At a time when cultural Heritage days are being celebrated in the world, Heritage days also took place in the Ropazi region from 4 to 8 September, including an extensive programme. Unlike previous years, this year's emphasis has been on educating young people on a variety of topics that connect our culture and history.
With the support of the municipality of Ropazi, a lecture programme was held on September 4-8 in 8 schools of the municipality for young people in grades 6-12 under the guidance of specialists in the relevant history discipline. The lecture on the history of Latvia was hosted by the historian Elina Gushchik, on archaeological studies in Ropazi Parish – archaeologist Aija Spike, on the importance of preserving cultural heritage – archaeologists Janis Meinerts and Marcis Kalnins, on the essence of archaeology – archaeologist Iveta Bergs-Muizniece, on the secrets of zooarchaeology – historian Eduard Plankay.
With the support of the municipality of Ropazi and EU funds, on 7-8 September – throughout the day – the living History Programme and the Medieval Castle ruins of the Ropazi Master Classes and the Ropazi School of music and Art took place. Portraits of the living history of the History Reconstruction Club Rodenpois provided eye-catching and youthful showcases of medieval martial arts and ancient masters of craft. As well as offering everyone the opportunity to test and learn their creativity for ancient positions in master classes such as bone and horn processing, medieval miniature imaging, pottery, cottage industry, blacksmith craft, medieval cookery, archery, medieval swordfighting and leather making. Young people in groups from both Ropazi county educational institutions and the “Mucenieks” asylum seeker accommodation centre were invited and participated in the activities.
on 7 September, the municipality of Ropazi welcomed the representatives of the international partner of the project “integration-related activities in Mucenieks”, the municipality of Elverum in Norway, who, like all other visitors to the “Heritage days” event, took part in activities, masterclasses, demonstrations with great rapport, in order to discuss the dialogue of cultural characteristics and the importance of identity on integration issues.
The activities of the event have been implemented with support from the municipality of Ropazi and also from EU funds under the project “integration-related activities in Mucenieks” (No LV-LOCALDEV-0007, Agreement No EEZ/INP/06), where the project is implemented under the programme “local development, poverty reduction and cultural cooperation” co-financed by Islande, Liechtenstein and Norway through EEA grants.