Researchers from the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences (FESS) at the University of Latvia (UL) are inviting residents, municipal representatives, social workers and other interested parties to participate in idea workshops in Kuldīga, Balvi, Bauska and Cēsis this November. Together, participants will explore solutions to improve access to services, ensure a good quality of life in small communities and strengthen mutual support among residents.
The idea workshops, titled “How Can We Be Stronger Together?”, organised by UL FESS in various regions of Latvia, aim to foster cooperation between residents, professionals and local governments in identifying practical solutions that address the needs and opportunities of rural communities experiencing population decline.
The first idea workshop, “How Can We Be Stronger Together?”, will take place on 6 November 2026, from 12:00 to 15:00, at the UL Kuldīga Branch, 19 Kalna Street, Kuldīga, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort to identify solutions that address the needs and development opportunities of local communities.
All interested participants are invited to register for the workshop in Kuldīga: https://ej.uz/hvp5.
“During the workshops, we will pay particular attention to community social work, which has so far been an underutilised resource,” emphasises Associate Professor Baiba Bela. “It can help strengthen the well-being, safety and mutual support of local residents, as well as their ability to address the most urgent problems and overcome a wide range of challenges.”
Population decline, the increasing distance to essential services and the growing importance of preparedness for various types of crises highlight the need for new approaches to building stronger, more cohesive and resilient local communities. During the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, discuss challenges facing their communities and jointly develop proposals for addressing issues of importance to local residents.
At the workshops, FESS researchers will present the initial findings of their research, introduce the concept of community social work and provide participants with an opportunity not only to express their views but also to identify new possibilities for cooperation. Participants will explore how residents, local governments and social work professionals can provide each other with concrete, practical support in everyday life and during crises.
Further idea workshops are scheduled for 16 November in Balvi, 23 November in Bauska and 25 November in Cēsis.
The workshops are organised as part of the fundamental and applied research project “How Can Social Work Help Strengthen Community Resilience? Social Work for Community Resilience Between Global Challenges and Local Action”, supported by the Latvian Council of Science (LCS) and implemented by researchers from UL FESS.
The research project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between major global challenges and local communities, examining the role of social work in strengthening community resilience. Researchers are analysing how communities, local governments and social workers cooperate to address interconnected and multidimensional global challenges at the local level.
About the Research Project
The fundamental and applied research project “How Can Social Work Help Strengthen Community Resilience? Social Work for Community Resilience Between Global Challenges and Local Action” (No. lzp-2024/1-027), supported by the Latvian Council of Science (LCS), is led by Professor Iveta Reinholde, Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Latvia. The research team includes leading researchers Baiba Bela, Līga Rasnača and Liesma Ose, as well as early-career researchers Aiga Romāne-Meiere and Endija Rezgale-Straidoma. Students are also involved in the project, contributing to the development of research-based education and practical research experience. Researchers at UL FESS launched the project in 2025, and it is being implemented over a three-year period.
