santa

About Santa Grinberga

In 2005 Santa began working with the European Commission ¨Youth¨/ Youth in Action¨ (now "Erasmus+") program that brings young people from different countries together to experience cultural exchange, personal growth, team-work, youth initiative and project development through non-formal education and non-profit fields. Over six years of active youth work Santa took a part in 80 different projects (youth exchanges, initiatives, training courses and seminars) and was the co-trainer of more than 10 international training courses, visiting over 30 countries. Her particular focus was on Eastern European and Caucasus Area, working with partnerorganizations in Georgia and Armenia; Santa even learnt herself the basics of Armenian language. In 2010, as recognition of her competences, capacity and participation to strengthen European programs across the European Union borders, Santa was included in the trainers' pool of Latvian National Agency of "Youth in Action" program. In 2011 Santa received a ¨Youth in Action¨ grant from Brussels to do the European Voluntary Service in Nicaragua, arriving to work with Community Enterprise Solutions and Social Entrepreneur Corps in October 2011 for a year, but decied to stay longer in this very different country and became a field consultant in Nicaragua. Santa has received BA in History and MA in Baltic Sea Region studies from University of Latvia and Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany). Before she has worked in the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Riga and in 2006 received the Order from HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands for her input on recognition of Dutch-Baltic relationships. Santa is fluent in Latvian, English, Russian and Spanish.