During the Shadow Day, a total of 31 school students from schools in Rīga, suburbs of Rīga, Dobele, Daugavpils, Pļaviņas, Preiļi and Rēzekne visited the Ministry of Transport to learn about the transport sector, responsibilities of the ministry and also about the investments of EU funds in transport and communications sector.
Meeting the young people, Kaspars Briškens, the Minister of Transport expressed his satisfaction with their understanding and genuine interest.
The day commenced with the opening of an exhibition showcasing projects implemented in the transport and communications sector, marking Latvia's 20 years in the European Union.
Career Shadow Day 2024 at the Ministry of Transport
Kaspars Briškens, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Latvia: “We need to listen to young people more and involve them in generating ideas, because their thoughts and ideas give us the opportunity to view things from a different perspective. The future of our sector is in good hands!”
Grēta Nora Kasparāne, Mārupe State Gymnasium: "Today I was shadowing the Director of the Department for Transport Logistics and Coordination of International Cooperation Projects. I realised that in this position one needs to understand not only politics and various sectors, but also languages, which I found particularly appealing."
During the Shadow Day, the young participants also visited the construction site of the Rail Baltica Riga Central Hub. They learnt about the ongoing construction works on the southern side of the railway embankment. They gained insights into the construction of the future station building and familiarized themselves with the station’s roof structure which incorporates unique three-dimensional solutions.
At the end of the busy day, the shadows participated in a quiz to test their knowledge gained throughout the day.
Eight participants of the Shadow Day also took advantage of a unique opportunity which was provided in cooperation with colleagues from the "Road Traffic Safety Directorate" (CSDD) and obtained a cyclist's license.
The beneficiaries were all participants – school students who gained a deeper understanding of the transport sector and its development, while the ministry's specialists shared their knowledge and experience.
