Evaluation

The Evaluation Committee was made up of the representatives of Partners, representatives from Latvian civil society and winners from last year.

Nominees will be evaluated by the following jury:

Kristīne Zonberga, Director of the Civic Alliance - Latvia

Kristine is a director of Civic Alliance-Latvia, experienced in the civic society and business sectors. She believes that value-oriented and systematic organization is a precondition for quality, sustainability and growth in order to be able to successfully implement the mission. Kristine represents, at national and international level, the common interests of civic society, based on the principles of democratic values, human rights and good governance. She supports organizations in legal, management, good governance, social political processes. Author of the publications about the issues of public administration and civic participation. Has a professional master’s degree in public administration and bachelor degree in political science.

Iris Willey, the Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Latvia

Iris spearheads the Embassy’s civil society and education programs, grants, and exchange programs. She is from Maryland.

Māra Sīmane, Consultant of Cross Sectoral Coordination Center
Māra Sīmane works at the Cross Sectoral Coordination Center under the Prime Minister with the National Development Plan 2014-2020, especially on strengthening human securitability. She is the Lead Author of the Latvian Human Development Report on Human Security that won the UN award in 2004 for  "Excellence in Human Development Innovations", and authored Latvia's first Millenium Development Goals Report.  From 2006-2011 she also headed the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS), an umbrella organization for Latvian NGOs engaged indevelopment cooperation and development education.
Hamid Ladjevardi, Chairman of American Baltic Investments
Hamid Ladjevardi is a board member of the non-profit organizations, Latvian Foster Family Association and   Kids First Fund that deal with the welfare of children. Prior to this, he was co-founder and manager of the general partner of Baltic Fund 1, L.P., the first and longest running private equity fund in the Baltics, which was established in 1994. He has been actively involved in investment projects in the Baltic States since late 1991. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Hamid Ladjevardi received Bachelor of Arts degrees in economics and political science and then went on to receive his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Hamid Ladjevardi is Co-Chairman of the U.S.-Baltic Foundation that promotes democracy, free markets, investments, and cultural exchange with the Baltic States.
Jaroslava Tomaševiča, member of the board of the charity foundation "Bērnu rīts"
Jaroslava Tomaševiča is the head and board member of the Charity Foundation "Bērnu rīts". For 16 years she have been supporting children and orphans left without parental care. The foundation supports children all over Latvia - both by organizing various events for them and by purchasing the necessary things. The largest annual campaign "Ar sirdi" takes place at the end of the year, and children from out-of-home care institutions, as well as foster families, write letters to Santa Claus. Thanks to the support and responsiveness of people, every dream is fulfilled. In 2021, the Charity Foundation "Bērnu rīts" received the Award for Human Development in the nomination "For Contribution to the Future of Latvia".
Natalia Novikova, Member of the Board of LiveIntegro Association
Natalia is the founder and board member of LiveIntegro. The association is involving children and young people with disabilities in sports and other activities, as well as organizing various types of charity events. In 2020, this work was highly valued -  association received the Volunteer 2020 award and Natalia received the Human Development Award in the nomination "For Outstanding Contribution to the Future of Latvia". Natalia is the best stroller tennis player in the history of Latvia, she is constantly improving her knowledge and skills in sports and other fields, and she now passes her experience to children with disabilities, she is also a co-founder and president of the Children and Youth Para Sports Association.
 Miks Celmiņš, representative of the #vieglipalīdzēt movement, head of the Make Room Foundation in Latvia
During Covid-19, Miks got involved in the Paliec mājās = Viegli palīzēt movement to launch the "Support for Medical Professionals" initiative, to attract responsible entrepreneurs and NGOs to provide energy packages, free car rental, fuel and other useful medical goods and services for the medical employees in Latvia. Miks is a social innovation project manager, supporting non-governmental organizations, social entrepreneurs, activists, to create sustainable solutions, solving important problems of society, not only in Latvia, but also in the Make Room representative offices in Italy, Romania and India.
Elīna Tolmačova, Head of the Environment, Health and Public Participation Department of Liepāja City Municipality Administration
Since 2016, Elīna has been the head of the Environment, Health and Public Participation Department of the Liepāja City Municipality Administration, where her daily work is related to health promotion and health care issues.
The performance of official duties is inconceivable without communication with various legal and physical persons. Many of them represent the non-governmental sector and enthusiasts in their field. Elīna highly values people who prioritize the results of their work and whose guiding desire is to improve the daily lives of their peers in various fields. In 2020, Elīna received the Human Development Award in the nomination “For an outstanding contribution to health and well-being”.
Tamāra Krēsliņa, volunteer of the State Probation Service in the field of resocialization (co-worker)
Tamāra is happy to share her life experience and knowledge gained through working with NGOs with large families and families with children with special needs.
For more than 10 years, Tamāra has been working in prisons as a volunteer and a volunteer of the State Probation Service in the field of resocialization (co-worker). In 2020, Tamara received the Human Development Award in the nomination "On Social Responsibility".
  Atis Ķeņģis, memeber of the board of the association "Piedzīvojuma Gars"
Atis Ķeņģis is a member of the board and coach of the national youth organization, the association "Piedzīvojuma Gars". The vision of "Piedzīvojuma Gars" is "An Outstanding Work of People and Nature". The goals of the association are to develop young people in Latvia, in the world as a whole, to unite adventure seekers and to create a culture of adventure and experience education in Latvia. In 2021 "Piedzīvojuma Gars" received the Human Development Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education.

Rudīte Krūmiņa, founder and head of the association "Ieva" , chairwoman of the board of the Red Cross Committee of Latvia in Balvi 

Rudīte is the organizer of projects, support and charity campaigns for women and children who have been victims of violence. Family and children's rights expert. The association "Ieva" was established to help and provide support to women who have suffered from violence, it is the first such organization in Latgale. In Balvi, Baltinava, Rugāji and Vilaka municipalities, Rudīte has organized various charity campaigns and projects for more than 10 years. In 2021, Rudīte received the Human Development
Award in the nomination "For Social Responsibility and Philanthropy".