The project Empowering Youth towards an Inclusive Europe will take place in Vilnius, at Lithuanian Gay League’s office, which serves as the only LGBT Center in Lithuania. Within a 10-month project two volunteers, one from Czech Republic and one from Italy, will carry out their voluntary service. Starting date of the service: 1st April 2014.
An overall objective of the project Empowering Youth towards an Inclusive Europe is to combine our knowledge and experience with the volunteers’ fresh ideas and creative initiatives in order to develop new tools for overcoming homophobia and social exclusion both in Lithuania and Europe. Project aims at encouraging active participation of LGBT youth in the European Parliament election, 2014, promoting critical thinking and civic awareness.
One volunteer will be responsible for assitance on LGL’s international projects and will be involved in administrative tasks related to ongoing projects and will support the work of the Coordinator of LGL Youth Group.
Another volunteer will carry out communication activities using various communication tools e.g. Facebook, blogs, YouTube channel, LGL’s websites, newsletters etc. in order to strengthen and develop international communication and cooperation. They will also take part in preparation of Baltic Pride 2014, which will take place in Tallinn.
Both volunteers will have also time and space to develop their own projects in the frame of the EVS programme.
Name: Mayina Mukhammadjanova
Country of Origin: Czechia
About the volunteer: I’m an artist, I’m fond of making pictures in different ways and love clouds, I have emigrated from Tashkent (my own city) five years ago, and lived for a while in Prague. It’s a little bit difficult to live in Tashkent if you a little bit strange, women and artist in same time. Indeed, peer pressure isn’t the greatest feeling in the world. Having lived through such experience of being different in a traditional society I became confident that supporting those who are not “in-line” with the mainstream is very important thing in which I would take a part.
Name: Alessandro Boussalem
Country of origin: Italy
About the volunteer: I am a student of International Politics and Human Rights in my home town, Torino (Italy). I have always been interested in issues regarding LGBTQI rights and when I learned about the possibility of coming to LGL and be a full-time volunteer for 10 months, I couldn’t help applying for it. I love travelling and experiencing cultures I don’t know much about, and this is my first time in Lithuania. Oh, and if you ever pop by the Office, I will be the curly guy drinking espresso. You most definitely can’t miss me.