On 7 December 2024, the new Board of Directors of the organisation “Ar pasaules pieredzi Latvijā” was elected at the General Members’ Meeting.

The new Board members are Robert Alhimionoks, Liene Jansone, Terēze Konopecka, Mara McLaughlin-Taylor, and Ģirts Smelters. Ieva Kristīne Kuļikovska, and Marta Polna, whose term of office will expire next year, continue their work.

Two first-time Board members, Terēze Konopecka and Ģirts Smelters, join the Board.

Terēze returned from the South of France in 2023 after almost ten years away and comments, “I am delighted by the support from members, which has given me a great motivation to get more involved than before, organising APPLV events and helping with communication. I can’t wait for the first 2025 brainstorming sessions – both within the Board and involving ideas from our community – so that we can continue to grow and drive the organisation. ”

Ģirts, who has been actively involved since the start of the association in 2017 and who returned after 3 years in Denmark says, “So far I have been involved in adding colour to the informal life of the association – organising hikes, boat trips, sports, winter activities and an odyssey on the Baltic Sea. I have also started to actively recruit foreign partners to jointly apply for projects from European Union funds and other support institutions, giving the organisation international relevance. I believe that these years have built a strong platform and accumulated social capital, which is worth using and developing in the future to raise and address issues of importance to society.”

After almost six years of serving on the Board, the outgoing Chairman, Kristaps Loze, is on his way out: “A lot of work has been done over these years, which of course also leaves a sense of satisfaction. AppLV is the leading organisation for remigrants in Latvia and its membership continues to grow steadily. I can personally say that I know and have worked with each of the new board members and I have every confidence that the organisation is in safe hands and will continue to reach new heights.”

Miks Muižarājs, who is also leaving the Board after six years of active membership, adds, “I am delighted that the organisation has more than doubled its membership in recent years, with young and vibrant people who have recently returned from abroad. This is reflected in the new Board and reflects the wider demand from returnees for the activities and services provided by the organisation.”

The organisation thanks the previous Board for their hard work. The newly elected Board has already started planning activities and projects for the coming year and will work to push the ” Ar pasaules pieredzi Latvijā” towards new achievements – integrating returning Latvians into the Latvian labour market and society, and promoting the involvement of local professionals in cultural and economic growth.

*The organisation ” Ar pasaules pieredzi Latvijā” is the first and leading organisation for repatriates in Latvia.*

* Established in 2017 as a platform for people with different global backgrounds to come together and work on joint projects that reach out to and connect repatriates. All members are people who have lived outside Latvia for some part of their lives. A growing network of returnees has now been established, with the intention of fostering a culture of cooperation and exchange of ideas. Connections are also being strengthened with people who live outside Latvia but are thinking of returning home.*