Our organisation is called , which signifies Unity, and our members are people with disabilities and their friends. Together, we are working towards an integrated society in Latvia. has been active since 1994 and was formally constituted and registered in 1997. True to the meaning of its name, is a dynamic organisation, which is constantly exploring fresh avenues and taking up new challenges in innovative ways.

Our organisation is not big in size (63 members and more than 100 friends - volunteers), but very active and creative in developing, writing, justifying and realising different kind of projects and programs on local, governmental and international level. The members of are different age, beliefs, nationality and sex. As we by ourselves are mostly young people then it is very common that young people wants to join us, but it does not exclude older age people.

On international level - we have co-operation with SHIA Sweden; East European partnership; DUNS Sweden; Mobility Internationals Brussels; DPI (Disabled people international); Muscular Disease organisation Estonia.

On governmental and local level - we have co-operation with Ministry of Welfare division of Social Aid; Riga Dome department of Welfare; Regional municipalities; National Human rights office, NGO's, as well as with others National rehabilitation centres. And write now we are developing co-operation EU agency for International programs for Youth in Latvia.

In the last two years we:

• involved people with disabilities and social work students in a high profile campaign of action for a more accessible environment.
   
• developed the first Centre for Independent Living in Latvia
   
• organised an Annual Carnival and other fully integrated social events
   
• rune seminars for secondary school teachers, social workers and students on disability awareness issues
   
• played a major role in the planning and development of a number of new services for people with disabilities
   

The actions of have contributed to a raised awareness of disability issues in Latvia. The active partnerships, which it has developed with government, at both a national and local level, are supporting the implementation of the UN Standard Rules nation-wide.

Now the activities of also include:

• a joint project with public, private and voluntary agencies to implement specific aspects of the national Concept, "Equal Opportunities for All" - the year 2000
• a number of partnership projects to improve links between disability organisations in the Baltic Sea area
• development of a national database of disability organisations and their services
• the wheelchair dancing studio
• hosting and sending the volunteers
• the introduction of the "Easy to Read" method in Latvia

If you want to donate, our bank information is as follows:

OUR SPONSORS

For more information about these and other activities please contact: Tomsona street, 33 - 1 RIGA, LV - 1013, LATVIA Tel. / Fax: (371) 7 377 376 E-mail: apeirons@parks.lv

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