Democracy & Inclusion in the Library
Creating a space for involvement in the community and encouraging social cohesion.
The Local Challenge
Kuldiga Main Library is a dynamic cultural centre for information and knowledge sharing and a meeting place for the local community. Kurzeme NGO Centre is a non-profit organisation, the sole entity in the western part of Latvia dedicated to the implementation of civic society activation. Kuldiga Main Library and Kurzeme are working together to promote social inclusion, active citizenship and education on sensitive topics in Latvian society. They are involving several local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as the local schools.
The Initiative
Kuldiga Main Library, in collaboration with the Kurzeme NGO Centre, is developing a series of conversations on vital topics for the local community, chosen by the community. This involves guest speakers who facilitate discussions and the exchange of opinions. They are also participating in the annual “Democracy Festival” in Kuldiga and are collaborating with Kurzeme NGO Centre to develop an interactive game on democracy and literature. The library serves as a hub for fostering democracy in society, providing a platform for everyone’s voices to be heard and supporting diversity through participation, creating an inclusive environment.
After The Europe Challenge
The library and the Kurzeme NGO Centre have generated an environment where the community can come together and talk about the social issues that are important to them. The activities have brought about a different and more contemporary library place. They plan to widen the “Literature-Inspired Conversations on Current Social Issues” to reach a larger audience and with regular community events to open discussions on important topics like inclusion, education, and social justice. They will start to collaborate with local schools and organisations to integrate the game they co-developed into educational settings, encouraging younger generations to engage.
Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.
