Lithuania

Project Objective

To strengthen the abilities and motivation of foreign women and children to participate in public life, with a view to creating more favourable conditions for their social, cultural, and/or professional integration.

Main problem addressed by the project

In recent years, the number of third-country nationals, refugees, and war refugees from Ukraine has been growing in Lithuania. A significant part of this group consists of foreign women with children who have come to Lithuania due to war, economic, or social reasons. Although national legislation guarantees their right to various services, in practice the integration of these women and their families remain fragmented and limited.

Main problems:

• Insufficient socio-cultural and professional skills, hindering successful integration into society.
• Social isolation and lack of motivation, often caused by low self-esteem, emotional instability, and lack of information.
• Lack of access to psychosocial services and communication skills training, especially in rural areas.
• Underdeveloped trust-based relationships between foreigners and local communities, limiting active participation in social life.

Target Groups

• foreign women who are citizens of third countries (non-EU Member States) living in Lithuania (including asylum seekers);
• children (persons) (aged 10 to 18 or persons over 18 years of age until they complete their general education program) who are citizens of third countries (non-European Union member states) living in Lithuania (including asylum seekers).

Project Activities

The project addresses the identified challenges through a comprehensive approach: strengthening participants’ social, emotional, and practical skills, providing psychosocial support, and building connections with the local community. The model of empowerment through competence building, cultural dialogue, volunteering, and mentoring allows migrants and their children not only to feel safe but also to actively participate in society.

The following main activities will take place during the project:

• Psychosocial support: group and individual consultations, therapeutic camps for women, peaceful communication classes.
• Information, counselling, and mentoring in the field of sociocultural and professional integration.
• Cultural and community activities: culinary heritage events, creative workshops, after-school activities for children.
• Social advertising campaign “Speak quietly, speak loudly,” creating a voice for migrant women in the public sphere.
• Promotion of volunteering and counselling for volunteers.

Project Results

Strengthened social and emotional competencies of target group participants, greater participation in public life, new connections with the community, personal empowerment.

Project Partners

• Ukrainian Integration Center “MALVA”
• Akmenė Ukrainian Community Center
• Šiauliai Vinco Kudirka Progymnasium
• Biržai Cultural Center