located on Vilniaus street "22 common being" is not slowing down and continues to actively work with young people, trying to reach each of them through trips to schools, various communication messages and campaigns on social networks, trainings or seminars in the premises of the center or outside of it.
One of the center's latest projects is "Unlocking culture?", which is financed by the capital's municipality. During the implementation of the project, practical workshops are planned for getting to know different cultural directions. The aim of the workshop is to develop creativity, other skills and competencies of young people. Young people had and will have the opportunity to practice individually and further develop the skills acquired during the workshop.
"Implementation of the project "Unlocking culture?" gave us, as an organization, the opportunity to take a creative look at the planning of project tasks, an open call for the search for workshop leaders, attracting young people and the opportunity to organize a cultural festival. We are glad that "Unlocking Culture" is spreading a direct message to young people that access to culture can be very interesting, engaging and encouraging the positive formation of a young person. One of the components of the project is an information campaign, which we have been conducting almost since the beginning of the project implementation. We aim for information about cultural, free and personal development activities to reach as many different people as possible.
youth. As an organization working with young people, it is important for us to ensure the continuity of activities, to create a space that allows young people to individually practice or further develop the skills acquired during the workshop", says project manager Aušrinė Kulakauskienė about the initiative.
Every project aims for continuity
"Unlocking culture?” is a project that consists of two parts - the "Flash of Culture" festival and an information campaign where young people are informed about cultural opportunities. The successful project showed that young people are eager to learn, but it must be interesting and develop their creativity.
86 participants took part in the "Kultūros Blykstės" festival, but at least one more continuous workshop awaits the young people. We believe that with all project activities we will reach over 100 young people who are actively involved in cultural learning. We see their involvement, great interest in new cultural areas and desire to return. We hope that more and more young people and creators will use the opportunity to reserve the spaces we offer for the growth of cultural opportunities", continues Aušrinė. During the festival, schoolchildren discovered new forms of culture for them, and became interested in other cultural activities, including reservations for 22 creative spaces of the "22 Common Beings". They can realize their ideas in them.
We would like to remind you that the festival "Kultūros Blykstė" took place on November 7-8. During it, 10 volunteers actively communicated with the participants and supervised the sessions. As many as six two-day practical classes awaited the participants: using artificial intelligence tools, design DNA, "sound looming" music, Vilnius City Dance Theater's "Low Air" dance performance for (non)teenagers "me two/Savoj krupoj" method, Cyanotype - creative photography and applied theater workshops.
Applied theater workshop. With the help of theater and games, interpersonal communication, team and individual development skills were developed. The theory is consolidated through situational practical tasks, how to behave during a job interview, how to present presentations to audiences of different sizes, etc.
"Sound looming" workshop. During them, the participants learned the collage principle of music creation, when using various recording devices (microphones, telephones, recorders, laptops, etc.), the ambient sound spectrum was recorded. Later, using free software, sound collages were created. At the end of the workshop, the participants of the experiment could enjoy their 2-5 minute long music pieces.
Cyanotype – creative photography. This was one of the early photographic techniques that was used to transform a positive onto paper using sunlight (the camera used during the workshop).
Artificial intelligence creative laboratory. The possibilities of artificial intelligence in creativity were tested during the workshop, the participants were able to expand their technological knowledge and discover new ways to combine art and innovation.
Design DNA workshop. Participants are introduced to the basic theories, tools and creative processes of graphic design. In the practical part, it was possible to create a website prototype. Using creativity and design principles.
Vilnius City Dance Theater "Low Air" dance performance for (non)teenagers "me two/Savoj krupooj" method workshop. The workshop leaders adapted the dance workshop and adapted it to a younger audience. Participants learned various hip hop dance steps and movement practices.
The youth will be informed about the places of "cultivation" on social networks.
"22 common being” on social networks you can find information on where young people in Vilnius can "get cultured". Information about museums and theater is published here, as well as lists of cultural blogs and other relevant information. This aims to ensure the long-term involvement of young people in cultural activities. The representatives of the center also shared the information that within the framework of the "Unlocking culture?" project on December 6. another workshop will be organized, to which young people are invited on their social networks - creative writing and Christmas card making workshops. Together with the letters, the postcards will go to lonely, sick elderly people visited by "Caritas" and "Red Cross" volunteers.
A volunteering conference is organized in December
Some of those around me still believe that volunteering is just a waste of time and that free time would be best spent on studies and personal development, thus ensuring a better chance of finding the best paying job. However, it is forgotten that emotional development, management of stressful situations and organization are also important for career development. It is often possible to develop not only the above-mentioned skills, but much more through volunteering.
"As always, there are challenges in life, because if they weren't - then life would be boring. We see that there is room for improvement in terms of including specialists in different languages, securing sufficient funding, scheduling volunteers' time and often lacking support from those around them. We are convinced that promoting volunteering through motivational tools is one way to engage young people. We see that the ability to learn from elders and authorities is extremely important for today's young people. Not everyone knows that when enrolling in higher education, an additional point is added and other motivational incentives are received. On the platform www.savanorystevilnije.lt you can always take a look and register for one of the proposed initiatives. On December 5-6, a Volunteering Conference will be held for young volunteers and those who are interested in volunteering", - youth volunteering coordinator Ugnė Šilinskaitė shares her thoughts and invitation.
There is also active cooperation with schools
"22 bendrà būtis" also organizes outing mini-seminars, when in one lesson, 45 minutes, volunteering, its significance for personal development, opportunities for volunteering in Lithuania and abroad are discussed with students of grades 8-12. During this session, the center's activities and the possibility of using its services are also discussed.
According to the representatives of the center, only Vilnius city schools can invite them. A trend can also be seen among young people: they willingly engage in short-term volunteering, festivals and events, but are relatively less likely to commit to long-term volunteering campaigns. Obviously, it is quite difficult to change this attitude within a year, so work will continue in this area to convey and convince about the benefits of volunteering.
What is Common Being 22, the center's mission and future plans?
In 2023, the "22 common being" space was established in the center of the capital, intended to bring together organizations working with youth, specialists and young people of the capital and the whole of Lithuania. Vilniaus st. The center located at 22 provides comprehensive services for young people aged 14-29. One of the goals of the 22 community is to ensure a comprehensive response to youth needs and youth empowerment, and to provide different non-formal education and youth work services for young people. In 2023, more than 50 events and trainings were organized, center spaces were reserved more than 280 times, and more than 22 participants took part in the "1500 common life" events. During the 58th LiJOT Assembly Awards “22 common beingwon the "youth initiative of the year" award.
"We are currently taking an important step - we are preparing for the development of the organization, which marks a significant step forward for our organization and reflects our commitment to form science and research-based youth policy in the city of Vilnius. In addition to direct work with youth, we aim to develop a new direction of activity and become a recognizable expert institution whose mission is to shape and improve Vilnius' youth policy, based on detailed research, analysis and training. The goal of the new direction of the organization is not only to respond to the current needs of young people, but also to predict future trends, thereby contributing to strategic decisions that will shape the future of Vilnius. The uniqueness of this initiative lies in our ability to provide specific recommendations adapted to the city of Vilnius, based on local, sustainable, reasonable research. We believe that our development will contribute to positive changes in the youth policy of Vilnius", - Gabija Kalendraitė, director of the lep center, shares her plans for the near future.
Prepared in cooperation with VšĮ "Vilnius Youth Information and Volunteering Center"
