Awarded award for “Year award for people with disabilities 2020”

For the sixth consecutive year, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Latvia, in cooperation with the association of disabled persons and their friends “Apeirons” and the Latvian National Library, organise a competition “Award for the Support of Persons with Disabilities”.

The competition has become an integral annual tradition of the Ombudsman's office and cooperation partners and is organised with the aim of assessing and supporting non-governmental organisations representing the interests of people with disabilities as well as individual activities. Thus encouraging both the development of good practice in the protection of the rights of people with disabilities and the promotion of public awareness and involvement in the improvement of the situation of people with disabilities.

Every year, the Ombudsman invites municipalities both to promote the competition and to provide people or organisations with one of the nominations. 

This year, the jury composition was composed of 7 different sectors – draugiem.lv Speakman Janis Palkavnieks, Deputy Director of Latvian National Library Anda Lamasha, Ombudsman Juris Jansons, Chairman of the board of persons with disabilities and their friends “Apeirons” Ivars Balodis, journalist and radio personality Aidis Thomson, President of State President Andra Levite and Latvian municipal councillor Ilze Rudzite.

 In the nomination “educator”

The award is about activities that provide inclusive education (including education of interest, further education), the use/development of interactive methods to promote the right of people with disabilities to education. This award was presented by Anda Lamasha, Deputy Director of Latvian National Library. “Tree Architecture Foundation” was awarded the main prize IN THE NGO category. (Riga) but the recognition article was received by the Latvian deaf Union (Riga), Resource Center for people with mental disorders “Zelda” (Riga) and the association “Latvian Movement for Independent Life” (Riga). The main award was awarded by Alexei Mackevics in the individual performance category (Daugavpils municipality, Bikernieku civil parish)but the recognition articles were delivered to Baiba Baikovsk (Riga) and Esterei Earth (Riga).

Nomination “service provider”

This award is about the development and provision of accessible and diverse services for people with disabilities. This year, the award was given by the Latvian municipal counsellor, Ilze Rudzte. The main prize IN THE category OF NGOs was acquired by the psychological support society of the victims of strokes and their relatives “vigor” (Riga) but the recognition article was won by the Center for the Development of Talsi Family and Children, “miracle” (Talsi). The main prize in the individual performance category was won by Martin Rozenthle (Sigulda) but welcome to Anita Songaile (Ventspils).

 Nomination “employment promoter”

Award for the promotion of the employment of productive or innovative people with disabilities, provided by the Chairman of the board of directors of disabled persons and their friends “Apeirons” Ivars pigeis. IN THE category OF NGOs, the main prize was awarded by the “longing” association of disabled people. (Daugavpils), but the recognition was received by the association “our nest” (Saldus municipality, Ezeres civil parish) . The main award for the individual performance category in this nomination was awarded by Inga Muižniece (Baldone) but the opinions were won by Inese Jumite (Jelgava) and Zoja Privalova (Daugavpils).

 Nomination “daring”

The award is presented in this nomination for an active or new initiative or action, representing people with disabilities, their rights and interests. This year was presented by journalist and Latvian radio 1 programme manager Aidis Thomson. The main prize IN THE NGO category was “Help. lv” (Riga). In the individual performance category, the main prize was awarded by Baiba Baikovska (Riga), but the pleadings were received by Baiba Baikovsky (Riga), League Kikute (Riga), Diana Ponaskova (Riga), Dainis pie (Rezekne) and talk festival “LAMP” (Riga).

 Nomination “child support”

An award for outstanding achievements in defending the rights and interests of children with disabilities in various areas, such as social inclusion, the right to culture, education. These special awards were given this year by President Andra Levite. The main prize IN THE NGO category was won by the charity fund “children's morning”, but the recognition article - association “autism support point in Rezekne” (Rezekne). In the category of individual performance, the President of the country gave the main prize to Roy Flower (Riga), but the article was won by Irene Dominant (Jelgava) and Ingrid Supe (Balvi).

Nomination “social networking”

Friends Group spokesman Janis Palkavnieks gave the award this year to those whose opinions and experience stories in social networks and blogs have led to resonance in the wider community. In the individual performance category, the main prize was awarded by Santa Survila (Riga), but the recognition articles were handed to Baiba Baikovskaya (Riga) and Martin Star (Ventspils).

Three special gratitude prizes were also presented that year, the beneficiaries of which were nominated by the jury. Latvian National Library presented his gratitude prize to Roy Flower (Riga), The “Apeirons” association of disabled people and their friends gave her thanks to LTV7 for the project “среда” (Riga)but the Ombudsman gave his thanks to Rasa Bugaavičuette, (Liepaja) and for Walter (Riga).

We want to highlight the work and contributions made by these people and organisations so that the quality of life of people with disabilities is improved.

We therefore ask to share their performances in the municipal website, social networking and other media.

Let us raise the right and thank those people who give good examples to the general public on a daily basis!

Anne Lochmele
Consultant for Communication and International Cooperation
Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Latvia
Phone: 67201403
Email: raina.locmele@tiesibsargs.lv
Website: www.tiesibsargs.lv

Photo: Free Stock Photos