Uzdym

Uzdym (Belarusian: «Уздым») is a Belarusian cultural and educational association based in Daugavpils, Latvia. It was founded in 1992 on the initiative of Lyudmila Karalyova, head of the Baltic-Slavic Society, and officially registered with the Latvian Ministry of Justice on 6 July 1993 as a public organization of Belarusians in Daugavpils. The association aims to actively unite Belarusians and strengthen friendship between Belarusians and Latvians. The founding members included Konstantin Kapusta, Stanislav Volodko, Zinaida Silinja, Iosif Reut, Mikola Navumenka, Larisa Yarashevich, Yevgeniya Gulyaeva, Yevgeny Shabutsky, Zenon Bury, Mikola Pavlovich, and Alexander Karnatsevich. In its founding year, the ensemble "Kupalinka" was created, with Yana Yuzefovich as its founder and first leader. Over the decades, Uzdym has established several cultural and educational initiatives. In 1994, the first issue of "Slova Belarusa" (later "Belarus Latgalii") newspaper was published. In 1995, the association moved to premises at Raina Street 31, and a Belarusian Sunday school began operating on 8 October of that year, organized by Volha Pavlovich. In 1996, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the building of the Belarusian gymnasium that existed from 1922 to 1935. In autumn 1997, the first Days of Belarusian Culture were held. In April 1999, the only Belarusian Cultural Center in Latvia was founded, opening on 3 July 1999. In 2014, the association's website was launched. Since 2015, on the initiative of Zhanna Ramanouskaya, the newspaper "Uzdym" has been published quarterly by the association's activists. The Belarusian Sunday school "Vyaselka" operates with curator Lyudmila Sinyakova and teachers Volha Pavlovich and Tatyana Bliznakova. The association also maintains its own library with about 700 books in Belarusian. Groups organized under the association include the "Natkhnenne" ensemble (music director Y. Yuzefovich, artistic director Liliya Voronova), the creative workshop "Zrobim Razam" (leader Leangina Muizhniyets), and the theater group "Charouny Kufarak" (leader Lyudmila Sinyakova). As of 1 January 2025, the association had 155 members. The association has been led by several chairpersons: Mikola Pavlovich (1994–1995), Stanislav Volodko (1995–1997), Tatyana Buchel (1997–2003), Boris Ivanov (2003–2013), Valery Ambrosov (2013–2015), Lyudmila Sinyakova (December 2015–2018), Zhanna Ramanouskaya (January 2018–2022), Ina Valyushka (January–August 2022), and Liliya Voronova (since August 2022).

The Belarusian cultural and educational association "Uzdym" was established in Daugavpils, Latvia, in 1992 on the initiative of Lyudmila Karalyova, head of the Baltic-Slavic Society. The first organizational conference was held that year, with the goal of involving Daugavpils Belarusians in cultural and educational work. The founding members were Konstantin Kapusta, Stanislav Volodko, Zinaida Silinja, Iosif Reut, Mikola Navumenka, Larisa Yarashevich, Yevgeniya Gulyaeva, Yevgeny Shabutsky, Zenon Bury, Mikola Pavlovich, and Alexander Karnatsevich. In the same year, the ensemble "Kupalinka" was created, with Yana Yuzefovich as its founder and first leader. On 6 July 1993, the Belarusian association "Uzdym" was officially registered with the Ministry of Justice of Latvia as a public organization of Belarusians in Daugavpils. In September 1994, the Consulate General of Belarus opened in Daugavpils, and in the same year the First Congress of Belarusians of the Baltics took place there, aiming to unite Belarusians of the Baltic countries. On 13 October 1994, the first issue of "Slova Belarusa" (later "Belarus Latgalii") was published, edited by Stanislav Volodko and Tatyana Buchel. In 1995, the association moved to premises at Raina Street 31. From 8 October of that year, a Belarusian Sunday school began operating, organized and first taught by Volha Pavlovich. In 1996, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the building of the Belarusian gymnasium that had existed from 1922 to 1935. In autumn 1997, the first Days of Belarusian Culture were held, attended by many guests from Minsk and Vitebsk. At that time, an elective in Belarusian language existed at Daugavpils University, where students conducted scholarly work. Belarusian language was studied until 2008. The founder of Belarusian language studies was Daugavpils entrepreneur with Belarusian roots, Marian Pankevich, a native of Braslaw. In April 1999, the only Belarusian Cultural Center in Latvia was founded, opening on 3 July of that year. Members of the association participated in festivals such as "Slavianski Bazaar," "Braslawskiya Zarnitsy," and "Perabrodskaya Zorka" in Belarus and various projects. In 2014, the association's website appeared. Since 2015, on the initiative of Zhanna Ramanouskaya, the newspaper "Uzdym" has been published, prepared by the association's activists and issued four times a year. The Belarusian Sunday school "Vyaselka" operates with curator Lyudmila Sinyakova and teachers Volha Pavlovich and Tatyana Bliznakova. The association also has its own library with about 700 books in Belarusian. Groups organized under the association include the "Natkhnenne" ensemble (music director Y. Yuzefovich, artistic director Liliya Voronova), the creative workshop "Zrobim Razam" (leader Leangina Muizhniyets), and the theater group "Charouny Kufarak" (leader Lyudmila Sinyakova). As of 1 January 2025, the association had 155 members. The association has been led by several chairpersons: Mikola Pavlovich (1994–1995), Stanislav Volodko (1995–1997), Tatyana Buchel (1997–2003), Boris Ivanov (2003–2013), Valery Ambrosov (2013–2015), Lyudmila Sinyakova (December 2015–2018), Zhanna Ramanouskaya (January 2018–2022), Ina Valyushka (January–August 2022), and Liliya Voronova (since August 2022).

• 2025

  Association had 155 members as of 1 January.

• 2015

  Newspaper "Uzdym" began publication on initiative of Zhanna Ramanouskaya.

• 2014

  Association's website launched.

• 1999

  Belarusian Cultural Center founded in April; opened on 3 July.

• 1997

  First Days of Belarusian Culture held in autumn.

• 1996

  Memorial plaque unveiled on building of former Belarusian gymnasium (1922–1935).

• 1995

  Association moved to Raina Street 31; Belarusian Sunday school began on 8 October.

• 1994

  Consulate General of Belarus opened in Daugavpils; First Congress of Belarusians of the Baltics held.

• 1994

  First issue of "Slova Belarusa" (later "Belarus Latgalii") published on 13 October.

• 1993

  Officially registered with the Ministry of Justice of Latvia on 6 July.

• 1992

  First organizational conference held; association founded on initiative of Lyudmila Karalyova.

• 1992

  Ensemble "Kupalinka" created with Yana Yuzefovich as founder and first leader.

A community-based cultural and educational association promoting Belarusian culture and language in Latvia.

• Belarusian Sunday school "Vyaselka"

  Sunday school with curator Lyudmila Sinyakova and teachers Volha Pavlovich and Tatyana Bliznakova.

• Newspaper "Uzdym"

  Quarterly newspaper published since 2015 by the association's activists.

• Library

  Library with about 700 books in Belarusian.

• Ensemble "Natkhnenne"

  Music group with music director Y. Yuzefovich and artistic director Liliya Voronova.

• Creative workshop "Zrobim Razam"

  Creative workshop led by Leangina Muizhniyets.

• Theater group "Charouny Kufarak"

  Theater group led by Lyudmila Sinyakova.

1. 1Uzdym official websiteuzdim.lv
2. 2Wikidata entry for Uzdymwikidata.org
3. 3Belarusian Wikipedia article on Uzdymbe.wikipedia.org