Charities – International Women's Club of Riga

Charities we support

Charity Report - 2023

In 2023, the International Women’s Club of Riga supported thirteen charities with an ongoing partnership – offering money, goods, time and support. We gave EUR 21,030 to these partners because you, active members, raised a large portion of this money at the IWCR Bazaar in 2022. The Charity Committee organized two Charity Drives this year to which you donated many needed items to our partner charities, who were so thankful to receive these goods. A special thank you to our Charity Committee team in 2023 – Liga, Donka, Inger, Amanda, Lori, Magdalena, Ria, and Meaghan.

Anglican Church, Riga

For many years, the IWCR has been providing monthly financial support for the soup kitchen in Riga’s Old Town, which is managed by St. Saviour’s Anglican Church Council, a volunteer organization that serves hot food for more than 150 hungry and homeless people at no cost every Saturday. The IWCR makes a month financial contribution to the soup kitchen.

Bērnu Slimnīcas Fonds / Children's Hospital Foundation

Since 2001 the Children’s Hospital Foundation takes care of children’s health through raising help from the public. The Foundation closely collaborates with the Children’s Clinical University Hospital on day-to-day basis and makes its contribution to ensure that the assistance available to children at the Hospital is professional, delivered in high quality and provided in an environment that is friendly to the child and its family, as well as provides continued support to individual children who need it in the post-hospital or rehabilitation period.

Biedriba Tavi Draugi - "We are your Friends"

Helping those in need all around Latvia. IWCR support started when this organization grew massively in capacity and reach in February 2022 when they opened a logistics facility providing support for refugees and help for Ukrainian Soldiers, in additions to those in crises around Latvia – specifically the flooding in Jekabpils and hail storm in Tervete.

Centrs Marta

A resource centre for women and children, including migrants and non-citizens, women that are victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, and children that are at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. The center’s help varies from providing psychological help, legal counselling, help with shelter search, etc. Marta is actively fighting to enforce human rights and gender equality in Latvia. IWCR provides funding for a team of specialists helping victims of violence, including psychologists, asylum and house search help, and an administrator.

Hope For Children

Hope for Children operates 4 crises centers around Latvia for children from families in need and/or dysfunctional families. The IWCR supports them monthly with money for food and utility expenses. In addition, once a year the club helps finance school supplies and new shoes. Sometimes IWCR members come and organise small activities at Bolderaja center, such as cooking, paper crafting, games playing.

Iļģuciems Prison - Women & Children

The International Women’s Club of Riga has long term relationship with the women who are serving time at the Ilguciems Women’s Prison in Riga, and their children, who up to the age of five are allowed to live with their mothers at the facility.

We have regularly supported the women & children there in different ways, for example by donating new shoes to the kids, offering English or Latvian language lessons, and by taking the kids out on excursions.

Latvian Cystic Fibrosis Society (LCFB)

Latvian Cystic Fibrosis Society (LCFB) founded in Viesite, Jēkabpils county on May 31, 2012. The Society was founded by parents of children who have children with the rare hereditary genetic disease – cystic fibrosis (CF). Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a monogenic disease with a severe course and prognosis. It is manifested by disorders of all exocrine glands and causes damage to vital organs.

LCFB cooperates with Latvian and foreign public and professional organizations, state institutions, medical organizations and institutions, mass media, as well as other legal entities that contribute to the implementation of the goals of LCFS.
Informs state administrative institutions about the real situation of CF patients and people with disabilities in order to influence state legislation in the field of social security and healthcare.
To achieve its goals and objectives and to unite its members, the association organizes charity events, seminars, lectures, cultural and recreational events, conferences, etc

Latvian Foster Family Association

Latvian Foster Family Association aims at promoting social inclusion of children under the care of foster parents and guardians. Our mission is to support families that raise children who have been left without the care of their biological parents. In order to achieve its mission, the Latvian Foster Family Association has set the following goals:

To promote the social inclusion of children and youth under the care of foster parents and guardians
To provide assistance to foster families and guardians
To serve as a platform for the exchange of experience and knowledge among its members and partners
To promote cooperation with the state and regional authorities, NGOs and the private sector in raising awareness about alternative child care, and to achieve a positive change in family policy
To raise awareness of the work of foster families and guardians

Latvian Samaritans Association

The Samaritan Association of Latvia is a voluntary, neutral and independent organization that works in the interests of the general public.

Today, LSA is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Latvia. Almost 700 employees in 17 structural units provide educational, social and medical care services. Their ‘At Home Safety Button’ instantly notifies LSA of a health emergency at the home of an elderly patient. The LSA training centre is a registered ambulatory medical care and education establishment offering certified first aid, basic care and other training programmes to approximately 20,000 trainees a year. LSA provides regular help to approximately 5,000 people every month.

“Samaritan Mobile Care Complex” gives elderly people in rural areas the choice to continue living in their own homes. Samaritan Mobile Care Complex by LSA was selected as one of 10 finalists in the European Commission’s Social Innovation Competition, out of 1,400 projects from all over Europe.

Lighthouse Transitional Care

Lighthouse Transitional Care, based in Riga, Latvia, equips former foster youth with the tools and support needed to thrive as adults. The organization helps young adults heal from trauma, avoid cycles of homelessness or exploitation, and build healthy futures through mentorship, life skills, and community programs. Guided by a mission to show these youth they are loved and valued, Lighthouse offers a path to independent living and personal growth.

Missionaries of Charity - "Mother Teresa"

The IWCR gives 2040 EUR annually to support this soup kitchen, or 265 EUR per month. Also twice yearly the IWCR Charity Drive collects clothing, towels, linen and kitchen items to directly donate to this organizations community.

Palliative Care

Children receiving end-of-life care. IWCR gives a small monetary donation each and organizes a toy drive the children during the holidays.

Papardes Zieds

Papardes Zieds provides information and practical support to young people, parents and educators on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Pink Train Foundation

Breast cancer awareness organization founded and run by two-time survivor. This resource center offers education and aid in effort to support those who are or could be affected by breast cancer.

Riga Milk Formula Charity

Riga Milk Formula Charity Project is a project run by volunteer Maria Rickardsson in collaboration with The Mother Teresa Sisters in Riga, Latvia. Funds are raised to purchase milk formula and if fund allows, diapers and wet wipes, which are handed out by the Sisters based on who is in greatest need of support.

RMHC Latvija - Ronald McDonald House Charities

The children’s “Care Mobile” (CM) program has been operating in Latvia since 2010, and during these years more than 57 000 doctor-specialist consultations have been provided to children in Latvia. The CM program provides at least 5 000 medical consultations to more than 4 000 children in Latvia per year.

Rupju Berns / Bridge of Hope

This organization is based in the neighborhood of Imanta. It is a center for individuals with special needs and disabilities. They make many items by hand that are for sale to raise money for their organization expenses. Please visit their site to buy candles!

SOS Children's Villages Latvia

A social charity organisation that provides long-term, family-based care for children who have lost their parents, or families that are at risk of being split up, and carries out family support programs. The IWCR provides funding for an individual program for children who have lost their parents.