News

Lentvaris Parish Caritas Children and Teen Day Center „Akimirka“ director Alina Daudiene thanks for the friendship and support and shares the latest news:

“Thanks to your generosity, this year we could continue Center‘s work. Social skills workshops, various social and cultural events were available to children during the entire school year. This summer we managed to offer three camps to our younger children, as well as the teenagers.

During the “Nature and Culture World” camp children explored Neris regional park, Vilnius MO museum, Lygainiai forest and nearby lake. Campers had an opportunity to evaluate the beauty of their countryside and cultural gems.

Another camp, called “Emoji”, had a purpose to cultivate children’s emotional intellect and evaluate life skills learned. Every day 23 campers and volunteers analyzed different emotions: enthusiasm and apathy, anger and composure, arrogance and humbleness, happiness and sadness. Children had an opportunity to express their emotions through  painting, acting, dancing.

Center’s teenagers were invited to a four day hiking trip “Emotional Spectrum”. Boys and girls had to take care of their shelter and meals themselves. We invited them to play various integrating games, applied “Experiential learning” model, worked on their positive emotional expression skills. “Emotional Circle” would conclude each day with teens, counselors and volunteers naming their feelings experienced that day.

Children from Raguvele, small village near Anyksciai, also had an opportunity to enjoy time together at the summer camp thanks to Jack’s generosity. Raguvele Day Center director Regina Zorgeviciene thanks Jack Kazickas and the Kazickas Family Foundation for a chance to offer summer camp “Let’s Get to Know Each Other” for 10 center’s children. Karate Kyokushin club Kamuido organized the camp with a goal to work on children’s communication, social interaction skills, talk about substance abuse prevention. Most of camp’s time was dedicated teaching the importance of the wellness and active lifestyle. Children had an opportunity to meet the policemen, military volunteer members and learn about their work. They got to observe service dog training practice, work on bullying with the acting teacher and learn more about the bees from the beekeepers. Policemen invited to participate in a trivia about the traffic safety tips, while visually impaired guest brought games helping children and adults to learn how a blind person navigates through life. Evening dances and talks will stay with the campers for a long time. Everyone is already planning their time together next summer.