Center of youth voluntary activities "Deineta"

Deineta is an NGO based in Kaunas, Lithuania. The activities of the organization are cantered around projects under EU „Youth in Action“ (sending, coordinating) and Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations (short term summer Voluntary work camps; sending, coordinating). The main aim of the organization is to promote non formal learning opportunities for young people through involvement in international voluntary service projects. Deineta is one of the first EVS organization in Lithuania working in the field since the beginning of „Youth“ programme in Lithuania. During this time more than 130 projects were successfully implemented putting Deineta in the front of EVS in Lithuania. The organization is also active in sending EVS as well as participating in projects under other action of the programme. Part of Deineta’s motivation to participate in the project is sharing common vision with the other project partners, and willingness to continue on the same path. Currently Deineta is EVS coordinating and sending organization, also partner in other projects under EU “Youth in Action”. Deineta runs international voluntary Workcamps as full member of Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organizations. Since 2007 Deineta has been one of the biggest EVS coordinators in the country, coordinating around 20 EVS volunteers yearly. Our projects are run with 15 local partners (social care and environmental institutions from different regions of Lithuania). One of Deineta’s social projects including (7 social care hosting organizations, and 11 EVS volunteers) was proposed by the Lithuanian national agency as a nominee for the best inclusion EVS project in 2010. The award ceremony will be held during the European Youth week 2011 events in Antwerp, Belgium. Deineta is currently the only EVS coordinator in Lithuania who is cooperating with national and regional parks. We have partnerships and coordinate EVS activities in all 4 national parks of the country and 7 regional parks. Since 2007 around 10 people per year do their EVS in environmental institutions. As an EVS sending organization Deineta sends around 10 volunteers abroad every year with a target to double this figure. As part of Alliance of European Voluntary Service organizations Deineta is organizing short term summer work camps (around 10 every summer) and host around 50 international volunteers. The organization also sends 50 youngsters abroad every summer) to participate in partners’ work camp projects.