Capital: Vilnius
Area: 65,200 km²
Population: 3.7 million(December 2000 est.)
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian (80.6%), Russian (8.7%), Polish (7%), Byelorussian (1.6%), other 2.1%
Official language(s): Lithuanian
Religion(s): Roman Catholic and other Christian denominations, Islam, Judaism
Currency: 1 litas = 100 centai
SOS Children's Villages' activities in the country
In 1990 contact had already been made with a group of dedicated people who, right from the start, were committed to realising the SOS Children's Villages' idea in Lithuania. The provision of suitable facilities was badly needed in view of the lack of a social welfare system and the desperately over-filled homes. In 1991 the Lithuanian SOS Children's Village Association was founded, "SOS Vaikù Kaimù Draugija Lietuvoje". This happened even before Lithuania's sovereignty was officially recognised in September of the same year.
The official cornerstone-laying ceremony for SOS Children's Village Vilnius took place on April 19th, 1994. The project also includes an SOS Kindergarten. The first families were already able to move into the new village just one year later. The SOS Kindergarten first opened its doors in September and soon became a model project in this region. So that the children of the SOS Children's Village and other children from Baltic orphanages can spend a holiday by the sea once a year, construction started on a holiday camp in September 1999. It is situated in Karkle, a small village on the Baltic coast. The camp was completed in late 2000 and in the summer has room for about 200 children. In the winter it is used for holding seminars.
By June 2000 it was necessary to start an SOS Youth Facility, so a flat was temporarily rented in Vilnius. However, in order to be able to cope with the ever-increasing number of youths from the SOS Children's Village, a larger flat was bought soon after. It accommodates 16 youths between the ages of 16 and 20.
Since May 2005, a family strengthening programme in the district of Alytus has been run, supporting families in vulnerable situations. Services offered include material and psychological support, parental training, counselling and child recreation in holiday camps.
At present there is one SOS Children's Village, one SOS Youth Facility, one SOS Kindergarten and one SOS Holiday Camp.