Since 1997, ALA has organized educational trips to Latvia to offer young people of Latvian origin an opportunity to maintain and further develop their Latvian identity, to use and improve their Latvian language, to strengthen their ties with Latvian society, and to develop and maintain contact with Latvia.
Liga Ejups, program coordinator
Educational Trips for Young People of Latvian Heritage from 13 – 15 Years Old
DEADLINE FOR “HERITAGE LATVIA” EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 22!
“Sveika, Latvija!” – trip language will be Latvian.
Participants must understand conversational Latvian and be able to express themselves in Latvian. All instructions, tours, excursions, and daily conversations with local Latvians (such as at restaurants and hotels) will be in Latvian. Participants will be expected to speak Latvian among themselves.
“Heritage Latvia” – less emphasis on Latvian language.
More suitable for participants that are not as comfortable understanding or speaking Latvian. Instructions and excursions will be in both English and Latvian. Tours will be in in English so participants can fully understand the information. Participants will be encouraged to speak Latvian to their ability in daily interaction with local Latvians (restaurants and hotels).
We ask that you seriously consider which tour would be most appropriate for your participant.
BOTH TRIPS ARE EQUAL AND EQUALLY MEANINGFUL!
MOST ASKED QUESTIONS:
WHAT?
- All trips are a 10-day (not including arrival and departure days) intense bus tour of Latvia’s four regions and Rīga.
- Each stop will explore the history and culture of the location with guided tours, hikes, excursions, specific creative projects, city walks, lectures, and recreational activities.
- During the trip, the participants will spend several focused days with Latvian peers from a chosen city getting acquainted.
WHEN?
“Sveika, Latvija!” from June 9 – 20.
“Sveika, Latvija!” from August 11 – 22.
“Heritage Latvia” from June 16 – 27.
WHAT IS THE COST?
- Starting in 2024, ALA has changed the trip price structure for the educational trips. In 1997, when the first “Sveika, Latvija!” trips were organised, the ALA Board voted to support participants with $100.00 scholarship for each year spent in Latvian school not to exceed $1000.00.
- Today, Latvian families are not always living and raising their children near of historic Latvian centers that have Latvian schools. To ensure all families, wherever they live can have the opportunity to send their children on a trip, ALA has decided this year to support all participants with an $800.00 scholarship whether they have or have not attended Latvian school.
- ALA congratulates all Latvian school graduates! Participants who send a copy of their Latvian school diploma will receive a $100.00 travel price discount.
- The Daugavas Vanagi USA organization, which has a history of supporting Latvian education, has resolved in 2024 to start supporting the ALA educational trips. All US participants will receive between $125.00 – $175.00 deducted from their travel costs.
$4,100.00 – 2024 trip costs for ALA
$3,300.00 – program fee and flight minus ALA scholarship
$2,400.00 – program fee without flight
$3,200.00 – program fee for Canadian and Austrailian participants. Participants responsible for flight.
WHAT DOES THE FEE INCLUDE?
- The trip fee includes an international flight from the U.S. to Rīga, three meals a day, entrance fees, activity fees, accommadation and transportion in Latvia. Participants are responsible for costs from their home to the designated departure airport.
HOW DOES ALA COVER THE TRIP COSTS?
- ALA continues to seek additional funding to reduce travel costs for families. ALA received a grant from the Society Integration Foundation of the Republic of Latvia from the “Diaspora and Latvian Children’s Camps” fund, which will help offset part of the trip expenses in Latvia.
- ALA is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation that is funded by membership fees and donations. Ultimately, YOU are supporting ALA. When completing your ALA membership, please reflect on whether your $30.00 annual membership fee covers all that ALA provides you. If $30.00 is all you can afford this year, at least renew your membership yearly. Without your support, ALA will not be able to continue the educational trips program.
FROM WHICH AIRPORTS DO THE TRIPS DEPART?
The 2024 trip group tickets are reserved:
- “Sveika, Latvija!” June 9 – 20 – from Chicago O’Hare airport.
- “Sveika, Latvija!” August 11 – 22 – are reserved from both Chicago and Newark. Please indicate your preference on the Application. The departure airport for the group will be announced on March 1 based on the majority choice. THE TICKET PRICE WILL NOT CHANGE, because ALA has already reserved bulk tickets in November 2023.
- “Heritage Latvia” June 16 – 27 – from Chicago O’Hare airport.
Reminder – trip participants live everywhere in the U.S. Let us be mindeful, that about a quarter of all participants will have to arrange (and pay for!) additional airfare, regardless whether the group departs from Chicago or Newark!
Educational Trips for Adults
“Hello, Latvia!” / “Sveika, Dzimtene!”
Registration for the Hello, Latvia! / Sveika, Dzimtene! is open!
Educational trip in English and/or Latvian (dependent on participants’ proficiency) for adults and families. A fantastic opportunity for adults to delve into the culture and history of their ancestors, as well as to experience modern-day Latvia. A chance for some to introduce spouses and family members to Latvia.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
WHAT?
- 10-day bus tour of Latvia’s four regions and Rīga. Each stop will explore the history and culture of the location with guided tours, city walks, and recreational activities.
WHEN? July 12 – 22.
WHAT IS THE COST? $3,000.00. Participants are responsible for roundtrip flight to Rīga.
WHAT DOES THE FEE INCLUDE?
- The trip fee includes accommation, transportation in Latvia, three meals a day, entrance fees.
WHEN DOES REGISTRATION CLOSE? March 31.
The trips have been sponsored by The Society Integration Fund of the State budget of Latvia.
All U.S. participants will receive a scholarship from the Daugavas Vanagi USA.
For more information regarding ALA’s educational trips, please contact Liga Ejups: programs@alausa.org