Last month has been quite active for the staff and volunteers of the Latvian RC: 4 international trainings in 3 different countries took place during May.
From 9 to 11 May Ms Baiba Lucaua –Makalistere, volunteer and First Aid specialist joined the training within the international RC project “Evacuation Ready – EvRe” that was organised in Tallinn, Estonia. During the training participants from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland simulated the ferry accident close to the shore of the island of Estonia. The main goal was to learn how to strengthen the preparedness and corss-border cooperation. During the training available resources of NS were identified, 5 day accommodation process of evacuees was planned, including NS input in transport their citizens to their home countries.
From 23 to 25 May Ms Kristine Vagule, LatRC psychologist in project “EU4Health” joined the international training “Caring for staff and volunteers” in Budapest, Hungary, organised by the IFRC. During the event participants from more than 20 RC national societies learned how to promote the mental health of staff and volunteers, how to provide psychological first, including how to hold and manage focus groups. This information is collected and shared to the LatRC regional branches, in order to help and encourage colleagues to provide support that is even more versatile.
From 25 to 31 May Ms Eva Rubene, First aid trainer, Mr Rihards Berzins, coordinatior of the service “Safety button” and Mr Edgars Nasenieks, volunteer, participated in the prepeardness training of the Baltic region “IMPACT” organized by the Finnish RC in Nynäs, Heinola, Finland. As part of the training, the participants acquired knowledge and skills for 50 hours in order to participate in the missions of the International RC movement in regions of armed conflicts or natural disasters.
At the end of May, Ms Lauma Strode, project manager, participated in the practical training “Cash and Gift Card System for Ukrainian Support” organized by the IFRC in Budapest, Hungary.
During the training, Lauma, together with her colleagues from other countries, learned the experience, challenges and benefits of other national societies, supporting Ukrainian civilians. The knowledge gained during these trainings and the experience of colleagues are especially important because LatRC, in cooperation with the IFRC, has started the creation of a cash and gift card system in Latvia to support Ukrainian civilians.
LatRC makes extensive use of possible international support and experience in carrying out daily activities, which allows more fully and efficiently to help those who need it.