On this page

1. National Programme for Youth Volunteering

2. Funding

3. Characteristics of youth volunteering

4. Support to young volunteers

5. Target groups

National Programme for Youth Volunteering

The goals within the Action plan of the national youth policy for 2023-2027 determines the importance of voluntarism and sets up the goal of creation the conditions in order to implement the volunteering activities. In addition, The Plan of Measures for the Implementation of the National Youth Policy Development Programme points out the measures, how, when and who has to implement the goal. Action Plan for the periods of 2023-2027 which has the objective 1.1.  to develop the citizenship of young people, encouraging them to participate in the activities of youth organizations, voluntary activities and other civic activities; 1.1.2. Select and finance organizations organizing voluntary activities, provide them with methodological assistance, organize the implementation of the JST (youth voluntary services) model in order to involve young people in voluntary activities.

In 2020 the Parliament approved the amendments to the Law on Medical Practice No. XIIIP-4503 (2), which aim to create effective legal preconditions for the medical volunteering in Lithuania by legalizing the possibility of voluntary and unpaid medical practice of doctors providing complex palliative care. A doctor (except a resident doctor), has the right to practice medicine on a voluntary basis under the Law on Volunteering in a health care institutions providing inpatient, outpatient and (or) day hospital palliative care. The doctor can practices medicine on a voluntary basis in accordance with the competences established by the Minister of Health. This amendment opened possibilities for young medical professionals to practice their profession on a voluntary basis. 

Funding

Volunteering organisers might receive funding for the development of volunteering activities from the following sources: the national budget through projects, EU funding, donors, support from charities, membership fees, charges for services provided, and 1.2% of income tax. Also Agency of Youth Affairs announces funding tenders for organizations hosting volunteers.

The implementation of measures to implement the objectives of the Action Plan is financed from the budget of the Republic of Lithuania and the European Social Fund. Source here.

Characteristics of youth volunteering

There is no official statistics collected on youth volunteering within or outside of the program’s measures. Hence, it is difficult to capture trends, effects on specific target groups and main fields where activities take place. Some information is available on the website of the Agency of Youth Affairs or media. 

The most popular areas of volunteer activity:
• work with children in daycare centers, camps, after-school activities, children's homes, individual assistance in preparing lessons, assisting children with disabilities, therapeutic, creative workshops for children, etc.
• Open work with youth, open youth spaces, mobile work, preventive programs for youth and youth leisure activities.
• Sports events and organizations - assistance in organizing competitions, daily organizational or administrative assistance in sports centers, sports schools, sports camps, sports promotion activities.
• Health - assistance in hospitals, clinics, public health offices, schools in educating children, youth and adults about a healthy lifestyle, health events and initiatives.
• Visiting care - assistance for lonely people at home: visiting elderly people or people with disabilities at home - assistance in household chores or assistance on trips.
• Assistance to the disabled – with mobility impairments, blind and partially sighted people (e.g. audio recording of books), in deaf associations, assistance to people with intellectual disabilities.
• Assistance in parishes, religious communities.
• Assistance in the field of culture, art and education – organization of various workshops in libraries, during events, in museums, implementation of educational and cultural events, assistance in administrative and technical work.
• Nature and ecology: educational activities on environmental topics, assistance in regional parks in maintaining recreational areas, organizing hikes and events.
• Communities – local or common interest groups communities, representative organizations and associations.

Support to young volunteers

There are special provisions mentioned in the Law of Volunteering concerning legal obligations of both an organization and a volunteer. However, there are no support measures for young volunteers beyond the level of individual organization. Despite that, the majority of voluntary organizations provide support and training to young volunteers themselves. These organizations provide volunteers with the advice and knowledge that would ensure a successful outcome to their voluntary work. Volunteer support (mentoring, training etc.) is mostly conducted by more experienced or former members of voluntary organizations. Support is highly dependent on resources available to the individual organization. Some organizations measure the effectiveness of their support using questionnaires, having discussions, and observing volunteer work. Larger organizations have well developed training and support plans. 

Volunteering opportunities in Lithuania can be found on these platforms: 

• https://activeyouth.lt/pagalba-koronaviruso-metu/

• http://www.zinauviska.lt/savanoriauk-lietuvoje

• https://savaplatforma.lt/

• http://www.savanoriai.org/lt/savanoryste/

• http://kulturossavanoriai.lt

Volunteering opportunities abroad can be found here: 

• https://zinauviska.lt/savanoryste-ir-jaunimo-politika/savanoriauk-uzsienyje/

• http://europa.eu/youth/EU/voluntary-activities/volunteering-opportunities_en

Target groups

Lithuanian youth policy is aimed to be inclusive. The National Program on Youth Volunteering aims to include any young person willing to volunteer (see also: Order on Description of the Organization of the Youth Voluntary Service). The only target group defined in supporting guidelines on long-term (3-4 month long) volunteering is the group of 15-29 year old persons not in education and not in employment. Short-term volunteering is available to all youth. 

Youth voluntary service - a set of organized and carried out voluntary activities in which the volunteer, the receiving organization and the organization organizing youth voluntary activities participate.