The Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS) is fighting poverty in Latvia by helping the country develop and provide education to the people. This organization is unique in that it works with several different types of organizations in order to help the people of Latvia in several different ways.

Poverty in Latvia tends to affect the elderly the most. In 2016, Latvia was neck-and-neck with Estonia for people above 65 being at risk of falling into poverty among a handful of other nations. An NGO like LAPAS is vital to helping these elderly people by changing their surroundings; but, LAPAS is also vital for paving the way for the next generation. Additionally, helping the elderly who are at risk of falling into poverty in Latvia also helps the next generation by taking the burden of taking care of these elderly off of them. Most people may not think about Latvia as being a poor country, but, in 2018, 22.9% of Latvians were in danger of falling into poverty.

4 Facts About Poverty in Latvia

1. The poverty risk rate has stayed relatively steady for the four years leading up to 2018.
2. The city of Latgale is most at risk of poverty with a percentage of 40.4%.
3. The city of Pieriga is the least at risk of poverty with a percentage of 14.4%.
4. Citizens who are single and over the age of 65 have the highest risk factor of falling into poverty. In fact, about 74.9% of the at-risk citizens were single and over the age of 65.

The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)

The Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation is a part of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP). More than 11,000 Civil Society organizations work with GCAP. GCAP officially emerged in 2005. GCAP partly helped draft the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the U.N. as well as Agenda 2030. In addition, GCAP has stepped up to the challenge of COVID-19 by bringing together more than 400 NGOs, human rights organizations and others to advocate for people on every continent of the world.

To fight poverty in Latvia, it takes more than providing food for a few weeks on and off when funds are available. For long-term betterment, there needs to be a focus on improving specific aspects of society. LAPAS has that focus. It works from multiple angles to build a better future for the citizens of Latvia. Here are some areas of Latvian society that LAPAS works in:

1. Education
2. Government
3. Development
4. Environment
5. Health care for children
6. Non-discrimination policy
7. Government

In conclusion, Latvia may not be one of the countries that one’s mind immediately goes to when thinking of poverty. But Latvia’s poverty numbers have held steady for too many years to ignore. The Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation is a shining example of an organization that understands the multifaceted approaches that Latvia needs to take in order to fight poverty. Hopefully, its efforts against poverty in Latvia will continue for years to come.

– Moriah Thomas
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