St. John's Children

In 1996 the Brothers of the community of Saint John started to help children living on the streets of Vilnius. The monks started searching for the homeless children on the streets trying to meet them. In winter, they'd find them by the heating lines, in summer - in the abandoned buildings. Little by little trust was built and the monks invited the children to their first community help center near the station. Later on they renovated four cottages outside of the city, and started a trade school where children receive necessary care, acquire education and get the tools needed to start their independent life as responsible and productive adults. In 2013 Children's Home "St. John's Children" was established which continues St. John's Brothers' mission.

"St. John's Children" (“Šv. Jono vaikai”) provides family-based child care for boys from 4 to 24 years old who don't have a parent or a guardian. Each child receives safe environment where they can build their relationships with the care takers and other community members. The cottage concept allows to discover each child's strengths and to help develop necessary life skills. They learn how to live in a community, to prepare their meals, to take care of their environment, to contribute and to notice the needs of the others. The goal is to prepare the teenagers for an independent self-sufficient life as an adult. After finishing their secondary education young men have possibility to stay at the Children’s Home if they are willing to continue their studies. Social workers of "Šv. Jono vaikai" permanently live with children and teach them how to take care of their everyday needs. 

The Kazickas Family Foundation has been supporting "Šv. Jono vaikai" since 2013.