18-30-year-olds with Latvian backgrounds from different parts of the world will come together to make new friendships, strengthen the feeling of belonging to Latvia, sing and dance, learn and develop contacts.
The name of this "2x2" seminar is TWO SUNS as it will be taking place at the solstice – always the most important moments of the year to Latvians. While the sun will be at its highest in Latvia, it will be at its lowest in Australia.
The seminar will be led by Dārta Apsite, while Vanda Dauksta will provide an exciting program. Both have gained a wide and multifaceted "2x2" experience, stepping into the shoes of participants, orientation leaders, seminar leaders, and "2x2" council members, so they know to the last detail how to create that real "2x2" feeling.
Darta, the head of the workshop, says: "Two suns - two types of ourselves. We have chosen the theme of two suns during the solstice for a reason. However, no matter how high the sun is in Latvia or Australia, the most important thing is that we, Latvians, are under the same sky. This week, we will establish new friendships, discuss, sing, and in the end — by strengthening ourselves, we will also strengthen Latvia."
The seminar week is intensive: the program of each day consists of orientations or interactive lectures in the morning and projects or activities in the afternoon, as well as games, creative events, songs, dances and conversations in the evenings.
The organization of "2x2" is based on the principle of volunteering – all organizers do it without compensation.
This year, the global Latvian youth seminar "2x2" celebrates its sixtieth anniversary. It started in the 1960s in North America. At that time, the purpose of the camps was to gather exiled Latvians in order to preserve the sense of national unity.
Since 2015, camps have also been held in Latvia. It is important for "2x2" that the camps are also held in other places - in the summer of 2024 they were held in Canada and Germany - so that young Latvians who grew up or live outside of Latvia have an opportunity to meet and think about what being a Latvian really means today.
More information: ej.uz/2x2divassaules
