of interests, IT, 5 boarding- schools, regional development and etc.


Goal - to improve knowledge and skills about water protection.

Target group - 3 target groups in Bauska district: Vocational education (students, teachers, planning specialists) and pupils from comprehensive schools.

Objectives

-To develop water quality monitoring school – “W-EDUCATION TRAIL”.

-To improve methodological materials for teachers.

-To improve planning specialists skills in water management through implementation of the project activities.

-To reduce water pollution.

Proposals for W-EDUCATION


Water quality monitoring school –“W-EDUCATION TRAIL”

Thank you for the collaboration!

Dace & Egija