The charity organization “Tavi draugi” (Your Friends) is the partner for cooperation and logistics in the “Baltic Schools for Victory” campaign. The items donated by students will be delivered to soldiers on the front lines with the help of the organization’s volunteers and Ukrainian partners. The goal of the campaign is to unite students from all Baltic countries to continue supporting Ukraine’s defenders in their fight for freedom, says Emīlija Kļaviņa, the campaign’s initiator and a 12th-grade student at Riga Āgenskalns State Gymnasium (Rīgas Āgenskalna Valsts ģimnāzija). Just as 30 years ago the people of all Baltic countries joined hands during the Baltic Way, initiators want to unite students from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to provide practical support to the Ukrainian army. Inspired by the results of last year’s campaign, students are confident that together they can achieve even more.  

Emīlija Kļaviņa: "When the war started, it was terrible to realize it. I realized that up until now I had lived in a very privileged world. I was simply not satisfied - while I could come to school to calmly study chemistry, English, talk to my friends, I knew that in Ukraine this was not possible for many young people. What I wanted to support was the army, because they are the ones who defend us, they are the ones who fight for freedom in Ukraine." 

Emīlija explains how the collection of donations for Ukrainian soldiers has become increasingly widespread, with schools from Lithuania and Estonia also joining in this year. "In the first year, it was just our school project. Only Āgenskalns State Gymnasium got involved. After a year, something bigger was needed, and we came up with the "School for Victory", in which all Latvian schools could participate. 104 schools participated, donating more than 10 tons. As the war continued, we raised the level and came up with the "Baltic School for Victory".   

Student council advisor at the Gymnasium emphasizes that students have an attitude of responsible citizenship. They care about what is happening in the world. They really are oriented towards world events, how to act in such difficult situations. They have a sense of responsibility, the ability to organize, and the strength to inspire others. 

Students in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are collecting donations of instant food, canned goods, cookies, dried fruits and nuts, tea, coffee, hygiene products, chemical hand and foot warmers, and other essential items for soldiers. 

For more information: Website of Riga Agenskalns State Gymnasium: https://avg.lv/lv/news/labdaribas-akcija-Ukrainas-karaviriem, website of charity organisation Your Friends: https://www.tavidraugi.lv/en/2025/01/14/the-baltic-schools-for-victory-campaign-launched-in-support-of-the-ukrainian-army/, Latvian Public Media: https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/16.01.2025-baltic-schools-asked-to-contribute-to-ukraines-victory.a583944/, the Instagram profile #schoolsforvictory  

Source: Eurydice Unit Latvia