Project “Young Leaders of the Jewish and Roma Communities for the Preservation of Historical Memory and Justice”

Project “Young Leaders of the Jewish and Roma Communities for the Preservation of Historical Memory and Justice”

The year 2021 reminded us all of the suffering and misfortune the people of Lithuania had to live through in the 20th century, finding themselves at the intersection of the interests of the world’s great powers. There were commemorations, conferences and exhibitions throughout Lithuania. Even so, we haven’t done all our homework to insure the preservation of historical memory and teaching the younger generation a deeper sense of history don’t merely become annual events, but an inalienable part of national politics where all institutions work towards a common goal in a coordinated way, so that the combined resources of the state and society work together according to a clear strategy.

The Lithuanian Jewish Community and the Roma Social Center are beginning the implementation of a project called Young Leaders of the Jewish and Roma Communities for the Preservation of Historical Memory and Justice organized by Germany’s EVZ Foundation aimed at teaching the public the importance of the history of the Roma and Jewish communities with the goal of including and engaging the younger generation of both communities.

Do members of these communities feel safe living in their own country?

The project will develop public opinion and positions for raising the issues of historical justice for and historical memory of the Roma and Jewish peoples, telling the public about social and cultural human rights and the ability to accept and recognize the trauma of an historical tragedy.

During discussions and meetings organized under the project, there will be an examination of anti-Semitism and Romophobia, and of expressions of hate speech, and what forms the response should take.

Events will be held for coalition-building in rural areas and around the country and in communities in Lithuania preserving Jewish heritage through cultural intervention, young leaders will take educational trips to Auschitz-Birkenau and teaching seminars will be held for young leaders from the communities to teach the importance of communication.

Proposals formed during the project will be announced on the LJC webpage lzb.lt, in the Bagel Shop newsletter and on the facebook pages of the project’s partners.

The following hashtags will provide more information and progress reports:

#SupportedByEVZ

The project is scheduled to run from January to December of 2022. It is financed by the EVZ Foundation, the Lithuanian Jewish Community and the Roma Social Center. This is an open initiative and we invite members of the public to join our initiatives.

Contact: projects@lzb.lt

Earlier projects:
Human Rights Coalition-Building in Lithuania in 2020
Recommendations for Actions to Fight Anti-Semitism and Romophobia in Lithuania in 2018


The Roma Social Center marks Holocaust Day with the #MesPrisimename/#WeRemember tags


The Lithuanian Human Rights Center marks Holocaust Day with the #MesPrisimename/#WeRemember tags