Association Family Gathering “Rāznas Pērle 2026”

On August 13, the “Rāzna’s Pearl 2026” family gathering, organized by the “Autism Support Point in Rēzekne” association, kicked off with introductions and a lottery. The first day was dedicated to exploring nature; participants actively engaged in a session where they learned interesting facts about lichens and fungi found in Latvia. They learned to identify edible mushrooms, made paper from crushed lichen, and explored the local flora. This activity was led by Renāte and Artūrs from the “Nature Speaks, I Listen” association. Afterward, children and parents prepared delicious, healthy gluten-free treats and visited the wild horses grazing in the natural meadows at the “Safīra L” farm. To conclude the day, everyone took part in dog obedience demonstrations. After dinner and some relaxation, they retired to their comfortable rooms to get ready for the night.

August 14 – Day 2 of the “Rāznas Pērle 2026” family gathering, organized by the “Autism Support Point in Rēzekne” association, began with yoga; under the guidance of the wonderful Aivars Kaupužs—the event’s organizer and leader—children and parents enjoyed a good workout. Next, the group went on an excursion to Preiļi, where, during a 5D cinema presentation at the restored manor, they were introduced to masters of traditional crafts. They viewed an art exhibition and listened to ghost stories. Afterward, children and adults visited the Preiļi Doll Museum, run by the artist Vladlena, where they admired and delighted in the masterfully crafted doll figures. They then actively explored and tested the newly created “Žiks” children’s recreation area. On the way back to Rāzna, everyone visited Ārdava Manor to participate in a leather crafting workshop led by “Zelma Kraft.” A huge thank you to the manor’s hostess, Maija, for the warm welcome, and to her husband, Jamie, for the delicious hot chocolate. Many thanks also to photographer Kristīne for capturing the workshop process in a photo session. The day concluded with activities at Lake Rāzna, including swimming, boating, and stand-up paddleboarding. Thank you to everyone for your stamina and cooperation!

August 15. The third day of the “Rāzna’s Pearl 2026” family gathering, organized by the “Autism Support Point in Rēzekne” association, began with a flexible yoga session led by Aivars Kaupužs, the event’s organizer and leader. After breakfast, the program continued with various sports activities and relay races; children and adults alike worked together, learned new physical skills, and experienced a sense of accomplishment—and even earned medals. The afternoon was dedicated to art workshops led by artist Jurita Bakāne and student Andželika. Mothers painted nature scenes while children created drawings using various techniques; the resulting artworks were beautiful and colorful, bringing everyone a great deal of positive emotion and satisfaction with what they had achieved. The evening concluded with cooking soup together, as well as time in the sauna and hot tub, where both children and adults found complete relaxation. It was a day rich in adventure, activities, and positive emotions.

On August 16, the final day of the “Rāzna’s Pearl 2026” family gathering—organized by the Rēzekne Autism Support Point—began, as usual, with a yoga session led by Aivars Kaupužs and time spent enjoying the waters of Lake Rāzna. Next came the awards and gift-giving ceremony, followed by farewells to the beautiful, cozy “Rāzna’s Pearl” guesthouse. We extend a huge, heartfelt thank you to the hostess, Linda, for her warm welcome, delicious and hearty meals, and for providing everything the participants needed. Afterward, the group headed to the “Garkalni” recreation area for a final picnic. Everyone appreciated the hospitality of the owner, Gunārs Smeilis, who generously allowed the group to enjoy the barefoot trail, playgrounds, and quad bike rides free of charge. The participants relaxed, enjoyed the picnic and treats, and shared their impressions. Everyone left with warm memories and a sense of satisfaction from the time spent together. We also express our heartfelt gratitude to Aivars Kaupužs for organizing and leading the gathering, and for his great initiative and warmth. A huge, heartfelt thank you to Edgars Šilins, head of the “Autism Support Point in Rēzekne,” for providing the necessary resources and for organizing and overseeing the entire process; to Sandra for handling photos and videos and for procuring the gifts; and a big thank you to the sponsors, benefactors, and everyone else who got involved in this event. Special thanks go to Arianna Višņakova, a psychology student from the UK, who spent the entire time with the participants, offering her help and engaging in heartfelt conversations with everyone. A huge, heartfelt thank you ❤️🤗 to the parents and children who took part in this gathering, cooperated, enjoyed being together, and shared in the positive emotions.