Embedded Files
Ukrainian Center
Ukrainian Center
About
About
Ukrainian Center is built to be "a place of training, career guidance, psychological assistance and recreation for children, youth and adults." - Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Lithuania
Location
Location
Social Media
Social Media
Programs at Ukrainian Center
Programs at Ukrainian Center
for the kids
for the kids
Art, games, summer camps, learning, and social development opportunities.
for adults
for adults
Adult oriented mental health sessions. In this picture they try the calmness practice of kuksando.
new skills
new skills
Lithuanian Red Cross hosts first aid session.
For more events, check out their FaceBook page!
My Volunteer Work
My Volunteer Work
I worked with the Ukrainian center to hold English Language speaking clubs for Ukrainians who wanted to practice their English speaking skills.
Details
Details
1 Hour per week for 4 weeks, a group of 6 volunteers including me, had 1 on 1 English conversations with Ukrainians wanting to practice English. Sometimes we followed the talking points linked below, but allot of times we went on tangents talking about our lives. This program not only helped the participants practice english language, but also gave our volunteers valuable insight into other peoples experiences and how language is learned.
Language Hour Participants
Language Hour Participants
Maryna Pylypenko
Maryna Pylypenko
Singer from Odesa, Ukraine. Maryna conveys the reflection of a woman forced to leave Ukraine because of the War, and expresses her feeling about the daily shelling of her home in Ukraine.
Her song "Hearts Beat in Sync", expresses the universal connection that holds people together regardless of location. In her music video you will see Ukrainians from around the world, including those on the front lines, and the Ukrainian Amateur Choir and Vocal Studio "Mriya".
It was truly my pleasure to speak with Maryna. She is very in touch with her surroundings and feelings, and is very passionate about her work. - Jason Bowman
Yevhen
Yevhen
Yevhen is from Kiev and moved to Lithuania because of the war. He did not come with much, but has since found a life here in Lithuania with his wife and daughter.
Yevhen enjoys to ski, kite surf, and work with his hands. He is very passionate about learning english and hopes to use his english for work later in the future.
Yevhen was the first participant I met with at the Ukrainian Center. From the start he was all smiles and excitement. He is the epitome of a life long learner and with his attitude he will learn to be fluent in english and love every second. - Jason Bowman
Helen and Maria
Helen and Maria
Helen and her Daughter Maria moved to Vilnius only 3 days before joining us for Language hours. They moved to Vilnius due to the war, and some family circumstances. Helen understands the importance of the English language in the world, and has extensive experience as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. Maria is 14 and has aspirations to be a journalist, she also wants to better her knowledge in the English language.
"Helen puts her daughter first. I cannot begin to imagine the strength she possesses to put her family first during such an exhausting time." - George Hage
Often times in the United States it is easy to feel helpless when it comes to the war in Ukraine. At the Ukrainian Center, not only did I practice my teaching skills, but I also got to hear people's stories and how they understand the war. - Olivia Hruby
More People!
More People!
June 28, 2023
June 28, 2023
July 5, 2023
July 5, 2023
July 19, 2023
July 19, 2023
Our Volunteers
Our Volunteers
Jason Bowman
Jason Bowman
Jason is a student athlete and Engineering Major at Harvey Mudd College minoring in Russian Language through Pomona College.
Kayla McCarthy
Kayla McCarthy
Kayla studies at University of South Florida, majoring in Criminology with a minor in Russian Language and Culture.
Olivia Hruby
Olivia Hruby
Olivia is a International Relations major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and also Studies Russian Language.
Katrine Semenyaka
Katrine Semenyaka
Katrine is a National Security Major and Russian Language Minor at the University of New Haven.
George Hage
George Hage
George is a Government Major with a Minor in Russian and Post Soviet Studies at the College of William and Mary.
Nathan McKnight
Nathan McKnight
Nathan is a Finance Major with a Minor in Constitutional Studies at the University of Notre Dame.
Blue-Yellow
Blue-Yellow
About
About
Founded in 2014, the Blue-Yellow organization provides Ukraine with much needed equipment for their work against Russias war of aggression.
Since its beginning in 2014, Blue-Yellow Organization have raised over €46 million. This money goes towards an assortment of equipment, that directly aid Ukrainian frontline soldiers.
Jonas Ohman. Swedish origin, Lithuanian resident, filmmaker, translator, journalist, call sign "Panda", and founder of Blue-Yellow organization.
Ohman also has a book, soon to be released in English about the History of Lithuania, Ukraine, conflict in the Baltic states, and his very own Blue-Yellow Organization.
Blue-Yellow Presentation, Vilnius
Blue-Yellow Presentation, Vilnius
We met with Jonas Ohman while he was in Vilnius.
Given the nature of the conflict, Ohman believes this will continue for at least another decade.
Despite having relations with news sources like New York Times and a credited public background, Ohman found it frustrating that no news outlets have brought notice to the Chinese made artillery being shot by Russian troops. Which suggests Chinas vested interest in Russias victory in Ukraine.
Blue-Yellow Presentation Artifacts
Blue-Yellow Presentation Artifacts
Patch worn by certain armed forces in Ukraine.
Piece of a Russian missile shot down over Ukraine.
Fake Russian currency meant to be dropped behind Russian lines with detailed instructions to safely surrender.
Call Russia
Call Russia
What is the Goal?
What is the Goal?
"#CallRussia has one simple purpose - to connect Russian-speaking volunteers directly with Russians for peaceful conversations that provide verifiable facts about the Vladimir Putin's brutal and illegal assault on Ukraine." - callrussia.org
Vilnius
Vilnius
Call Russia originated in Vilnius Lithuania. On the streets, especially during the NATO summit, you could see these posters scattered everywhere.
Are We Being Fooled?
Are We Being Fooled?
Jonas Ohman, founder of Blue-Yellow Organization as described in previous section. Has the following to say about Call Russia.
“It looks to me like a well-crafted Russian special information operation, trying to insert a strong message to ‘reach an agreement with Russia’ in the context of the NATO summit. And the message is nicely targeted at the leadership, who are guaranteed to see it through the limousine windows,” - Jonas Ohman
The goal for Call Russia is clear, and seems to have no downside. However, after hearing what Ohman had to say, I began to question if we were being fooled. It is not to say that Call Russia is malicious, in fact I tend to beleive the opposite. However Ohman knows much more about this war than I, and I think it is smart to consider all possibilities. - Jason Bowman
Vilnius, Lithuania has done much more than what this website showcases in the efforts to protect Ukraine from Russias brutal war. These 3 examples are very relevant to these efforts, I just want to emphasize that there is much more to be said on this topic.
Ukrainian patriotism is big here in Vilnius, because Lithuania understands what it is like to have Russia take their land by force. The war in Ukraine is very real for those living in "post soviet" countries like Lithuania. The urgency and awareness of this war is surreal, and the west needs to recognize this on a similar scale because Ukraine needs the worlds help.
I wish this war never started, of course. However I am thankful to be in Vilnius during this time because I better understand what is really happening here. We live in blissful ignorance in the United States and we take that for granted. The war in Ukraine is not to be dismissed, because if Russia is not stopped in its tracks now, our generation may never see the end of this conflict.
-Jason Bowman
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