Marcis Skadmanis
Marcis Liors Skadmanis (LL. M, LL. B., Honoris Causa., FRSA) is a Latvian-born British social entrepreneur, lawyer and contemporary environmental photographer, best known as the founder of World NGO Day.
Full BIO
Marcis is a visionary leader who has made significant contributions on the international stage. He founded World NGO Day, an official European Union international day dedicated to NGOs and nonprofits (reference: EU International Days).
At a young age, he co-founded and led the Latvian-British Chamber of Commerce in the UK, a bilateral lobbying trade organization, for nearly a decade until Brexit. The Chamber gained recognition for its innovative approach, earning praise from the UK Prime Minister’s Investment Envoy, Mark Prisk (MP) (reference: The Baltic Course).
In 2016, Turiba University awarded Marcis an Honorary Degree (Hon. Causa) for his contributions to international relations and multinational economic business development. In 2017, he was also honored with a Fellowship from The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce Society of Arts in the UK (FRSA) for his impact on social entrepreneurship (reference: Wikimedia Commons).
World NGO Day
Marcis is the founder of World NGO Day, an international observance dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the contributions of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide. Established in 2014, this day is celebrated annually on February 27.
The day established by Marcis Liors Skadmanis, a UK-based social entrepreneur, is celebrated by many European countries. In 2014, the day became recognized by the United Nations and the European Union.
Marcis was inspired to create “World NGO Day” during his law studies, at a time marked by significant global challenges, including the financial crises of the late 2000s. His early life experiences in Latvia, where he witnessed poverty and social struggles, fueled his passion for establishing an international day to recognize the nonprofit and NGO sectors worldwide, as well as the individuals who work or volunteer for them.
PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS AND ADVOCACY
Marcis has been actively involved in philanthropy from an early age, supporting various social initiatives and projects. One of his notable contributions includes advocating for equal opportunities in society, as well as providing philanthropic support for Holocaust awareness and research conducted by Tamara Zitcer. His efforts in this area led to him being recognized as the youngest awardee (at age 23) by the Latvian Integration Foundation. His advocacy reflects a deep commitment to preserving the memory of the Holocaust, particularly through initiatives like the preservation of victim name lists from the Riga ghetto and promoting a broader understanding of its historical significance in the region.
Marcis continues to be a strong advocate for raising awareness about the importance of the NGO and nonprofit sectors in various regions, especially among younger generations. In 2020, he established the Lifetyme Honorary Medal of World NGO Day, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to civil society. Notable recipients of the medal include Dean Trantalis, Mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Lu Shiow-Yen, Mayor of Taichung City, Taiwan; and Kim Beazley, Governor of Western Australia and Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
