New volunteer women's organisation in Latvia focuses on crisis preparedness
A volunteer organisation called "Women for Defence SKUDRAS" was recently founded in Latvia to help women prepare for crises. It had 377 members at the time of the interview.
A volunteer women's organisation, "Sievietes aizsardzībai SKUDRAS" (Women for Defence SKUDRAS), has recently been established in Latvia to address security and resilience in the event of a crisis. It brings together women of many professions from almost all parts of the country. Board member Gundega Grīnberga and Zane Valdmane, leader of the South Kurzeme municipality community, spoke about its work in an interview with the news portal Jauns.lv.
Advice for families
With a possible military threat to Latvia in mind, families are encouraged to draw up their own crisis plan. It should set out what each family member will do, when and how.
The organisation's aim
Grīnberga said the aim is to reduce fear among women and all Latvian residents when they think about any kind of crisis. The group wants to provide knowledge and skills and to encourage a community of women, or "ants" (skudras), in every populated place over time. Members would learn together and consider how to strengthen their resilience to crises.
Strong interest
At the time of the interview the organisation had 377 members, and interest in joining remains very high. Valdmane attributed this to the times people live in. The war in a neighbouring country is felt in Latvia too, because it is discussed daily and reaches people as soon as they pick up a phone or turn on the television. As Latvia borders a state that is at war with its neighbours, residents have begun to think about possible threats.
