They Were The First

Synopsis

Seven Somali refugees found themselves in a Riga park in 2006 after overstaying their time at a national centre for illegal immigrants. Lacking identity documents, money, and language skills, they faced an uncertain future. Latvian authorities had no plan for their situation, leading the group to seek help outside official channels. Some chose to leave Latvia for more welcoming countries, while others decided to stay, learn the language, and build new lives. Their experiences reflect Latvia's challenges with increasing multiculturalism and migration.