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All of them, 16 to 18 year olds, have the opportunity to participate in basketball practices. "Basketball Power" program, together with coach Edvinas Adomaitis, seeks to teach them not just basketball tricks and techniques, but, more importantly, to socialize teens as well. During the program's course, teens already went to watch basketball team's "Lietuvos Rytas" competitions, participated at various educational field trips and had a chance to talk to numerous visitors who shared their life experiences with the teens.

 

 

Jurate Kazickas and her daughter Alexandra checked out the facilities where young men live, discussed young people's issues in Lithuania with center's assistant director.

 

 

Teens welcomed guests with open hands. After an hour long practice, everyone sat down for a discussion. Teens found it really interesting that Jurate was born in Lithuania and still knows how to speak Lithuanian. Jurate shared her father's life story with them, his journey to the US, her own studies, work and everyday life. She encouraged young men to reach for their goals. Carefully, one by one, they started opening up sharing their plans what they would like to study and what jobs they are interested in.

 

 

Jurate promised to add Dr. Joseph Kazickas' biography "Odyssey of Hope" to the Veliucionys library. On their way out, Jurate and Alexandra were not just shaking young men's hands but getting many hugs as well.