Community Programme project implemented: “Activating and Engaging the Youth Community in Karosta Event Planning”
From March to May 2025, as part of the Liepāja 2027 “City Neigbours” programme, the association Baringtons K2 carried out the project “Activating and Engaging the Youth Community in Karosta Event Planning.”
The aim of the project was to activate the local youth community and encourage their participation in cultural events in Karosta by exploring their interests, providing a platform for self-expression and growth, and involving them in creating the Youth Zone at the Lāčplēsis Garden Festival as well as contributing to other long-term event planning in the neighbourhood.
The project was implemented in several stages. In the first phase, students from grades 9 to 12 at the Liepāja Oskars Kalpaks Secondary School were surveyed to explore their interests in depth and to determine which types of workshops they would like to attend. The organisers also invited young people to volunteer at events organised by the association—including the Lāčplēsis Garden Festival—and to join in planning and organising youth-focused activities.
At the end of May, young people participated in workshops on theatrical improvisation led by actress Inga Dzintare, and on photography led by animation and media basics lecturer Marta Zomerovska and BK Liepāja photographer and videographer Rēzija Dubulta. The youth worked both individually and in groups, uncovering stories revealed by the Oskars Kalpaks Secondary School and sharing ideas for what they would like to experience at the summer festival in Lāčplēsis Garden.
Participants gained their first hands-on experience in cultural event creation, developed creative skills, and built confidence in their ability to influence their local community. The Baringtons K2 association will continue working with youth to ensure that the initiatives started become the foundation for regular involvement in Karosta’s cultural life and help build bridges between generations.
This project demonstrated that by creating an open environment and giving young people the chance to be co-creators, it is possible to strengthen their sense of belonging and cultivate an active, engaged community.
The project “Activating and Engaging the Youth Community in Karosta Event Planning” was carried out within the Liepāja 2027 “City Neigbours” programme, with funding from the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Fonds Initium Foundation and co-financing from the British Council Latvia’s People to People programme.
