“TOYP Latvia” Award for Excellence Goes to Andris Rubīns
TOYP, or “Ten Outstanding Young Persons” is an international project that has, for two years in a row, also offered prizes to talented people in Latvia. These are 10 people aged 18-40 who have excelled in their area of activity and have facilitated positive changes in Latvian society.
This year those who received “TOYP Latvia” awards were Vita Brakovska, who facilitates daring and creative activities, Liene Dambiņa, director of the Paediatric Hospital Fund, Raimonds Elbakjans, founder and director of the Ghetto Games, Jānis Iklāvs, a teacher and director of the Latvian Boy Scouts, Ināra Kehre, who has organised several social and charity projects, Dana Narvaiša, an active facilitator of alternative education, Ģirts Majors, organiser of the largest music and arts festival in Latvia, “Positivus,” Aminata Savadogo, one of Latvia’s most talented young singers and winner of 6th place in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Mārtiņš Sirmais, one of Latvia’s most talented and creative chefs, and, finally, our own colleague Andris Rubīns, who is executive director of the DDB Latvija advertising agency and co-founder of Latvia’s first social company, MAMMU.
“Andris demonstrates joie de vivre and fervour to fire up others so that they become involved in activities,” says Gateway Baltic director Inese Andersone. Rūta Dimanta, director of the Ziedot.lv portal, adds: “He is a person who is concerned about society in terms of social welfare, morals and ethics, as well as patriotism.” DDB board chairman Edgars Skulte has this to say about Andris: “I think that one thing that makes Andris completely unique in Latvia’s advertising sector and beyond is that he absolutely lacks any cynicism at all.”
Andris himself is “thankful for the opportunity to do things that delight my heart and help me to deal with problems and make people’s lives better, more comfortable, safer and happier. We can encourage Latvians to be more convinced in their abilities and more proud about Latvian products. We can support young families and young talented people, we can help young businesspeople to implement their ideas, we can protect people against traffic accidents, and we can help poor people here in Latvia and throughout the world. No wage gives the satisfaction that one gets when one can leave behind a sensible and valuable effect on the world.”
The TOYP Latvia jury this year was made up of well-known professionals. Internationally, the programme has a long history, with young talents being rewarded since the mid-20th century. Past winners include such distinguished individuals as Nelson Rockefeller, Gerald Ford, John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, and many others.
TOYP Latvia is organised by the Junior Chamber International Latvia and the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the aim being to encourage young people to educate themselves and be involved in civil society development in Latvia. The awards also aim at inspiring people to seek new achievements in their area of activity, to be better leaders, and to create positive changes in society.
