The Society Integration Foundation of Latvia has issued a call for proposals to organize Latvian language courses for adults whose native language is not Latvian. 

The courses should be available in Riga, Latgale region and other regions of the country, and provide opportunities to improve Latvian language skills up to the intermediate (2B) level. All adults residing in Latvia are the target group, except for the unemployed, job seekers and pupils. A special focus will be given to youth under the age of 25. 

The call is open to institutions listed in the register of education establishments under the Ministry of Education and Science. 

In total 162,500 LVL (approximately 232,142 EUR) will be available for the 2012-2013 academic year. The minimum allocation of funds for one project is 1000 LVL (1420 EUR), and the maximum – 10,000 LVL (14,200 EUR). The deadline for applications is 17 September. 

Earlier this year Latvian government approved granting 143 thousand Lats (205 thousand Euro) for Latvian language courses, giving the Society Integration Foundation the responsibility to allocate the funding. 

The Society Integration Foundation was in charge of implementing the Latvian language teaching program for adults from 2003 until 2009, when the program was closed due insufficient state budget funding (budget consolidation in line with the economic crisis). During these years approximately 17 thousand people took part in the courses. In total, the program required 1.2 million Lats (1.7 million Euro). 

For more information (in Latvian), please see the website of the Society Integration Foundation.