Description
Lithuania is seen as one of the most homophobic countries in Europe while according to FRA research (2012) more than 61% of LGBT+ persons in Lithuania felt discriminated due to their sexual orientation. Hostile social environment for LGBT+ youth, scarcity of adequate information and emotional/psychological support is prevalent in the country. The aim of the project is increased public awareness in regards to LGBT+ situation in Lithuania and developed network of information and services for LGBT+ young people and their relatives with a special focus on emotional and psychological support. An informational web portal (help-site) for LGBT+ youth, their relatives, emotional support volunteers and mental health professionals will be developed. Training and seminars for 115 emotional support volunteers and 20 mental health professionals on the needs of LGBT+ youth and their relatives will be carried out. An awareness raising campaign with 13 film screenings and 5 discussions in 4 cities will be organized. Target groups and beneficiaries: LGBT+ youth and their relatives, volunteers providing emotional support, mental health professionals and public at large.
Summary of project results
Hostile social environment for LGBT* youth, scarcity of adequate information and emotional/psychological support is prevalent in Lithuania. This was the key driving force to develop and start implementing the project to change the way LGBT* youth lives and feels themselves in Lithuania. The aim of the project was to expand accessibility of quality information, emotional support and psychological help services for LGBT* youth in Lithuania, and to increase understanding of their problems. An informational internet portal for LGBT* youth, their next-of-kin, emotional support volunteers and mental health professionals isgirsti.lt was developed. Training and seminars for 115 emotional support volunteers and 36 mental health professionals on the needs of LGBT*youth and their next of kin will be carried out. An awareness raising campaign with 21 film screenings and 5 discussions in 4 cities was organised. School communities – 22 teachers, 24 social workers and psychologists as well as students – were informed about the situation of LGBT* youth, bullying and support opportunities. Collaboration with project partners – Youth Line, Mental Health Perspectives, Lithuanian Center for Human Rights and Skeiv Ungdom (Norway) – contributed to a better understanding among NGOs, shaped good practices on how to reach project target groups and respond to their needs. The beneficiaries of the project were LGBT* youth, their next-of-kin, volunteers providing emotional support, mental health professionals and general public. The project effect shall last long beyond the finish line of all activities, as the newly created portal shall be maintained further, as well as number and qualification of volunteers shall be improved continuously.
Summary of bilateral results
Skeiv Ungdom (Norway) allowed engaging with experts having longtime experience in providing emotional and informational support for LGBT* youth. In cooperation with them there was a study visit organised in Oslo. During the visit two representatives of In Corpore got acquainted with experiences of Skeiv Ungdom and their partners, could share their insights, discussed ideas for the online platform and training activities. The partnership allowed to develop the organisation's international dimension and to get to know experiences of LGBT* people living in other countries. There were meetings with Skeiv Ungdom, Queer Youth Line, national LGBT organisation LLH and Norwegian Helsinki Committee organised during the visit. The cooperation contributed to the quality of the project, allowed to shape it's activities more accurately.