“New partners and new ideas” – experience exchange trip to the Lithuanian NGOs
In the month of July continues association „Balta Maja” implement project “Support for the Activity of the association „Balta Maja” to Strengthen the Participatory Democracy in Latgale Region” (project contract number: 2012.EEZ/DAP/MAC/152) activities. The project provides a regular and significant support of Association main activity and a variety of additional activities. The project supported by EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 period Programme „NGO fund” in subprogram “NGO Activity Support Measure”.
The most important event of the month was 12-13 august – experience exchange trip to the Lithuanian NGOs. Purpose of the trip was to gain new experience in the NGO sector in Lithuania and share our experience of working with the community and cooperation with the government. The two-day experience exchange trip attended 15 participants: association staff, members and volunteers.
In Lithuania like in Latvia summer is a road repairing time, so after a recommendation of our trucker, to avoid losing the time at 11 traffic lights, we went to Ukmerges through Rokiski. In Ukmerges we were met by the local government member Klavdija Stepanova, she was helped to prepare the program of our visit in Lithuania, and told us about the general situation in Lithuania and Ukmerges NGOs sector. During the negotiations were asked questions and voiced the answers, were expressed the idea of further cooperation plans.
Great experiences association “Balta Maja” Day Centre staff got in visiting the Ukmerges center for children with special needs. The organization management was very knowledgeable and shared his experience about the problems and the solutions in dealing with customers. Very great and interesting was center children creative work – especially ceramics.
In the next day we were visited a number of other organizations in Vilnius. First, we met with Arunas Svitojus, director of Baltic Foundation Heifer International. Organization director exhaustively described the situation in Lithuanian rural areas – as it is from the NGO perspective, as it is from the local community view and as it is from point of view of farmers. Useful information was done in conjunction with the “Lietuvas kaimo tinklas” (similar to Latvian Rural Support Service) and “Lietuvos piliu ir dvaru asociacija” accomplished. The examples of community members mutual support was touching; the organization performance – grandiose. We became acquainted with the fund “Baltijos labdaros fondas” – with the Fund efforts made and expectations of the Latvia.
Exchange visits ended with the organization “PAGAVA” and “Union of social enterprises of disabled representative staff meeting. These organizations take care of the society who has health problems and hearing impairment. Both organizations are trying to educated these persons, helped to learn a profession, find a job and be united to their families.
Trip participants appreciated their Lithuanian colleagues’ achievements and in home way shared their opinions and plans that could be conducted in association “Balta Maja”. In order to succeed!
More information
phone: 65381707
email: baltamaja@baltamaja.lv
The program is funded by the EEZ Grants and Latvian State Supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
www.sif.lv www.eeagrants.lv www.eeagrants.org
This publication has been prepared by the EEA Financial Mechanism and Latvian State financial support. For the content of this publication responsible Association „Balta Maja”.