“Thanks to the support, we do not feel like strangers”

Thousands of people forced to flee their homes have found safety and the opportunity to build up a new life in Latvia – many of whom have arrived from Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Others have fled countries such as Afghanistan, Türkiye and Iraq, some having arrived recently, and others having already spent many years in the Baltic nation. How have their experiences of rebuilding their lives and developing a sense of belonging differed – and what do they share?

An inspiring conversation

Hundreds of kilometers from the homes they were once forced to leave behind, Tetiana, from Ukraine, and Faruk, from Türkiye, sat opposite one another on stage in the warmth of an early June evening in Cesis, Latvia. During a conversation at the annual LAMPA Festival, Tetiana and Faruk shared their different experiences of seeking safety for themselves and their families, navigating a new country and language, and building community.

Tetiana arrived in Latvia in March 2022 with her husband and three children, having been forced to flee Ukraine after the Russian invasion. She explained that “we did not anticipate moving abroad as we had a secure, good life at home. We had to start over again.”

Since arriving in Latvia, Tetiana has felt supported – receiving financial support and help with accommodation, food and other basic needs from the state – and has experienced a strong welcoming response from the local society in Latvia.

”I want to say thank you to the society, because we did not feel associated with the word ‘refugee’,” Tetiana explained. “Thanks to the support, we do not feel like strangers.”

 

Dialogues between refugees and locals

In contrast to Tetiana, Faruk did not initially arrive to Latvia as a refugee. Instead, Faruk first came to Latvia as a Masters student in 2013, but due to safety concerns following the 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye, he was unable to return. Faruk was granted asylum in Latvia, and now lives in Riga with his wife and children.

“People think you come to get something, money for example, but I didn’t have this kind of reason. I pushed to get refugee status because of my daughter’s case.”

Faruk shared that it can be challenging to explain to locals the reasons for having had to seek asylum. To address this – and to respond to challenges faced by refugees in Latvia more broadly – Faruk became involved in the civil society organization Dialogu Nams and started organizing dialogues between refugees and locals to exchange stories and create a better understanding.

Similarly, Tetiana is active in civil society to support other Ukrainian women who have sought refuge in Latvia to overcome similar challenges that she herself experienced.

“I want to show how strong and independent a Ukrainian woman is, who can overcome everything, go further and be a source of support,” Tetiana emphasized. “Our success is that you just need to listen a lot, sometimes you need to be silent and just be a friend.”

Invoking a Turkish saying, Faruk added that, “You are an enemy of what you don’t know. So, if you know it, maybe you will not be an enemy. Maybe you will be friends with them.”

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