From 19 to 21 June, the Latvian diaspora festival “Bērzes Strazdi” took place in the United Kingdom. For the third consecutive year, Inga Madžule, Remigration Coordinator at the Vidzeme Planning Region, participated in the event. Throughout the three-day festival, she provided consultations at the Latvia House, advising members of the Latvian diaspora on opportunities for returning to Vidzeme. She answered questions about employment, housing, education, and entrepreneurship, while also listening to people's personal stories and reflections on the possibility of returning to Latvia.
The festival brought together hundreds of members of the Latvian diaspora, and the Vidzeme stand welcomed visitors from across Latvia throughout the event. Guests marked their hometowns on a map, demonstrating that interest in returning home extends across the country, with the largest number of visitors originating from Riga, Cēsis, Jelgava, Liepāja, and many other municipalities.
"Events like this are incredibly valuable because they allow us to meet people face-to-face. Many visitors come to see us every year, so we already know each other, and our conversations become increasingly open and honest. Often, people need not only practical advice but also reassurance that returning to Latvia is truly possible," says Inga Madžule, Remigration Coordinator at the Vidzeme Planning Region. "This year, we spent more than eight hours a day at our stand, continuously consulting and speaking with people. Once again, this demonstrates the strong interest in remigration and confirms the importance of maintaining our presence at diaspora events."
Conversations with members of the diaspora also highlighted the main factors preventing people from deciding to return to Latvia. The most frequently mentioned concerns included employment opportunities and salary levels outside the capital, access to healthcare—particularly for families with children requiring regular medical care—as well as social security and the recognition of education and professional qualifications obtained abroad. Many participants acknowledged that life in the UK offers broader employment opportunities, accessible healthcare, and stability for families that have already established their lives overseas.
At the same time, there were also many inspiring success stories. One woman returned to the Vidzeme stand after having considered moving back to Latvia during last year's festival. This year, she shared that she had already been living in Latvia for six months and described it as the best decision of her life. According to Inga Madžule, it is stories like these that reinforce the importance of the work carried out by remigration coordinators, as a personal conversation can often help people make a life-changing decision.
The festival also featured a children's drawing competition, where a drawing by five-year-old Alise received the highest number of votes from festival visitors. Activities like these help create a warm, family-friendly atmosphere while strengthening the connection between Latvian diaspora families and their homeland.
The Vidzeme Planning Region will continue participating in diaspora events and providing individual consultations to anyone considering a return to Latvia. Remigration coordinators offer practical guidance on employment, housing, education, entrepreneurship, and other important aspects of the relocation process, helping to make the journey back to Latvia as smooth and successful as possible.
