Refugee Help Centers
Riga International Bus Station, Central Market
We are volunteers from Young Folks!
In May of 2022 we opened a refugee assistance centre at Riga International Bus Station and now we are helping the most elusive type of refugees - those traveling through Latvia in transit. Many of them are trying to reach their friends and relatives residing in other countries, but there are also those who want to return to Ukraine.
All these people are exhausted, lost, often without money, food, or water. We help them find accommodation for 1-2 days, buy tickets, plan their route, provide food, transport to and from places, supply clothing, and simply offer companionship.
On November 16, 2022, we opened a free clothing distribution point for refugees at the Central Market. Since its opening, we have had about 200 people visit us each day. We work every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
In May of 2022 we opened a refugee assistance centre at Riga International Bus Station and now we are helping the most elusive type of refugees - those traveling through Latvia in transit. Many of them are trying to reach their friends and relatives residing in other countries, but there are also those who want to return to Ukraine.
All these people are exhausted, lost, often without money, food, or water. We help them find accommodation for 1-2 days, buy tickets, plan their route, provide food, transport to and from places, supply clothing, and simply offer companionship.
On November 16, 2022, we opened a free clothing distribution point for refugees at the Central Market. Since its opening, we have had about 200 people visit us each day. We work every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
Number of refugees
Everyday we help dozens of families, here is the most recent data :
- >40,000total number of refugees
- 50 - 100refugees daily (at clothing distribution point)
- 23321in 2022
- 17767in 2023
How to Help?
Financially
You can always donate online or bring cash to one of our centers. From donations, we can pay for temporary accommodation and tickets for those who do not have the money.
Food, Clothes, and Suitcases
We always need food, water, hygiene products and other essentials to give out to refugees. You can buy water/ food/ suitcase/ socks and bring them to us. If you would like to donate used clothes, please wash them and make sure there are no holes.
Become a Volunteer
Our centers operates only because of our volunteers. You can become one of us and help at the bus station, clothing distribution point, or become a driver and help us with moving people.
Tell About Us
Get more people to know about us! Help spread the information by sharing our social media links or this website.
- €10We will be able to feed and provide coffee/tea to ~5 people.
- €50We will be able to pay for a refugee family's accommodation for 1 night while they wait for departure.
- €100Will help us pay for tickets and other traveling costs for refugees in transit.
- €500We will be able to pay a month's rent for our clothing distribution point.
Thank you for your donation! We appreciate your support.
News
Articles
Delfi -- "Opportunities are running out": 6 ways to support the refugee assistance center at the Riga bus station right now. (RU)
Radio - Helpers need help: what happens to volunteers and Ukrainian refugees at the bus station. (RU)
TVNet - Latvia and refugees: the experience of Alexander Morozov and Sergey Snegirev. (RU)
TVNet - "I am that 13-year-old girl." Irina, who created a small miracle (RU)
TVNet - Young Folks LV opens a clothing distribution point for Ukrainian refugees (RU)
TVNet - "We meet and see off hundreds of people a day," - the head of an organization helping refugees at Riga train stations (RU)
LSM.LV - The refugee assistance center at the bus station helped 13,000 people. Volunteers and funds are scarce. (RU)
Radio - Helpers need help: what happens to volunteers and Ukrainian refugees at the bus station. (RU)
TVNet - Latvia and refugees: the experience of Alexander Morozov and Sergey Snegirev. (RU)
TVNet - "I am that 13-year-old girl." Irina, who created a small miracle (RU)
TVNet - Young Folks LV opens a clothing distribution point for Ukrainian refugees (RU)
TVNet - "We meet and see off hundreds of people a day," - the head of an organization helping refugees at Riga train stations (RU)
LSM.LV - The refugee assistance center at the bus station helped 13,000 people. Volunteers and funds are scarce. (RU)
Spektr - "I need the Riga City Council to do all this." As a youth organization alone copes with the transit of Ukrainian refugees, who are not noticed by the city and national authorities. (RU)
Doxa - Sleeping on a cardboard box, a bucket of borscht and thousands of Ukrainian refugees. (RU)
Press.LV - It's forbidden to cry: how our correspondent became a volunteer. (RU)
Press.LV - What Ukrainian refugees lack: there is a special store at the Central Market of Riga
LSM.LV - Youth organization Young Folks: Everyone can help transit refugees
Novaya Gazeta - "I hate looking at carefree faces" How Young Folks helps refugees in Latvia
The New Yorker - Iryna Glazova, who was thirteen when I met her last year, escaped Odesa with her parents on the first day of the war. She was now a volunteer at an information booth at the bus station.
Doxa - Sleeping on a cardboard box, a bucket of borscht and thousands of Ukrainian refugees. (RU)
Press.LV - It's forbidden to cry: how our correspondent became a volunteer. (RU)
Press.LV - What Ukrainian refugees lack: there is a special store at the Central Market of Riga
LSM.LV - Youth organization Young Folks: Everyone can help transit refugees
Novaya Gazeta - "I hate looking at carefree faces" How Young Folks helps refugees in Latvia
The New Yorker - Iryna Glazova, who was thirteen when I met her last year, escaped Odesa with her parents on the first day of the war. She was now a volunteer at an information booth at the bus station.
Process
What people tell about us
Good afternoon. I want to express my gratitude to the volunteers of the city of Riga who help Ukrainians at the bus station. These are simple, young girls who do everything with a smile. They don't just help with tickets, food, arrange accommodation for the night, they inspire hope. Hope for humanity, which we now lack so much. Girls, God bless you, all the best. I will always remember you. Thank you very much, from the bottom of my heart.
P.S. This is a message from people who were sent to Ireland via Poland-Germany
P.S. This is a message from people who were sent to Ireland via Poland-Germany
I convey to everyone a huge hello to everyone who is not indifferent, from the family of Alexander, Elena, Lev and Sevastian from the city of Pardubice. I wanted to say that I am grateful for everything that you have done for our family, in the Czech Republic we have not received even one percent of the help that we received from you, to be precise, we have not received any help at all and now we appreciate your work even more. Please pass on our family's thanks to all of your staff.
Heartfelt gratitude to you for organizing our move, for your care, support and attention! We were put on the ferry, although all hope was already lost. All the best to you, may the Lord bless you with every arrangement in life and meet all your needs, just as you meet the needs of others.
With love to you, Oleg and Lena.
With love to you, Oleg and Lena.
Thank you very much for your center! Almost at midnight, when nothing worked and there were nowhere to go, you escorted me to the bus stop, given a pass and sent me to the airport. Special thanks to volunteer Maria! The whole world rests on such people. What you do is great victory!!!
CONTACTS
+371 261 126 24
info@youngfolks.lv
info@youngfolks.lv
ADDRESS
Youth community
YOUNG FOLKS
Kr.Barona iela 32, Rīga
Refugee Help Center
Prāgas iela 1, Latgales priekšpilsēta, Rīga
Clothing Distribution Center
Spīķeru iela 3, Rīga
YOUNG FOLKS
Kr.Barona iela 32, Rīga
Refugee Help Center
Prāgas iela 1, Latgales priekšpilsēta, Rīga
Clothing Distribution Center
Spīķeru iela 3, Rīga
REQUISITES
Young Folks LV
vienotais reģistrācijas Nr. 40008225108
Swedbank
LV44HABA0551038525297
vienotais reģistrācijas Nr. 40008225108
Swedbank
LV44HABA0551038525297
© 2023 YoungFolksLV