Children and Youth at risk

Programme Summary

Why is the programme needed? Child and youth work is still underdeveloped in Lithuania. More open and flexible measures are needed in order to reach the most vulnerable children and youth, as well as their families, which cannot or do not engage in the typical organised activities for these age groups. Children at risk living in deprived families often do not have substantial meals, leisure time activities, information or counselling services provided to them. Moreover, in Lithuania there is no established integrated assistance (psychological, medical, legal, social, etc.) for children who have suffered from sexual abuse and/or sexual exploitation. What will the programme achieve? The programme aims at meeting some of these deficiencies by supporting child day-care centres as well as open youth centres in the most deprived municipalities. Additionally, a support centre for child victims of sexual abuse will be established in order to provide a “safe house” as well as comprehensive services including individual, group and family psychological support. A comprehensive system of rehabilitation, with a long-term and short-term social assistance measures for family and the child who has suffered sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, will also be developed. How will it be achieved? The main expected results of the programme are the following: • A developed network of Child Day Care Centres and Open Youth Centres; • Developed professional competences of specialists working in Child Day Care Centres and Open Youth Centres as well as volunteers; • New social services in Child Day Care Centres; • Establishment of the Support Centre for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitation; • Developed professional competences of specialists. How will bilateral relations be strengthened? The bilateral relations will be strengthened both through the cooperation on the support centre project with the Icelandic project partner, the Government Agency for the Protection of Children, as well as by exchanging experience with other donor state entities with a view to sharing good practice of the provision of effective and qualified measures for children and youth at risk (development of services, staff competence, etc.). Various forms of cooperation are planned: conferences, seminars, study visits, trainings. Who can apply for funding under this programme? Eligible applicants are legal entities registered in the Republic of Lithuania and operating in the public interest (e.g. local authorities, non-governmental organisations, communities, religious communities, etc.) which will be eligible for support under the EEA Grants 2009–2014.