2016

Shadows get acquainted with LVM values

"Ēnu diena" or "Shadow Day" has already become a tradition, bringing together young people who have an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes-look at the professions they are interested in. This year, staff members and experts of JSC "Latvian State Forests" (LVM) welcomed 23 young people coming from different places of Latvia to tell them about the company's operations, LVM values that are reflected in the daily work of the company, as well as to reveal the spirit in the company. The students were also invited to take part in the meeting and task planning process.

The International Shadow Day this year coincides with the company's Shadow Day, when LVM scholarship recipients are given the opportunity to look behind the scenes of the work of the LVM employees, take part in meeting and event planning, or go to the forest and do some practical work. Scholarship recipients shaded LVM employees in such areas as environmental planning, wood product manufacturing and distribution, forest infrastructure, silviculture, geographic information systems in forestry, communication and environmental education. It is possible that the adventures and experience of this day will motivate some of the young people to participate in the company's future recruitment competitions in the field of their interest.

"LVM supports students not only through scholarships, but also by engaging them in a variety of seminars and activities organised within the framework of the scholarship programme. The opportunity to shade motivates students and learners develop their skills and abilities, promotes their interest in the forest sector," says Ieva Keire, LVM human resources specialist.

By filling in a questionnaire on the areas of interest, LVM staff members with the greatest expertise in the respective field were entrusted to guide the scholarship recipients. After timely pick-up at the meeting point, the day was full of friendly chatting, jokes and stories about experience and duties of the LVM staff members. "I don't have extensive knowledge in forests and forestry yet, but I learn a lot in the LVM seminars. This is an enormous driving force not to stop and move forward," says LVM scholarship recipient Alise Trifane.

LVM communication team together with their shadows travelled to LVM Nature Park in Tērvete, where they were introduced to the operation and development of the Nature Park, enjoying the beauty of the park accompanied by experienced environment guides who gave an insight into their professional secrets. The scholarship recipients as representatives of the communication sector also took part in the planning of environmental education programme for 2016.

A number of shadows were interested in geographic information systems in forestry, and the information obtained will come in handy for some of the shadows, when writing their master's thesis. Scholarship recipients could also learn how geographic information systems are used by LVM, exploring their use and arrangement in the company.

In order to promote student personal growth and knowledge in the field of forestry, JSC "Latvian State Forests" already for several years has been organising a scholarship competition, which is open to Latvian university students of different programmes, as well as to students of Ogre State Technical College. The scholarship is aimed at promoting student motivation to develop their skills and abilities, attracting professionals to the company, increasing university and school students' willingness to improve the quality of their studies in the LVM areas of interest. The competition is also a great contribution and support to the advancement of science. In this year's scholarship competition JSC "Latvian State Forests" granted the scholarship to 29 active and enthusiastic young people.