Further Information
Volunteering at an orphanage in Latvia

On average, the village looks after about 30 children who are spread between the three houses, a couple of apartments in Cesvaine and those attending further education, further a-field. At the village, the homes house eight children on average, having three carers for each house who take it in turns to look after the children.

Presently there are two young girls with mental disabilities. There are plans to extend this project to look after young adults with mental disabilities, whilst providing them with some work and care in a controlled environment, yet giving them a measure of independence.

When the children reach the age of 18 they move into the apartments provided in Cesvaine so that they learn to be independent whilst still having the support of the village nearby. All the children, apart from the more severely disabled, go to school in Cesvaine or Madona, and continue with their further education here or in Riga. They are often sent to France to gain further training, such as learning to cook and skills in tourism. For those continuing on to do further education, the children are in the village’s care until the age of 23 or 24.

Throughout the year, the children go to families in France and spend several weeks with them, so that they can live within family surroundings and improve their French. Sometimes the children are adopted, or return to their parents, should circumstances have changed. They are offered work at the hotel to boost their pocket money and always have a parental figure they can turn to in times of need. Many of the children come from abusive backgrounds, often with alcohol involved, which is a huge problem in Latvia, exacerbated by the usual teenage problems.