Latvian National Foundation

The Latvian National Foundation (Latvian: Latviešu nacionālais fonds; also known as the Andrejs Eglītis Latvian National Foundation, AELNF) is a charitable foundation established on 14 December 1947 in Stockholm, Sweden. It was founded at the initiative of the poet Andrejs Eglītis, who called on Latvians who had fled the Soviet occupation and arrived on Swedish shores to create an association that would fight for Latvia's freedom and preserve Latvian identity. Registered in Sweden under organisation number 802009-8490, it also operates under the Swedish-language name Lettiska Nationella Fonden. Initially the foundation worked within the Scandinavian Latvian community, but it later grew into a global organisation drawing in compatriots from England, the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. Its representatives campaigned in many ways to make the world hear about the injustices suffered in Latvia: they took part in demonstrations, wrote publications and issued books, and attended congresses and meetings. The foundation owns an archive created in Sweden, which is now held in Riga at the Jānis Misiņš Library. After Latvia regained its freedom, the foundation adjusted its activities. Since 1990 it has placed particular emphasis on preserving the nation's "living strength" (dzīvā spēka saglabāšana), and it runs support programmes for large and needy families, scholarships for pupils and students in difficult circumstances, and support for health care. It also assists people with disabilities, the elderly and the sick, and rural schools. The foundation cooperates with organisations that share similar aims and carries out various projects. Its stated goals include fighting for the rights and interests of the Latvian people and of an independent, democratic Republic of Latvia; spreading accurate information about Latvia's land, people and culture; doing what is possible to preserve the nation's living strength and culture; and achieving cooperation among all Latvian groups on these points. The chair of the AELNF council is Ieva Graufelde. The foundation accepts donations and invites those in need to apply for support.

The Latvian National Foundation was founded on 14 December 1947 in Stockholm, Sweden. Its creation was driven by the poet Andrejs Eglītis, who addressed Latvians who had fled as refugees and disembarked on Swedish shores, urging them to establish an association that would fight for Latvia's freedom and the preservation of Latvian identity. At first the Andrejs Eglītis Latvian National Foundation (AELNF) operated within the Scandinavian Latvian community. Over time the foundation became a global organisation, drawing in compatriots from England, the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. Its representatives fought in various ways to make the world hear about the injustices that took place in Latvia. They went to demonstrations, wrote publications and issued books, and took part in congresses and meetings, trying in many different ways to make the world hear Latvia. The foundation owns an archive that was created in Sweden; it is now located in Riga at the Jānis Misiņš Library. After Latvia regained its freedom, the foundation somewhat changed its activities. Since 1990 the AELNF has placed particular emphasis on preserving the nation's living strength (dzīvā spēka saglabāšana). It has established support programmes for large and needy families, scholarships for pupils and students in difficult circumstances, and support for health care. It also provides assistance to people with disabilities, the elderly and the sick, and to rural schools. The foundation's aims are to fight for the rights and interests of the Latvian people and of an independent, democratic Republic of Latvia; to spread accurate information about Latvia's land, people and culture; to do what is possible to preserve the nation's living strength and culture; and to achieve cooperation among all Latvian groups on these points. It cooperates with organisations with similar aims and implements various projects. The foundation is registered in Sweden under organisation number 802009-8490 and also uses the Swedish-language name Lettiska Nationella Fonden. Its council is chaired by Ieva Graufelde.

• 1990

  The foundation places particular emphasis on preserving the nation's living strength and establishes support programmes for families, students and health care.

• 1947

  Founded on 14 December in Stockholm, Sweden, at the initiative of the poet Andrejs Eglītis.

A diaspora charitable foundation dedicated to preserving Latvian identity and supporting Latvians in need through grants, scholarships and cultural work.

• Support for large and needy families

• Scholarships for pupils and students in difficult circumstances

• Health care support

• Assistance for people with disabilities, the elderly and the sick

• Support for rural schools

1. 1Latviešu nacionālais fondslatviesunacionalaisfonds.com
2. 2Par mums – Latviešu nacionālais fondslatviesunacionalaisfonds.com
3. 3Latvian National Foundationwikidata.org