Sintija Ķeire, Society Integration Foundation, Integration and Inclusion Agency of Latvia Change Agent
Anastasija Jemeļjanova, Society Integration Foundation, Integration and Inclusion Agency of Latvia Client Consultant

When we first started working at the Society Integration Foundation’s Integration and Inclusion Agency of Latvia, there was no clear answer to the question: “What exactly is a change agent and a client consultant?” Now, after intensive work with people, we can confidently say – it is a bridge. A bridge between newcomers and their opportunities, between uncertainty and clarity, between strangeness and belonging. Change agents and client consultants are precisely the ones who, hand in hand with third-country nationals who, for various reasons, are in Latvia, foster their integration and understanding of our country, its laws, and its culture.

Change agents and client consultants are specialists who provide individualized and comprehensive support to both third-country nationals and other foreign citizens who have just arrived in Latvia or have already been living here for some time. And the range of those receiving help is broad – from Ukrainian civilians to people of different skin colors and cultures. That is why it is crucial to begin with a conversation – to get to know the client, their needs, hopes, and vision for life in Latvia. Many have only just arrived – Ukrainians, Indians, Vietnamese, Roma – and are trying to adapt to a new environment. For some, the priority is employment, for others – studies or learning the Latvian language; and there are those still searching for their path. For each one, we must be able to find and create the best possible roadmap.

We provide practical support: help with preparing CVs and cover letters, getting ready for job interviews, information on study opportunities, residence registration, and document processing. In addition, if necessary, we also provide other types of support that make the integration process smoother and deeper, such as psychological assistance, legal consultations, and translation services. Essentially, we are a point of support, building trust throughout the integration process.

Agents Helping to Find a Home

The questions we encounter daily can be divided into several major blocks, and the first of them is housing.

For some, especially those who have come with an invitation, employers provide assistance by arranging company housing or apartments. Students live in dormitories, while families search for rental options. Naturally, for people who do not know Latvian, finding an apartment is not easy, which is why we look through ads, call landlords, and even go along with them to clarify the details.

For Ukrainian civilians, the situation is similar – at first, they are offered temporary housing, but later, most families search for a rental or an apartment to buy.

Once housing is found, families with children must also think about kindergartens or schools. In Kurzeme, this is not a major problem, since, for example, there are no waiting lists for kindergartens. Another issue arises, however – Ukrainian pupils often continue remote learning with a school in Ukraine, which makes integration into our school environment quite complicated due to scheduling and curriculum differences. It is even harder for pupils with different skin colors – they often find it psychologically difficult to fit in among their peers. Therefore, we offer psychologist consultations to “break the ice” and help people better understand each other.

Language Skills as a Career Springboard

The next area where change agents and client consultants provide help is employment. For almost all adults arriving in Latvia, securing a job is necessary to cover their daily needs.

Each client is unique, and each ethnic group comes with its own differences. Ukrainian civilians have a special legal support framework, while others are offered the standard services provided by the Society Integration Foundation. Learning Latvian is one of the things most newcomers want, especially those who have found or are looking for work. Career opportunities are a strong motivator for mastering the state language, since it is difficult to achieve career growth or higher-paid work without it. It is no coincidence that data from the State Employment Agency shows that within six months of completing two levels of Latvian language courses, around one-quarter of participants find employment. We especially want to highlight those newcomers who, in a short time, have reached B2 or even C1 level in Latvian – among them are doctors, interpreters, and other highly qualified specialists.

There is frequent discussion about the contribution of newcomers to our national economy, and we see it in our daily work. In the labor market, third-country nationals mostly fill gaps in less qualified professions – in fish processing, metalworking, construction, and hotels – and employers are satisfied with their new employees. On their side, businesses where we help newcomers find work also assist with document processing, especially larger companies. They also often adjust work schedules so people can attend Latvian language courses.

Intercultural Dialogue as a Tool for Cohesion

Once the basics of the language are acquired, the rest depends on motivation and the willingness to use Latvian in daily life.

Young people integrate more easily – they attend extracurricular groups, schools, and universities where communication requires the state language. The older generation more often remains in their “bubble,” which is why one of our goals is to encourage intercultural contact and promote connections with locals, as well as acceptance of newcomers.

Cohesion happens in various ways, and we would especially like to mention a tradition started this spring – conversation evenings in several libraries in Kurzeme – in Liepāja and Ventspils – which take place twice a month and allow people to develop their Latvian language skills.

Specific nationalities create their own communities to meet, preserve their culture, and maintain their identity, but we believe it is equally important to promote dialogue between different nationalities – after all, they are all newcomers, and it will be easier for them to integrate into Latvian society together.

Our work is intense but fulfilling. A change agent or client consultant is not only an information provider – they are a person who helps others find their place, their path, and their voice in a new society. And every small step forward is a shared gain for all of us.

Services of the Integration and Inclusion Agency are provided by the Society Integration Foundation within the framework of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund’s project (Agreement No. PMIF/13.1./2022/1/01). The funding has been allocated by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (75%) and Latvian State budget (25%).