2024-07-25 06:39:09
Built a strong community
Uniting startup developers and businesses, empowering people with disabilities and including them in community life – three projects implemented in Lithuania, which have become part of more important changes: not only for the whole of Lithuania, but also for each person individually.
The “Wings of Design” project, which started in 2022, connects talented people, their knowledge and experience, and unique products are born in this partnership. Small and medium-sized Lithuanian companies and beginning designers who have graduated within the last five years, but have not yet established themselves in the labor market and have not yet accumulated a lot of experience, with the help of experienced design experts-mentors, during the project created and continue to create design solutions needed for a specific company.
Project manager Gabija Vanagė was happy that although the “Design wings” project is a non-financial support project, there is no shortage of people who want to participate in it. During 2022-2023, 34 selected companies from all over Lithuania participated in the project, and 20 beginning designers created design solutions for them for 5 months. Most businesses have already implemented or introduced to the market design solutions created specifically for them, which comply with the principles of the digital, sustainability or circular economy. “We, the project team, are extremely pleased that a number of companies that participated in the project began to better understand the value created by design, its impact on sustainability, and were also able to assess the capabilities of beginning developers and take advantage of their potential,” said G. Vanagė.
As for the implemented design solutions, the interviewer singled out the modular furniture collection “Botanique” created by designer Lukas Avėnas for the company “Ruksa”, made from recycled materials.
The collection was presented at “Design Week”, sustainable, easily renewed or recycled furniture, already purchased by several companies, this furniture can be seen in public spaces and various offices.
Recently, a collection of sustainable handbags, created by designer Viktorija Stundytė in collaboration with “Kartu Studio”, saw the light of day.
During the project, designer Deividas Kačiūšis, together with Sekasoft, created the Prodo system, designed to conveniently manage the operations and processes of organizations. User interface and user experience design principles were used to create this digital tool.
During the project, designer Ramunė Raslavičiūtė created a new brand and a collection of work clothes reflecting the principles of circularity and sustainability, which the company sells successfully in Lithuania and abroad.
“The added value of “Design Wings” can probably be called the community that gathered during this project. We also have examples of continuous cooperation, when companies continue to invite designers to work together, and here are some young designers who created their own design studio after the project and work together on various design projects. We are happy that the project has received more funding and will be extended until 2028, so we will certainly get many more interesting design solutions that will help us all live better, more sustainably and responsibly”, – the manager of the “Design wings” project has no doubt.
Got community support
In the Prienai district, Veiveraii, after the reconstruction of the former hospital building and the establishment of care and independent living homes, seniors or people with disabilities living here can feel independent, quality leisure time is ensured for them and a cozy, home-like, everyday environment is created.
As Aida Deltuvienė, Chief Specialist of the Investment Department of the Prienai District Municipality, commented, the implementation of the project “Establishment of Independent Living and Care Homes in the Prienai District Municipality” was highly anticipated and really successful. The local community supported the project, realizing how important it really is to have a safe place to live for people with disabilities or people with other special needs. “Living in an independent living home, people feel safe and comfortable, live a quality life, can actively participate in community activities and feel accepted and valued.” Residents of independent living homes can maintain privacy, freedom and independence, which is especially important for elderly or disabled people,” commented A. Deltuvienė.
According to the interviewee, this project really contributed to social inclusion and community formation in the district, because people living in independent houses are not isolated – they communicate with their neighbors, participate in events and activities, and contribute to community activities.
People’s experiences made me happy
Until the beginning of 2023, the volunteers of the “Vilties švisa” charity and support foundation, which has been operating in Birži for 20 years, organized camps and trips and activities for families experiencing difficulties, provided health and employment services to people experiencing social exclusion, including them in community life.
The goal of the project is to help socially excluded people acquire the skills to take care of themselves and their families, not to shut down, but to actively participate in community life, to change life habits through wellness activities, to provide an opportunity to take a shower, wash clothes and bedding, and receive warm food.
To help the children of the city of Biržai to feel complete and the same as their peers: to attend their favorite activities after school and improve in a purposeful way, and to have fun in their free time. Trips together with family members, according to the project organizers, motivated the children to behave well and learn, to help the employees of the organization in their daily activities. Families spent quality time together, many project participants went on cultural outings, to the seaside, and participated in camps for the first time.
Vera Šnarienė, head of the Biržai Charity and Support Fund “Light of Hope”, said that the project called “Life is Beautiful” managed to include many people with social exclusion and disabilities, some of whom spent their time only at home until then, and after joining the project participated in sports , in other activities, traveled to the sea or other places.
“The goal of this project was to reduce social exclusion, so that people experiencing poverty or social exclusion would have a safe place to come, communicate, and get involved in community life,” explained V. Šnarienė.
She and the volunteers who contributed to the project were especially surprised by the first trip to the sea of the people who participated in the project and their impressions. “When children see the sea for the first time, there is great joy, but when they are adults, you really understand how meaningful this project was,” commented the interviewer.
These projects participated in the “European Sails 2023” elections initiated by the Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry of Finance is initiating the “European Sails 2024” elections for the sixteenth time, in which other projects financed by EU funds are invited to participate. You can register for the European Sails 2024 project here.
2024-07-25 06:39:09