try Vilnius district communities this year actively worked together with three Lithuanian National Drama Theater (LNDT) teams. Together, they created meaningful projects for local people. This is part of the project "Lithuanian vision: 2119" implemented by LNDT.
This year, during the creation of "Lietuvos vizija: 2119", it was proposed to consider the concept of home as a value, which is related to the period lived by the theater. During the reconstruction, all stages of Lithuanian theaters, cultural centers, and entertainment arenas become the temporary home of LNDT. Therefore, in the creative quests of "Lietuvos vizijos: 2119", the people of the regions were invited to consider their relationship with their home, hometown, homeland.
New garden in Kalvelei
in Vilnius district, in Kalvelei, a new garden has grown in the courtyard of the Family and Child Crisis Center. The creators of the project - graphic designer Lina Bastienė and her husband sculptor, painter Darius Bastys - first invited the children of the center to create models of the future garden. Already at the first stage, the ingenuity of the participants could be noticed. In June, garden planting work took place, which was attended by not only the residents and employees of the center, but also the residents of Kalveliai.
"Why a garden for children?" Because grown children leave home. But it always comes back to them. A garden is something that is permanent, like a home, to which you can return. Every child who planted a garden will remember - I planted this tree, it grew up like me.
We were surprised how many wonderful people there are who know how to enjoy what life gives, take care of those who need help, care, attention. The garden is a symbol of communion, without which human community is impossible. The garden embodies unconditional, gratuitous care for each other, gentle, unobtrusive love and attention," say Lina and Darius Basčiai.
They became friends with the Kalveliai community and, even inspired by this experience, promised to start attending Polish language courses. Both successfully continued their promise: "This project was an impetus for us to take a step towards community."
Break stereotypes about children
A team led by director and actor Paulius Tamolė worked in the Nemenčinė Children and Adolescent Social Center. After listening to the stories of the children growing up there, together with stage designer Vladas Suntsov, they created a four-plane interactive board that presents the stories of young people of three different age groups. The facts of the lives of those children or teenagers are written on the board, and if you take the headphones, you can hear the real life story of the child, his wishes, fears, unfulfilled dreams and visions of the future.
A brand new video clip of the project is also being presented to the public today, which you can view here:
"I wanted to break the myths about children who grew up in orphanages and help them tell about themselves to the general public. I think there are a lot of stereotypes and conflicting opinions, society looks at them differently. A prank done by such children is blown up to a problem. I wanted to strengthen and support them. We brought the theater method, the rules of how we create a performance to the orphanage.
I did not expect the project to be so impactful. I hope that these mobile interactive boards will become a means for orphanages to reveal their stories in different spaces, and that the people on whom the fate of those children depends will get to know them," says Paulius Tamolė.
"Together with LNDT, we have the opportunity to record and voice the thoughts, feelings and experiences of children who have lost their parents' care. It is an opportunity for children to feel heard and important. We hope that this project will help bring society closer to children living in foster care institutions and perhaps make the children's path easier. Follow the news on the Facebook account of the Children and Adolescent Social Center and on the website www.vpscentras.lt and you will find out where you can see the project up close," invites Karolina Pukytė, project manager of the social center.
The whole community draws
A three-meter-high ball created by the sculptor Donatas Jankauskas - Duonis has sprung up near the main street in the town of Rukainai. The ball rotates around its axis, and all residents of the town are invited to participate in its decoration, thus creating community, encouraging creativity and love for one's town. The first drawings on the ball were placed on the day of its construction, and this object can change every day.
"For us, the residents of Rukainai, the project "Lietuvos vizia: 2119" created an opportunity to remember the events of the past, immortalize the present and dream. During the final event, the creative process was handed over to the residents of Rukainai like eternal fire from the hands of the author. Of course, it is not yet clear how everything will turn out and how this map will change. It will be interesting to watch its transformation", says Elžbieta Jankovska-Bortkevič, chairperson of Rukainai community.
All projects implemented by LNDT were supported by the British Council in Lithuania this year. Its director, Artūras Vasiliauskas, says that one of the priorities of the British Council is activities in various regions of Lithuania: "We aim to create opportunities for people to come together, get to know and change their environment, and develop community skills through creative methods. We are convinced that by cooperating with LNDT in the implementation of "Lithuanian Vision: 2119" we are helping communities to become masters of their future".
