On 3 December, 11:00 – 22:00, the Latvian Fund for Nature (LFN) will host an exchange event called “Swapsies” at Āgenskalns market - LFN invites you to bring things that you no longer need, but are still in good condition, and to take ownership of things brought by others. The event will also include various creative workshops, such as sewing and gift wrapping workshops, as well as musical performances. “Swapsies” will encourage people in the run-up to Christmas to choose sustainable gifts and give things a second life, allowing them to enjoy the joy of giving while also reducing their impact on the environment and climate.

As the Christmas and New Year holidays approach, people usually look for holiday-appropriate clothes and gifts. As a result, by the end of the year, the consumption of a wide range of goods increases significantly, having an impact on the environment and climate. This is why LFN organises the exchange event “Swapsies” and invites you to celebrate and give sustainably! Given the greenhouse gas emissions from food and clothing production, reducing consumption as well as exchanging and reusing existing items are critical climate change mitigation measures.

 “Swapsies” will be held on 3 December, 11:00 – 22:00 on the second floor of Āgenskalns market. Its visitors have the opportunity to bring clothes, shoes, accessories, dishes, books, household items, interior decorations and other household items that are no longer useful, but are still in good condition, valid, clean and usable. The visitor is also invited to pick up items brought by others at the exchange point. Each “Swapsies” participant may bring up to seven items and take five. The “Otra Elpa” foundation will receive the items that have not been exchanged at the end of the day and whose owners have not been found. The event is free of charge and without prior registration.

Along with the opportunity to exchange clothes and other items, the “Swapsies” event will feature a clothing repair workshop, a jar decorating workshop, a gift wrapping workshop and a cloth toys and trinkets workshop. Musician Jonas Lindbergs, and the groups “EKLEKTIKA” and “Dzīves Etīde” will take the stage at the end of the event.

The exchange event “Swapsies” is organised by the Latvian Fund for Nature project “Game On! Don’t let climate change end the game!” climate ambassadors Rūdolfs Kivlenieks and Ilze Rasnača. Rūdolfs Kivlenieks says: “We all have things in our homes that we once purchased but are now collecting dust and not being used. Therefore, the idea of a place where everyone can come with these things and exchange with others seems quite appealing and exciting”.

 “Swapsies” is organised by the Latvian Fund for Nature project “Game On! Don’t let climate change end the game” with the aim of promoting a sustainable and climate-friendly lifestyle.

The project “Game On! Don’t let climate change end the game!” is an initiative created by 10 partners in 8 countries of Europe with the aim of deepening the public understanding of climate change and how individual actions can facilitate a sustainable and climate-friendly development, and inviting the youth to get involved in the “climate game” to become climate activists. The project is implemented in Latvia by the Latvian Fund for Nature. The project “Game On! Don’t let climate change end the game” is co-funded by the EU DEAR (Development Education and Awareness Raising) programme.