Problem addressed

In 2016, 1 429 children lived in childcare institutions in Latvia. Whilst these institutions were originally created to provide vulnerable groups with care and shelter, evidence has shown that they are not effective in supporting people to participate fully in their community and wider society. The process of ‘deinstitutionalisation’ has been high on the political agenda of the European Union, supported by the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child and on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Latvia’s 2015 social service reform and deinstitutionalisation policy, supported by the European Social Fund, has seen local municipalities, long-term care institutions and non-governmental organisations collaborating to establish community-based social services. However, transition to community-based care is ongoing, and in the meantime,  institutions for children in out-of-family care and with special care needs remain costly and produce poor social outcomes.

Innovative solution

Founded in Latvia in 2003, Cerību Spārni, or Wings of Hope, improves community life for children and young people with various disabilities. The association operates in the town of Sigulda. Wings of Hope is innovative in that it focuses on empowering beneficiaries to fully integrate into the activities of daily life. It is also the only association in Latvia that offers its services to all age groups, as most other similar projects focus only on young children.

Children and young people with disabilities participate in activities that help to familiarise them with household tasks, to build their independence and self-sufficiency. They take part in workshops that use new and innovative educational methods, including dance and movement therapy, art and music therapy, sand therapy and speech therapy. The association also provides theatre classes, logistics classes and therapeutic exercises. Children with disabilities, especially those from families with a lower socio-economic background in Sigulda, are considered groups with a high social risk, and therefore have access to these services for free.

Family members can also benefit from educational activities offered by Wings of Hope on the medical and social aspects of caring, and have access to social workers that are available for consultation, as well as to parental support groups.

In 2016, the association built the House of Hope (Cerību māja). This gives the parents of children with disabilities the opportunity to learn how to care for their children, while also supporting young or expectant mothers with disabilities who receive no support from their partners or families. The association has also developed the Home of Hope (Cerību sēta) with the support of the European Social Fund, providing a space for all people with mental impairments to interact and become accustomed to the activities of daily life.

Wings of Hope runs a charity shop, called Everyone Can (Visi Var), which employs people with physical disabilities. All sales revenue goes to the support and employment of people with disabilities, as well as to other charities.

The association promotes volunteering as part of a long-term project of the European Voluntary Service (EVS), EVS 4 sustainable life, under the programme Erasmus+: Youth in Action. Volunteering at Wings of Hope has been a success so far, as volunteers assist personnel with the provision of social services, take part in events, and work in the charity shop.

Key results and benefits

In 2016, Wings of Hope provided services to 54 families in need, and went beyond the boundaries of Sigulda, reaching people in four nearby towns. Four young people with disabilities were successfully integrated into the open labour market after working for Wings of Hope. The charity shop is projected to be able to provide paid employment to people with disabilities over the next 10 years. The social services provided by the Wings of Hope association have particularly benefited the parents and family members of children with disabilities, 97% of whom are now working in the regular labour market and earning wages that can support their families. This results not only in a financial gain, but it can also have a positive psychological impact.

The association conducts a feedback survey at the end of every year including all beneficiaries, family members, social workers and others, in order to engage them in conversation to help improve their services. The feedback has been very positive, especially from parents and family members, who have shown great appreciation for the association’s impact on their children’s and their own lives.

The association’s presence in Sigulda has also contributed to the reduction of prejudice and discriminatory attitudes towards people with physical disabilities, as well as a reported increase in tolerance. Wings of Hope has helped people with disabilities to interact socially within the community, as well as given them the opportunity to be a part of society by employing them and helping them to develop their skills.

Potential for mainstreaming

Wings of Hope has a long-lasting cooperation agreement with local government, both on an informative and a financial level. It receives 45% of its budget from the local government, while the remaining 55% is revenue from the shop and donations. The association also participates in the Latvian State Employment Agency’s programme, which gives it access to state subsidies for hiring people with mental impairments and physical disabilities. The local government also provides it with free premises for its central office, while the association supports the government in policy-making decisions regarding the provision of public services.

Wings of Hope has grown into a sustainable initiative, and shows strong potential to be mainstreamed and transferred to another context. Transfer to another context would require similar conditions, in terms of diverse funding sources and strong local community networks.