Description
Research of 2012 reveals that only 12 per cent of Lithuanians are involved in volunteering activities whereas the EU average is over 30 per cent. Moreover, 15 per cent of those who aren‘t active would be willing to engage, and more than 1/3 Lithuanian NGOs indicated lack of volunteers. Association „Vitality“ also lacks volunteers for promotion of organ donation and assistance for dialysis services users who are often so weak that simple travel to and from the procedures becomes a critical challenge. Project aims to foster active citizenship through promoting volunteering among young people with the purpose of attracting, training and maintaining in long-term volunteering volunteer assistants for dialysis patients. 16 meetings in schools and with youth organizations shall be organized in 8 municipalities, 16 meetings with dialyzed disabled and medical staff shall follow-up, complemented by 6 trainings for active volunteers. Target groups: students and teachers. Beneficiaries: dialyzed disabled, NGOs.
Summary of project results
One of the key problems GYVASTIS was facing was a lack volunteers who could engage in promotion of organ donation as well as raising awareness of civil society on the need and benefits of such activity. This part of the organizations activity is very important when shaping positive public opinion on organ donation. This also sensitize member of civil society so they could feel more responsibility for their own and others' health and life. Dialysis centers are short of volunteers too. They usually perform an important educational job and coordinating activities that help people with disabilities to engage into self-support activities with other persons having similar diagnosis or health problems. The staff of GYVASTIS and its associates (regional chairpersons, project coordinators, other active members) lacked special skills required to provide quality services, as well as carry out administrative and managerial work, like fundraising, communication, advocacy or networking. The objective of the project was formed correspondingly – to promote volunteerism in regional educational institutions and dialysis centers, to strengthen capacity of staff and members of GYVASTIS, foster participatory democracy and active citizenship as well as good governance. Project promoter has organized 20 meetings with 748 teachers and students as well as 16 meetings with dialyzed patients and staff members of dialysis centres (100 people). The geography of this activity embraced 8 municipalities. This activity allowed promoting volunteering and has significantly raised awareness of organ donations activity across the country. In addition to that, 46 volunteers (teachers and students, persons with disabilities and medical staff) have been involved in daily activities of GYVASTIS thus strengthening the community of people who take care of persons living with transplanted organs or waiting for the treatment. Capacity building activities like trainings and seminars has raised expertise of people involved in promotional and advocacy activities, as well as contributed to improvement of good governance of the organization. 6 capacity building seminars were attended by 15 members of GYVASTIS. Project promoter has communicated project activities and results through project launch and closing events, using information stand, publicizing articles in the national and regional media as well as announcing news and updates on the website or the organization
www.donoras.lt.
Summary of bilateral results