RED Storybook
From the 1st April till the 30th September two volunteers, Lorenzo from Italy and Christian (me) from Austria, have worked in the culture and nature project "In the hands of Ērgļi thrives Europe". Our workplaces were the "Rudolfs Blaumanis memorial museum Braki" and the "Brother Jurjani memorial museum Meņģeļi". These open-air museums are situated in the heart of Latvia, near the town Ērgļi. Both of them are museums for traditional architecture of Latvia. In additional Braki was the work and living place for one of the most famous Latvian writers: "Rudolfs Blaumanis". The museum Meņģeļi was the work and living place for the famous musician brothers "Jurjānis".
APRIL - start of the project:
The first month was used to get in touch with this for us new country. We had an intensive Latvian language course and met the official persons of Ērgļi like mayor, directors of schools, director of the museums… Moreover our mentor took us to some traditional folk dance and singing events, which was quite interesting. Of course we also celebrated Eastern, in a very Latvian way.
First work in the museums:
At the end of April we started to work in the museums. Our first task was to paint apple-trees in Braki (against vermin). Moreover we helped the lumber men to bring wood from the forest to the museum. After finishing work we got a tasty traditional Latvian meal called "griķu putra".
On-arrival training:
April was also the month of our first training here in Latvia. There we learned a lot about EVS and we met some very nice other volunteer.
MAY - official opening of the museums:
In May both museums opened for their visitors and the new season started. Now our real work started there. Lorenzo was responsible for the work in Meņģeļi and I was part of the staff in Braki. Our main work was cleaning nature paths, keeping exhibitions in order, learning more about the history of the museums and their inhabitants as well as improving our Latvian.
Connection to youngsters:
Besides we also presented us, our countries and EVS in the local secondary school. In addition Easter holidays ended and we got in contact with students from professional school, who live in the same hostel as we.
Events:
In Meņģeļi there was a national cleaning day in May, on which students form local schools came and all together we cleaned the museum.
Also in Braki an event took place. We celebrated the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the museum.
The biggest event in this month was the international museum night. In whole Latvia museums were opened on this night and had some special activities for the visitors. We invited one of our volunteer colleagues to join us in this special night.
JUNE - a time of going deeper:
In June we continued our regular work. As a young trainee created a new guide for the museum Braki I was responsible for writing the German and English part for it. We also continued learning more about Blaumanis and the brothers Jurjānis and made our first tours for tourists in our mother language and English.
Middle-term training:
June was also the month for our second training, the so-called middle term training. There we met some volunteers from the first meeting and some new ones and as in the first training, we gained new knowledge and had a lot of fun.
"Ligo":
An event no one of us will ever forget was the Līgo-festivity (Midsummer). We invited one of our volunteer-friends to celebrate with us and all together we had a very nice and interesting party in Braki. A lot of people were there. After a theatre had taken place, the “Jānis fire” was lit and we sang and dance traditional songs and dances.
JULY - holidays:
As a volunteer you also have some free days. Some of them we used in July. Lorenzo went to the biggest rock festival in the Baltic called "AB-positivus" and I made a trip to the capital city of Lithuania – Vilnius.
Back in the museums:
Of course we also continued doing our work. Also in this month some events took place in the museums. Besides a wedding we had a children day and some smaller celebrations.
As some of our workers were retired and not replaced we had to do some additional jobs like mowing the lawn and keeping the area in order. But as we like to be outside, it was a great possibility to be more in touch with this various nature here.
Furthermore July was the month of Lorenzo’s birthday and my name’s day, which we celebrated in our museums and at home.
Youth-exchange:
The local secondary school organised a youth-exchange with pupils from Germany, Sweden and United Kingdom.
As they also visited the museum, we organised a creative museum-day for them.
By passing challenges they had to learn more about Latvian culture and traditions. And after this cultural day they enjoyed swimming in the lake in Meņģeļi.
AUGUST - creating an own project:
As a volunteer has to realise his/her own project, we used August for doing that. Braki is a very beautiful place, especially for families. Therefore I decided to organise, together with one of my working colleagues, a family festivity. We arranged six stations in the museum, which the participating families had to pass. There were challenges for children, youngsters and also for adults (therefore, for the whole family). After passing all six stations they got some sweets as award.
Tripping around:
As we had still some free days, we used them for visiting Tallinn. Lorenzo also went to Vilnius and I to Helsinki. Moreover the director of Braki took me to "Aglona" to celebrate Assumption Day together with thousands of other people there.
SEPTEMBER - the last month
We start to realise, that our project will end soon. This last month we will use to present EVS in some schools and promote it. It’s important that young people know, that there is this great possibility.
Furthermore the last works in the museum will be done before we have to say good-buy to Latvia and our new friends. In this six months we got a lot of new impressions, learned how live in the Baltic is and met some very interesting people. Both of us are sure that it was not the last time that we have been here in this beautiful country.
What future volunteers should entail:
Some additional hints: