Experience stories

While facing challenges in orphanages and foster care, Arina dreamt of a loving family. As she grew older, believing no one wanted to adopt a teenager, her dream faded. Suddenly, at 15, she met a loving family through international adoption and moved from Latvia to Texas, USA.

Marats Dzjubenko began painting at just 2 years old. By his early teens, his artwork was exhibited and purchased worldwide, marking him as a rising star in the art world.

Giving lectures on creating human-centric solutions—providing frameworks and methods to ensure teams design meaningful projects that truly serve people and foster positive change.

Meet Ieva Putnina — diagnosed with Alopecia Areata at 12 years old. For years, she hid behind wigs and fear. But everything changed when she chose to embrace her true self.

Hear Mariia Kashych’s powerful story of resilience and hope in the latest Stories from the North episode. Host Linda Paulauska explores Mariia’s journey from fleeing war-torn Ukraine to rebuilding her life through studies in Germany and Finland. An inspiring testament to courage and determination—don’t miss it!

Katie Leatherwood transforms lives with prosthetic solutions, helping individuals who’ve lost limbs. From Texas to the global stage, she’s currently making a significant impact in Latvia and aiding Ukraine.

Julián Núñez Castiñeyra⁠ is from Venezuela. In this podcast series, he shares his life story, from childhood to the present. He is one of the students in the Erasmus Mundus master’s degree program “⁠Service Design Strategies and Innovations⁠”.

Somshubhra Ray is from India. He shares his life from childhood until now, as a student in the Erasmus Mundus master’s degree program “⁠Service Design Strategies and Innovations⁠.”

With the help of a sperm donor, a couple was able to conceive a baby after years of infertility. This is the long-awaited child Emma and her story from the perspective of a donor-conceived child.

An orphaned girl with Down Syndrome was offered for adoption to 127 families, all of whom declined. The girl’s story deeply touched the Wimmer family, leading them to embark on international adoption before even seeing a photo of the child.