Description
Even though there are a few organizations, programs and projects in Lithuania promoting local and international volunteering, volunteering is not well known or recognized as one of non-formal education options to provide young people with new knowledge and skills. The project is aimed at development of a Lithuanian volunteering ambassador’s network. The project promoter intends to foster strengthening of volunteering sector in the Lithuanian regions by building competencies of volunteering ambassadors who will be able to provide information and support about volunteering for individuals and organizations working with volunteers. Annual traditional volunteering events for Lithuanian volunteer community shall allow forming volunteering traditions in Lithuania. The project shall also allow strengthening organizational structure of SALTES by building skills and coordination capacity of board members thus ensuring the continuity of activities. The effect of the project will be the reinforced volunteer' community and active citizenship fostered. Our target groups are volunteer ambassadors, SALTES members, and young adults.
Summary of project results
Volunteering opportunities were not very visible or attractive to potential volunteers across the country and especially in provincial regions. Even though there are organizations, programs and projects promoting local and international volunteering, volunteering is not enough known and recognized as one of non-formal education options to provide new knowledge and skills for young people. In 2012 nation-wide survey revealed critical shortage of information on volunteering activities and organizations inviting volunteers, while more than half of respondents did not go volunteering because “nobody suggested it”. Project promoter decided to address this situation by advertising volunteering programmes, organizing volunteering promotional campaigns as well as empowering NGOs that work with volunteers by developing Lithuanian volunteering ambassador’s network. These measures were seen as enabling to realize the potential of voluntary work thus greatly supporting many types of NGOs as well as grassroot social initiatives, events and other actions. The following tasks were completed and results achieved: a) strong Volunteering Ambassadors Network developed – competent people in the regions were found and enabled to provide all information about volunteering for individuals and organizations working with volunteers; b) network of volunteering ambassadors strengthened, 8 meetings of volunteering ambassadors organized for the purpose of exchange of experience and best practices; c) competencies of SALTES board members strengthened. 3 training sessions and 8 supervision sessions for team members and volunteers organized; d) volunteering was promoted as meaningful leisure and personal development option for young people; e) festival for volunteers SAVAS FESTAS as a promotional action organized in 2015. All these results created proper conditions for more structured and coordinated promotion of volunteering at national level and helped developing the community of volunteers in Lithuania. The project results are likely to be sustainable as the networking of NGOs working with volunteers was intensified and continues to provide coordinated support for various volunteering incentives.
Summary of bilateral results