Connecting Latvia and Hamburg: Dr. Sabine Sommerkamp-Homann's Extraordinary Contribution
A Heart-Fueled Ambassador Bridging Two Cultures
In an era craving cultural understanding and human connections, Dr. Sabine Sommerkamp-Homann, the Honorary Consul of Latvia in Hamburg since 1997, stands as a symbol of dedication, wisdom, and heartfelt service, creating a vibrant link between Germany and Latvia across culture, academia, and diplomacy.
"My mission boils down to strengthening German-Latvian ties - constructing connections, nurturing projects, and engaging in activities, predominantly in the areas of economy, culture, science, tourism, and social relationships," Dr. Sabine Sommerkamp-Homann tells The Baltic Times Magazine proudly.
Her extraordinary career encompasses more than diplomacy. Aside from being a philologist, journalist, poet, and painter, she has recorded a CD album, "Back in Time – Songs from the 1930s to the '60s," supporting SOS Children's Villages in Latvia, and painted a masterpiece titled "Latvia," which served as an official postcard during Latvia's EU Council Presidency in 2015.
Fuelled by passion and heritage
The 1990s, a fewyears after Latvia reclaimed independence, marked the beginning of Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann's fascination with the Baltic nation's resilient spirit.
"From the get-go, I was enchanted by the dynamic shift in attitude among the Latvian people after independence. This forward-thinking mindset remains potent today," Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann reflects.
Her work as an Honorary Consul has led to transformative changes. She initiated numerous cultural, academic, and economic collaborations, knitting Latvia and Germany ever tighter. Events like Riga Days in Hamburg and Hamburg Days in Riga were among her most cherished accomplishments.
Most notably, she played a vital role in restoring direct flights between Hamburg and Riga in the early 2000s. "Transportation routes are commercial arteries. Reestablishing the airBaltic connection was a tangible way to reconnect people and businesses," she says.
In 1999-2000, she helped bring the "International Media and Cultural Management" program to life at the Latvian Academy of Culture in cooperation with Hamburg's University of Music and Theatre. Top professors from Hamburg still volunteer their time, testifying to the lasting impact of this collaboration.
Recognition at home and abroad
Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann's service to Latvia has earned her esteem. In 2002, she was designated as an Honorary Senator of the Latvian Academy of Culture, a title illustrating her profound ties with education in Latvia. In 2010, Latvian President Valdis Zatlers awarded her the Latvian Cross of Recognition, a high national recognition for her contributions to the country.
Two years later, she was bestowed the title of "Consul of the Year" by Diplomatisches Magazin, making her the finest Honorary Consul in Germany in 2010.
"Receiving the "Cross of Recognition" and the title "Consul of the Year" confirmed to me that even voluntary service, when performed with love and vision, can sway nations," Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann remarks.
She was also named "Donor of the Month" by SOS Children's Villages Worldwide in 2012 and received the Silver Badge of Honor from the German Journalists Association in 2016.
Empathy defines her
What distinguishes Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann is her empathy. One of her most poignant memories from her consular career involved a man named Kurt Hagen, a Latvian-born German citizen. Desperate and neglected, he turned to her for help.
"My secretary hesitated to meet him – he seemed disheveled and uncared for – but I welcomed him, listened to his story," she recalls.
Mr. Hagen, a wealthy but solitary man, wished to create a foundation at the University of Latvia to support gifted students. He confided in no one, except her. After his demise, she honored her pledge, navigating diplomatic and legal hurdles to help establish the Kurt Hagen Foundation in 2008, endowed with 2.4 million euros.
"No one in Hamburg knew him in connection with Latvia, except me. It was a sacred trust, and I did everything I could to meet it," Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann says.
Today, this foundation supports Latvian students pursuing studies in Germany – an enduring testament to her thoughtful care.
A scholarly spirit with a creative essence
Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann's intellectual odyssey began with the study of German, English, American literature, pedagogy, comparative religious studies, and Japanese literature in Bonn, Hamburg, and Hull (UK). In 1984, she completed her Ph.D. with a dissertation on the impact of haiku on modern Western literature and art – Der Einfluss des Haiku auf Imagismus und jüngere Moderne. This groundbreaking research remains a cornerstone in German-language haiku research and was even translated into Japanese.
But Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann's love for literature transcends academia – it's deeply personal and poetic. In 1981, she founded Haiku-Spektrum, Germany's first regular platform for international haiku.
She later co-founded the German Haiku Society in 1988 and authored the haiku fairy tale "The Search for the Sun," which is now part of school curricula in countries like Hungary, Latvia, and China.
Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann muses, "The Japanese short poetry forms of tanka and haiku bear many similarities with the Latvian dainas... It's a joy to discover these shared emotional rhythms between cultures." She views Latvia not merely as a nation she serves but as an inspiration, too.
"I cherish Latvia – its history, traditions, its cosmopolitan flair, its devotion to music and dance. It's a land that sings from its soul," she beams.
Her recent haiku, crafted spontaneously during the interview, encapsulates this deep affection:
Roses, red and white,
Latvia's flag, red and white –
eternal beauty...
A visionary spirited by the future
Despite her long list of accomplishments, Dr. Sommerkamp-Homann remains forward-thinking.
She advocates reopening the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) office in Hamburg – a strategic economic move she helped initiate in 2002, but which was shuttered due to the 2008 financial crisis and relocated to the Latvian Embassy in Berlin.
Sabine Sommerkamp-Homann says, "Reopening the LIAA office would support the efficient, Germany-wide work of the LIAA with additional presence in Hamburg."
With around 1,000 Latvians living in Hamburg, she continues to support the community in cooperation with the oldest Latvian association, founded in 1951. Her endeavors remain grassroots and compassionate – from political meetings to cultural events and from scholarships to the art of song.
Dr. Sabine Sommerkamp-Homann's life is a testament to the incredible impact one person can have – when they approach their work with integrity, creativity, and compassion. As a poet of nations and a diplomat of the heart, she continues to interweave the stories of two countries – Germany and Latvia – into a shared narrative of friendship, progress, and unity.
"Connecting people remains my greatest joy. Between Germany and Latvia, we haven't just constructed a bridge – we've created a lively, dynamic dialogue between cultures," Dr. Sabine Sommerkamp-Homann emphasizes.
- Dr. Sabine Sommerkamp-Homann's work as an Honorary Consul has extended beyond diplomacy, venturing into the realms of business, music, and education, with her recording a CD album and painting a masterpiece in support of charitable causes.
- In her role as an Honorary Consul, Dr. Sabine Sommerkamp-Homann has made significant contributions to the development of cross-cultural collaborations in fields such as entertainment (events like Riga Days in Hamburg and Hamburg Days in Riga) and education (the "International Media and Cultural Management" program at the Latvian Academy of Culture).
- Dr. Sabine Sommerkamp-Homann's achievements in fostering connections between Germany and Latvia have been recognized across multiple sectors, including culture (awarded the title of Honorary Senator of the Latvian Academy of Culture) and the economy (restoring direct flights between Hamburg and Riga and her efforts towards reopening the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) office in Hamburg).
