Cesvaine and Kocēni Reach the Final of the Vidzeme Planning Region’s “Family-Friendly Municipality 2020” Competition

The “Family-Friendly Municipality 2020” competition, organised by the Society Integration Foundation to assess and honour, together with residents, municipalities that take particular care of family well-being and set a good example for other municipalities, is drawing to a close. In the second round of the competition, the evaluation committee reviewed the contributions of 25 municipalities to promoting family well-being, as well as residents’ feedback, nominating ten municipalities for the final. The leaders of the Vidzeme Planning Region are Cesvaine Municipality and Kocēni Municipality. 

The municipalities that achieved the highest results in the first and second stages of the competition have reached the final. During these stages, the municipalities’ administrative data, birth and migration balance data, their involvement in the competition’s information campaign, and the support measures implemented for families with children and for ensuring a family-friendly environment were assessed and analysed. This is evidenced by descriptions of at least 100 different services, whose availability the competition’s evaluation committee will verify in the third round—the final.  One of the most important components of the competition was the residents’ vote. Residents most often praised support measures in municipalities that provide diverse and accessible non-formal education, develop and maintain sports and recreational infrastructure, including playgrounds. Residents also appreciate the variety of cultural and sports activities and municipal support in various life situations. Residents would like municipalities to be more active in addressing issues related to providing places for children in pre-school educational institutions, as well as co-financing meals at educational institutions. At the conclusion of the competition, all feedback and proposals will be forwarded to the municipalities for further action.

“Assessing family support measures, as well as the feedback received through the residents’ vote, makes it possible to determine residents’ satisfaction with their quality of life in their region. And this does not depend on the size of the municipality or its distance from the capital. The competition’s main task remains unchanged: by involving residents, to help all municipalities understand their wishes and find opportunities to develop a family-friendly environment in Latvia,” says Zaiga Pūce, Director of the Secretariat of the Society Integration Foundation.

“I am genuinely pleased and proud of the municipalities that have reached the competition final, as they are excellent examples of creating a family-friendly and open environment. The principal evaluator of the competition—the resident—has highly rated the municipalities’ work in meeting families’ everyday wishes and needs. The wide range of services and support available to families is emphasised, as is access to non-formal education, with particular attention also being paid to the importance of sports, recreational and cultural infrastructure. I would like to say a big Thank You to residents for their proposals and recommendations concerning what should be improved and developed in the municipalities. Their recommendations are very important for ensuring a friendly, safe and accessible environment,” acknowledges Mudīte Priede, Secretary General of the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments.

Municipalities nominated for the third round of the competition

Courland Planning Region: Alsunga Municipality, Brocēni Municipality.

Latgale Planning Region: Līvāni Municipality, Ludza Municipality.

Riga Planning Region: Ādaži Municipality, Stopiņi Municipality.

Vidzeme Planning Region: Cesvaine Municipality, Kocēni Municipality.

Semigallia Planning Region: Rundāle Municipality, Tērvete Municipality.

A closer look at the work of these municipalities and their efforts to create a family-friendly environment, as well as the conclusion of the competition and the honouring of the winners, will take place remotely this year, using digital solutions. “Family-Friendly Municipality in Latvia 2020” and five laureates—one in each group of municipalities in the planning regions—will be announced at the end of December. More information will be published on the website www.vietagimenei.lv.

The “Family-Friendly Municipality” competition is one of three family support measures implemented by the Society Integration Foundation. The Foundation also implements the “Family-Friendly Workplace” programme and issues “3+ Family Card” certificates for Latvia’s large families.

Supporters of the “Family-Friendly Municipality 2020” competition: the Baltics’ largest parcel locker network provider “Omniva”; the family-owned company “ViKrEm”; the Latvian parents’ organisation “mammamuntetiem.lv”; the Riga Motor Museum of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate; the Responsive Mothers’ Forum; the beloved sweets brand “Laima”; the “CINAMON” cinema; SIA “TZMO Latvija” with the hygiene product brands “Happy”, “Seni” and “Bella”; and the “Origo” shopping centre.