On 24 May, a special remigration event organised by the Vidzeme Planning Region, “Step into My Shoes”, took place by the sea near Tūja. The event invited participants to step into the experience of remigrants and look at returning to Latvia through personal stories, emotions, and reflections.
The event was created in cooperation with remigrant Ilze Vītola, who returned to Latvia with her family after spending 13 years in the United Kingdom. At the heart of the event were audio stories about returning to Latvia — the experiences, reflections, and insights of various remigrants, which participants could listen to while walking along the seashore and scanning specially prepared QR codes.
The audio stories encouraged participants to reflect not only on the experience of remigration, but also on what people gain while living outside Latvia and what they can bring back with them from that experience. Many participants admitted that listening to the stories of others also prompted reflections on their own life paths, choices, and values.
The programme was designed in a relaxed and community-oriented atmosphere. Participants prepared soup together, set the table, took part in various activities, and collected natural materials, which were later used to create mandalas. Participants also had the opportunity to mark the country from which they had returned to Latvia and the place in Vidzeme or elsewhere in Latvia to which they had relocated.
The organisers emphasise that such gatherings are important not only for building new contacts, but also for strengthening an emotional sense of belonging. The small number of participants created a particularly open and warm atmosphere, allowing people to talk at an unhurried pace and share their experiences.
“Step into My Shoes” took place in a particularly suitable location right by the sea, where participants could enjoy nature, conversations, and being together without distraction. The organisers express their gratitude to the hosts of “Jūrasdzeņi” for their responsiveness, support, and warm hospitality.
The remigration coordinator of the Vidzeme Planning Region notes that events like this provide a valuable opportunity to hear different life stories and to see remigration in a much more personal and human way.
After an active spring cycle of events, a short break is planned for the summer period, while at the end of summer and in autumn, the next meetings for remigrants and newcomers in Vidzeme are expected to be planned.
