The rehabilitation center “Nova Vita” (formerly “Betlēmes Žēlsirdības māja”) has been open since August 31, 2011
GOAL
To help addicted people who want to change their lives, not only the external conditions of life, but also to restore their personal dignity by realizing their worth, building healthy relationships and working and serving others.
WE ARE WORKING TO HELP THE ADDICTED TO:
- stop using addictive substances;
- get clear with yourself, regain a sense of responsibility and the meaning of life;
- become independent;
- settle relations with relatives and friends;
- find suitable occupations and leisure activities.
“Nova Vita” is a Christian help center, but we respect the freedom of each of our residents to choose their religious beliefs.
The rehabilitation center is open to any addicted person, but primarily:
- Low-income, poverty-stricken people, including homeless people;
- People released from prisons.
ADDICT REHABILITATION PROGRAM
- Everyday life and work in the community.
- Renewal, deepening and guidance of spiritual life, getting to know the Holy Scriptures.
- Working with the 12-step program.
- Together, we will look for opportunities to resume paid work according to the abilities of community members.
- Duration of the program: 1 year (four phases), the last three months of the program (resocialization phase) – returning to working life.
- An average of 12 people live in the rehabilitation center.
- In 2017, we also provided social rehabilitation services to clients who received a referral from the Riga Social Service. We continue to do it in 2018 as well.
Results of six years of operation:
- 400 people (85% of them – homeless) involved in the rehabilitation program;
- 8 volunteer employees are engaged periodically.
- In addition to the basic program – 12-step group therapeutic classes – social worker support for program participants, art therapy classes, clay and candle workshop, etc. are provided.
- Most of the building assigned to the rehabilitation center at 14 Katoļu Street has been renovated (thanks to RKB Archbishop Z. Stankevičas and the parish of St. Francis).
- We are co-founders of the Resocialization and Integration Association, which is a group of non-governmental organizations whose target group is people from risk groups of social exclusion.
OUR INTENTIONS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE
- Complete the renovation of the rehabilitation center building at 14 Katoļu street, start the renovation of the rural branch of the rehabilitation center in Pēternieku parish.
- Develop social entrepreneurship (candles, pottery, agricultural products).
- Continue to develop agriculture for the cultivation of food products.
- Sanitary facilities for the homeless (shower rooms, giving the opportunity to shower, wash clothes and change clothes).
- Soup kitchen for the homeless.
HISTORY
With the trust and blessing of Archbishop Zbigņev Stankevich of the Roman Catholic Church in Latvia, a building at 14 Katoļu Street was allocated for the purpose of establishing the social-charitable rehabilitation center “Nova Vita” (formerly “Betlēmes Žēlsirdības māja”), where in 2011. In the summer of 2018, we improved the premises for the needs of the rehabilitation center for addicted people. With the help of some benefactors, we repaired the shower room and toilet, bought one of the wood-burning boilers, while we received the other as a gift from “RBS Skals”.
The birthday of the socially charitable rehabilitation center is the date when the first client entered the rehabilitation center – August 31, 2011.
Initially, the rehabilitation program was modeled after similar rehabilitation centers in Ukraine, cooperation with Capuchin monks and ministers trained at the Ukrainian missionary school. After the first year of existence, we realized that it is necessary to improve the program by adding therapeutic classes to the analysis of addiction topics. Summarizing the experience of addiction specialists in Latvia, approving the “Atlantis” program based on 12-step principles, drawing on the experience of the Day Top communities and our own practice so far, a four-stage rehabilitation program was developed. We thank our specialists and the supervisor for their contribution to the improvement of the program.
Until August 2013, the operation of the rehabilitation center existed only on the basis of voluntary work and donations. Since November 2013, when we started implementing EEA financial instrument projects, we received support from the “Renovabis” and “Bonifatiuswerk” funds, we have perfected the rehabilitation program and created facilities for social entrepreneurship. We have the opportunity to manage the land in Pēternieki parish, we grow livestock and vegetables within our possibilities.
Since 2017, we have been cooperating with the Welfare Department of Riga City Council, providing social rehabilitation services to people in crisis situations (residents of Riga) who have been sent to the rehabilitation program by the Riga Social Service. We hope that this cooperation will continue.