During the meeting, the President of Latvia stressed that the Latvian schools, family traditions, and gatherings of several generations for significant occasions played a significant role in cherishing and nourishing Latvianness abroad.
“Thank you for tendering your Latvian roots! It is crucial to maintain Latvianness every day because every person is essential for Latvia, who keeps Latvia deep in one’s heart and affirms the love for our country through one’s deeds, thoughts, and ideas,” stated the President of Latvia while addressing the audience.
On behalf of all young people, Ms Lara Weidner from the United States of America thanked for the opportunity to visit the Riga Castle and participate in the project “Hello, Latvia!”. She also admitted that the participants of the project did not know each other a couple of weeks ago, but then everyone felt as Latvians here in Latvia.
During the two weeks, the young people visited several cities in all regions of Latvia, learned various characteristic Latvian crafts and enjoyed Latvian cuisine.
Students and teachers from the Valka Grammar School named after J.Cimze and from the Jaunpils Secondary School also visited the Riga Castle together with American and Australian Latvians.
At the end of the meeting, the President of Latvia extended gratitude to the World Federation of Free Latvians and the organisers of the project “Hello, Latvia!” for their contribution in creating and nurturing the bond of compatriots living abroad with Latvia. He wished the young people preserved Latvianness also after returning to their home countries and getting new impressions in Latvia so that they returned here to study, work, and live in the future.
