A long trip to Vilnius to live 7 days with new expectations, new people of other nationalities, other views in terms of cultural features, but hopefully and even surely with future friends. 7 unforgettable days, each day with new feelings, new knowledge and perceptions…
09 May 2011: Young people from Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and Armenia gathered together in very pleasant and very beautiful Vilnius to take part in Youth Exchange “Live the Day” to discuss problems of drug addiction, social exclusion, poverty and unemployment, to exchange their experience and attitudes and make some preventive activity to have even a little contribution to healthy future both in Lithuania and participant countries.
First of all the participants and leaders hurried to introduce themselves and get acquainted with the others. Acquaintance happened in a very funny and memorable way: each of us said his/her name and named an animal, which first letter was similar with the first letter of participant’s name. We all tried to repeat participant’s name and name of the animal by turn.
After discussing main activities of the project and naming personal expectations, the participants left for sightseeing tour – Treasure Hunting, in the frame of which there were created 4 international groups, members of which had to find and take photos of the most famous and historically essential places in Vilnius. Most of the participants went to Cathedral Square which was very recognizable sight, with its Vilnius Cathedral and Bell Tower. It even has a tile stone – Stebuklas (in English – miracle), where you can make a wish – standing on it, making a wish and turning around three times counter-clockwise and your wish will come true. There were taken lots of photos and made the most cherished wishes. The participants should also ask passers about their knowledge of participant’s countries, cultures, traditions etc. As representatives of Armenia we were pleased and happy to hear from passers that they knew about Armenia, especially Armenian cuisine, dances, national symbols (in most cases about Ararat) and even most of asked young people had Armenian friends. It is notable that Lithuanian participants provided all of the other participants with information about Vilnius city, some historical facts and traditions…So that the international dialogue already had a ground…
After the wonderful tour, groups hurried to prepare presentations about everything they saw, learned and photographed.
On the second day it was planned group presentations “Drug problem in my country”. All the groups prepared very well to clearly and visibly introduce drug problem in their countries. Then, during the discussion of the problematic situation introduced by the groups, participants compared the problem and understood the main reasons of the drug addiction in general and particularly in participant countries. The presentations were constructed by MS PowerPoint, posters, movies and also with a fairytale.
Taking a little rest, participants started to create a sign “Live the Day” on their T-shirts as a real reflection of the project.
- EVERYTHING IN YOUR HANDS
- NO DRUGS
- TAKE A STEP FORWARD
- LIVE IN A REALITY
- ANTI DRUGS
- YOU ARE THE ONLY OWNER OF YOUR LIFE
- BRIGHTER WITHOUT DRUGS
- LIVE YOUR LIFE, YOU WON’T REGRET IT ….
Above mentioned and more other signs found place on T-shirts with pictures also created by participants showing the denial of drugs and healthy future without drugs. Then all chose the one which best reflected the project itself. The main idea of the winner sign was ‘THE DAY AS ONE CADRE OF THE LIFE’.
The third day: we’re in Roma settlement – separate settlement a little bit far from Vilnius downtown, where people live with different lifestyle, unique cultural values and lots of social problems that really hard to imagine, such as unemployment, drug addiction, social exclusion, language barriers, educational problems, etc. But the most important problem, as one of the workers of the community center said, was the lack of motivation to find a job, learn Lithuanian language and live as a sterling member of Lithuanian society. Besides, there was one more very important problem with transport. But in spite of this hard situation, Roma community had also a problem of drug addiction. Anyhow, children of that center prepared and danced national dances for us, which they performed with special skills! Before saying good-bye, participants of the YE played several funny and active games with Roma children and youngsters.
Participants and leaders spent the second part of the day at hostel, where the main sessions of this exchange were implemented. After healthy lunch participants greeted an amazing Japanese woman who was born in Japan and visited more than 45 countries and now decided to live in Lithuania. The story of her life and the following discussion was a great experience to break a lot of stereotypes concerned with habits of other nations, relationships with people of other nationalities etc.
This day was really very informative and full of interesting and constructive meetings and talks. But it’s not the all reflection of that day! Evening of May 11 was unusual with its national approaches: national dances, music, food, exchange of souvenirs and good mood made fantastic evening! Participants of Belarusian, Latvian and Armenian groups made some national dishes and desert in the kitchen of the hostel, particularly, with active involvement of Belarusian group members there were prepared national dish named “Draniki”; members of the Latvian group prepared Latvian dessert – Bread Soup; and finally the participants and leader of Armenian group prepared Armenian national desert – sweet bread – gatha. The important part of the Lithuanian table was Lithuanian bread and apple cheese and other tasty food. Besides, groups treated each other with lots of other national tasty food and drink.
On the fourth day one of the most interesting events during the program was the visit to KGB museum situated in the same building where was functioning Committee of State Security of Lithuania during Soviet period. The prison cells with notes on their walls made by prisoners, cells for tortures, the personal things of murdered political prisoners made enormous impression on us. The only gladdening fact was that there isn’t real KGB anymore and what is now left is just a museum. On the same day a talent workshop ‘See what I’m capable of’ was organized during which those participants who had special talents on doing something shared their skills with others. Due to this workshop we got aware of origami, playing the tam-tam and guitar, dramatic action, etc.
One of the means of informal education and cultural communications used in the exchange was intercultural quiz. Each group had prepared a quiz on its country’s history, geography, traditions and customs. Another three groups had to find the answers during the fixed time. According to the results of the quiz Armenia and Lithuania shared the first place and got presents. The quiz was really effective way to explore and learn new thing about participant countries.
The evening was full of a little bit shocking but exciting impressions: during that evening one of the remarkable parts of the program took place – it was meeting with people who had won over drug addiction. The meeting was during the dinner in ‘Mano Guru’ salad bar. It was one of the most interesting bars of Vilnius where only former drug addicted people worked. “Mano Guru” is an international project and the only bar in Vilnius, where you can’t find even a drop of alcohol. They told us about their life stories, how they became addicted, how they could overcome it and how the work in ‘Mano Guru’ helped them to return to normal social life. Besides, they treated us with really delicious meal and dessert. By the way all the meals we had during the program were made by the employees of ‘Mano Guru’.
Day 5: As the most vulnerable group for drug addiction are children especially teenagers without families our program organized a visit to ‘Gile’ children foster home. Beforehand we prepared presentation on the activities of the project ‘Youth in Action’, youth exchange ‘Live the Day’, drug problem and importance of healthy lifestyle. To be easily perceived for children we presented these topics with the help of fairy tales, performances and songs. Besides, each group presented its national folk music, a dance or a song. Also children sang and read poems for us. After it we had an art workshop where we played games with children and drew pictures with the title ‘City without drugs’. We reached the main aim of our visit to the ‘Gile’, as the children reflected their attitudes toward drug use and described their pictures and thoughts in a quite constructive way!
Next day we left for the second largest city of Lithuania – Kaunas. On our way to Kaunas we had a language lesson trying to teach and learn the most common expressions in our languages. It was a bit difficult to pronounce words in a foreign language but we tried hard. As a result we had though little but useful baggage of vocabulary and real fun. In Kaunas we visited Addiction rehabilitation community ‘Return’. The community, which clients came on their own will, was helping drug addicts to rehabilitate social – psychologically. The center had its specific rules and approaches for rehabilitation which were strict but effective. One of the most impressive punishments was destruction of brick wall very carefully for listening chanson or R&B songs with not proper words, smoking etc. The prove of its effectiveness was the stories of community members who had returned to healthy social life and got rid of former social environment with the help of ‘Return’.
Last morning of our being in Vilnius with all the participants – our new friends, was very touching, as we had to say goodbye. After funny energizer we left with a lot of knowledge, skills and good mood despite the farewell hugs…
Thanks to all organizers, leaders and participants for very fruitful and really unforgettable week…
Summarizing our project we just want to mention the words of wisdom:
What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it…

Arpine Mazhinyan
Susanna Kardashyan
Meline Aslanyan
Shahe Tajiryan

No related posts.