Ukrainian center for migrants started working in Lithuania

In Vilnius, at the Academy of Education of Vytautas the Great University, the Ukrainian Center for the Ukrainian community in Lithuania was opened. It is reported by the Office of the President .

The establishment of this center was initiated by the first ladies of Lithuania and Ukraine - Elena Zelenskaya and Diana Nausedienė.

The center will become a place of training, career guidance, psychological assistance, recreation for children, youth and adults. Here it will be possible to leave children for extracurricular activities, attend lectures, educational courses or devote time to hobbies.

The center will also be a platform for cultural diplomacy between the countries, will present Ukraine, its culture and identity in Lithuania, will participate in academic activities, creative meetings, concerts and other events will be held here.

This space is very important for Ukrainians who came to Lithuania from a country where the war is going on – I am glad that the idea has become a reality. This is the first such center in the world, which will not only unite the Ukrainian community, but also take care of their needs. I believe that both families and representatives of the sphere of culture and art will find a place in it, volunteers will work to provide Ukrainians with the necessary services,” said Diana Nausedienė, wife of the President of Lithuania.

The head of the center is the signatory of the Act of Independence, former Lithuanian Ambassador to Ukraine Algirdas Kumzha.

Ukrainians in the center will be consulted by psychologists, lawyers, teachers, there will be open discussions, cultural events. All this will help Ukrainians to adapt in Lithuania and endure the hardships of the war experienced in their homeland,” he said.

After receiving an individual decision on granting them temporary protection in Lithuania , foreigners will be entitled to monetary social assistance, child allowances, a one-time living allowance, social assistance pensions and social services

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, more than 50 thousand Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Lithuania, 28 thousand of them are people of working age, more than 7.6 thousand have already found work. The vast majority of Ukrainians are employed in jobs requiring medium qualifications, one in ten - in highly skilled work. Wages range from the minimum (600 euros) to 2,000 euros. On average, a Ukrainian working in Lithuania earns "on paper" about 900 euros.