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For the fourth year in a row Kazickas Family supports Lithuanian Heritage Schools in the US through A. Kazickas Grant Program.
This year $88,420 have been distributed among 21 schools that have asked for support.
Program was established in 2012 in order to support Lithuanian Heritage Schools in US. Heritage schools provide students with multiple ways of learning through educational and enrichment experiences and opportunities.
In 2012 dr. J. Kazickas shared his vision while establishing this grant in fond memory of his beloved wife:
"...Those schools do a tremendous job and are not understood and very little known in Lithuania. We need to get Lithuanian government's attention and commitment in dealing with this issue. Lithuanian education was always extremely important and interesting to the Kazickas family... You need emigrant activists and Lithuanian government's attention in order to support young generation which would know Lithuanian language, history and current social, economic and political situation in Lithuania. A lot of help is needed to prepare programs in order to accomplish the goals, so that children born here would stay productive citizens of Lithuania... Preservation of the Lithuanian language and identity is a tremendous work. It's not a picnic with songs, but a much deeper issue... We have to invest in undeveloped national treasure - youth, that would keep national consciousness and get highly educated. We understand that financial support provides freedom and opportunity to focus on it. We'd like to contribute and help improve the quality of education at the Lithuanian Heritage Schools. The grant program is an opportunity to spread Aleksandra's wish to help schools improve and grow."
Since 2012 A. Kazickas Grant Program donated 448 420 USD to Lithuanian Heritage Schools in the US. With the Foundation's help tremendous amount of work had been done already in order to help improve the quality of education at the Lithuanian Heritage Schools in the US. Programs, accessible to everyone, standardized levels and tests are being created. A lot of work is being done to help students to get credits for years and years spent studying at the Lithuanian Heritage Schools. Productive communication with the Vilnius University and the Ministry of Education in Lithuania started. Little by little schools' needs are being heard and addressed. As dr. J. Kazickas said "It's not a picnic with songs, but a much deeper issue." The goal is for students to have diplomas that would be recognized by the universities in Lithuania as well as all over the world. These students are a huge national treasure and we hope Lithuania values them as such.
A. Kazickas Grant program continues its support. Please submit your applications for grant till November 1st, 2016.
Lithuanian schools, subbmitting applications for the first time, can apply through the regular application process.