Jorens Dobkevics is the founder and head of the NGO New East, which has been involved in international educational, cultural and media projects in the Baltic Countries and Eastern Europe for six years. Jorens is also the Founding Curator in Daugavpils Global Shapers Hub. During his work Jorens has created, developed and conducted more than 500 local, national and international events in the field of media literacy, critical thinking, democracy development, non-state cultural and media projects.

Jorens Dobkevics has also worked as an outreach curator for the Daugavpils 2027 European Capital of Culture (candidate city), was a senior specialist for commercial activities in Daugavpils municipality, worked in the culture and heritage departments of the PPnW Foundation, worked at the Digital Innovation Center, is a co-founder of CitaDaugavpils, curator and co-founder of LAVKA project, and is IVLP Alumni and council member in the Latvian Youth Council.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Conversation Art

The "Conversation Art" project used art as a medium to promote dialogue, empathy, and community building among 109 young people in Daugavpils. The project conducted workshops focused on different art forms, such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and collage, where participants learned to express themselves creatively and engage in meaningful conversations through art. The project also organized events in multiple languages to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all participants. Facilitators guided participants through discussions on various topics, encouraging active listening, empathy, and respect for different perspectives.

According to Jorens, one highlight of this project was the successful involvement of refugee children from Ukraine, fostering connections between them and local children from Daugavpils. A joint game was organized for local children and refugee children, creating a welcoming space where children from different backgrounds could come together and express themselves through art. The art by both Latvian and Ukrainian artists was curated to showcase the diversity and richness of artistic expression from both cultures, ensuring that the artworks resonated with the emotions and experiences of the children involved. Overall, the project provided opportunities for participants to share their cultural backgrounds and experiences, promoting understanding and appreciation for diversity.

“During Conversation Art, I realized exactly how much we can express emotions through creativity and how important it is to talk about it.” - Workshop participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Jorens was a participant in the IVLP Project 21st Century Change Makers: Education Leaders Advance Civic Engagement Among High School Youth, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Mississippi Consortium for International Development.

Jorens's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "The idea for Conversation Art came after an incredible visit to the SpeedArt Museum and a meeting with local organizations in Detroit that are skilled and great at using art to engage young people."

U.S. Communities Visited

Washington, DC; Louisville, KY; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN

Country: Latvia

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