Celebrating a legacy of Latvian-Australian volunteering in Adelaide
The Latvian Association and its related organisations are housed in a beautiful Walkerville cottage and neighbouring properties. They recently celebrated 20 years of providing Social Support to Seniors through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP). We met with Ints Pukitis, who has volunteered all his life, with the bulk of his experience dedicated to different volunteer roles associated with the Latvian Association. From his time as a scout leader at the age of 18 for some 15 years to much later serving as Chairman with the Latvian Co-op Board and Social Club (simultaneously for a while) – volunteering has always been a significant part of his life.
On his retirement from TELECOM Ints and his wife volunteered abroad in Latvia, China and Laos, mainly teaching English, before returning to Adelaide and taking up leadership roles within the Latvian community. He combines that with occasional stints as a bus driver for CHSP. He says that recruiting volunteers isn’t always difficult, but it depends on the tasks required and sometimes it’s not easy at all. Ints reckons that volunteering keeps him young when he’s engaged in working together with young people. He takes joy in helping to sustain Latvian traditions and culture and seeing the next generation learn and take part in the Association’s activities and events.
If you would like more information about the Share your Story project, or you have a story to share, please contact us at CHSPSSD@vsant.org.au.
Watch Ints’ thoughts on his volunteering in a short video-clip.