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On March 15th in New York, Jonas Kazickas, Neila Baumiliene, Aiste Furajevaite and Ginte Genender of Kazickas Family Foundation met with Minister of Social Security and Labour of Lithuania Algimanta Pabedinskiene and Director of the International Relations Department, Rita Skrebiskiene. thanks to Consul General of Lithuania Julius Pranevicius.
Many important issues were discussed during the meeting. KFF representatives introduced the "Power of Baskeball," a social responsibility program in Lithuania, developed and funded by KFF, to the Minister. It's goal - to reach Lithuania's children and youth from the day centers, using basketball not just as a game, but as a form of communication to raise awareness such as bullying, alcoholism, suicide, human trafficking and teach kids important life skills. Minister informed the foundation, Consul General of Lithuania and his second Secretary, Aiste Jakstiene, about the issues that occur with the day centers in Lithuania and how they could be resolved by working together. Mrs. Pabedinskiene also informed about certain changes that are being put into action in Lithuania's social security sector that will benefit children, families that experience violence, poverty and human trafficking.
Minister pointed out that the biggest national treasure of Lithuania is each person. We have to create and support such system where each child would have all opportunities necessary to grow up a productive citizen of Lithuania. We must learn and teach to respect the needs of elderly, disabled, youth, kids, even newborns. Approximately 20 thousand children live in social risk families in Lithuania missing basic tools and opportunities to experience a happy childhood. Foster care is just in early stages of its development. The consequences of outdated mentality that government, society and no one should ever interfere with family business, are still unfortunately deeply and painfully experienced by the weakest and smallest - children. They live with the violence, exploitation and abandonment of their own parents. It leads directly to human trafficking, continuos violence against the others, suicides, criminal activities, etc.
Mrs. Pabedinskiene was very excited to hear the view on those issues from a different, global perspective. Consul General of Lithuania, Julius Pranevicius, agreed that certain Lithuania's domestic issues are even more visible looking from the outside.
Non-Government Organizations, working in Lithuania, their involvement in society's issues and cooperation with the Government sector were discussed as well.
Thank you to Minister A. Pabedinskiene for meeting with KFF and to Consul General J. Pranevicius for making this opportunity possible. KFF is looking forward to a productive and successful cooperation.
Photo: Courtesy of Aiste Jakstiene