The Public Institution the House of National Communities – is a non–profit seeking organization established in accordance with the Law on Public Institutions of the Republic of Lithuania acting in the spheres of culture, education and science and providing services in the above fields to the members of society seeking to help to preserve cultural and ethnic peculiarities of national minorities of Lithuania in the course of their full – value integration into the public life of the country. There are ten full – time employees in the institution.

The House of National Communities is a creative non – governmental institution positively and in and emphasized manner manifesting itself in the public and cultural life of national minorities of Lithuania which thanks to competent and devoted work has deserved respect and recognition of national minorities of the country.

The House of National Communities is achieving its aims through the programs of its activities. Implementing the program “Cherishment of identity of national minorities of Lithuania”, the House of National Communities is concentrating population of Lithuania of various nationalities as well as their non–governmental organizations for the purpose of revival of their national habits and traditions, their spread, expansion of their language, religion and national way of life. To this end, they organize various meetings, lectures, discussions on the history, culture and traditions of national minorities. Over 40 various events take place annually.

Constantly seeking to support the aspirations of national minorities of the country to preserve their national identity, the House of National Communities is constantly organizing exhibitions of works of artists of various nationalities residing in Lithuania, literary events in which translators participate, presentations of publications, compact disks, video films on the history, habits and traditions of national minorities. Priority is granted to the young artists of national minorities. The House of National Communities pays much attention to the projects related to the problems of organization of informal education of national communities. Universally supporting the activities of Sunday schools of national minorities, they are constantly organizing methodological – practical seminars for the teachers of such schools. In the year 2002, the House of National Communities had initiated and from then on is constantly organizing festivals of schools of national minorities. Different themes selected for the festivals encourages the pupils of the Sunday schools of national minorities to get more thoroughly acquainted with the history of historical motherlands of their parents and ancestors, their national traditions, habits, develop the demand to learn the native language better, formulates better mutual understanding and tolerance between members of society of different nationalities.

The House of National Communities provides various forms of support to cultural events of national communities of the country by preparing for press and multiplying invitations, announcements, programs of events, booklets, other information materials having total annual circulation of over 5000 copies. Assisted by the House of National Communities, programs of financing of activities of various national minorities are drafted which are presented to various institutions of the country as well as to international funds. Over 30 projects of development of non – governmental organizations of national minorities are prepared annually. Managing personnel of public organizations of national minorities are constantly consulted on keeping accounting and financial responsibilities, office management and other issues of importance to national minorities.

Implementing the program “Assistance to national minorities of Lithuania during the processes of their full–value integration into public–political life of the country, the House of National Communities is seeking to encourage further development of democracy and of the processes of formation of open society in Lithuania by creating favorable conditions to the representatives of national communities and of their public organizations to develop self – expression and to make it sensible. To this end, they analyze social and economic problems of nations and national minorities, organize and carry out historical, demographic and sociological investigations, generalize and systematize information collected, organize preparation and publication of various textbooks, other teaching aids to those who are willing to learn Lithuanian language, organize courses of Lithuanian to socially supportable people, render practical assistance to public organizations of national minorities, helping them to achieve their aims and goals. The projects under this program help national communities to integrate into the life of the Lithuanian society, to harmonize and to stabilize national relationships.

Sociological investigations and interviews of public opinion carried out at the initiative of the House of National Communities on the position of various national minorities and of their non – governmental organizations, the views of representatives of national minorities on actualities of domestic and foreign policy of the country and on social problems help governmental institutions of the country dealing with the policy of national concord to develop ethnic policy and to interpret in a new way the values related to inter – ethnical relationships.

In their activities, the House of National Communities is seeking to encourage representatives of national minorities to participate actively in the processes of formation of open society of the country. To this end, they encourage multilateral cooperation of non – governmental institutions of national minorities in drafting projects, organizing and carrying out common events. In the celebration of Easter (2004) participated representatives of eight nationalities, residing in Lithuania – Catholics, Orthodoxies, Uniates, Lutherans. The conference “Religion, morality and society” held in the year 2005 was attended by members of national communities belonging to different religions, the reports were made by priests of various confessions (Catholics, Orthodoxies, Moslems). Events of such content are becoming traditional, they not only help to get acquainted with the habits and traditions of various nations residing in the country but also formulate the feelings of common citizenship between members of society and responsibility for the future of the Lithuanian state.

Organizing its activities the House of National Communities pays much attention to the development of competence of non–governmental organizations of national minorities. To this end, the projects have been prepared and implemented, aimed at increasing managerial capabilities of such organizations, their possibilities to formulate clear - cut goals of activities paying attention to solving problems, encouraging the standards of good project management, transparency of activities, accountability, inclusion of members, voluntary activities, companies of informing the public, development of coalitions of non – governmental organizations.

Seeking to help management of public organizations of national minorities of the country to get acquainted with the experience of their partners in Lithuania and in foreign countries, to open up for them the possibilities to evaluate anew the activities of their own organizations and to formulate the vision for the future of such non – governmental organizations tying it up to the evolution of democracy and the processes of formation of open society in Lithuania and in other countries of the world the House of National Communities was in the years 2002 – 2003 carrying out international project “National minorities in open society”. Participants of the project got acquainted with the provisions of various legal acts of the Lithuanian state as well as of various international pacts and conventions of UN and EC devoted to the protection of human rights and of national minorities, improved the capabilities to organize them providing practical ways of enforcement of laws as well as the possibilities of development of activities in open society being formed.

The House of National Communities working on the project “National minorities and information society” is creating for national communities an easy accessible program of studies based on the use of information technologies enabling to study constantly, to develop themselves and to improve qualifications, to assure competitiveness under contemporary conditions by making use of the possibilities of Lithuanian and foreign information networks. The program enables representatives of national minorities to learn how to use modern information technologies, computerized databases, to obtain qualification enabling to accumulate experience of using information technologies.

In August 2004 in the House of National Communities an Information Center of National Communities was established. The purpose of activities of the Center was to create favorable conditions for national communities, their managing personnel and members in general to develop their capabilities of using the possibilities of Lithuanian and foreign information networks, to learn constantly, to develop themselves and to improve qualification. Making use of computerized networks of the Center as well as of capabilities developed in the course of work under the project with modern information technologies they keep relations with their historical motherlands, seek the sources of financing for the activities of their organizations, disseminate experience accumulated by them among non – governmental organizations of foreign countries, enter into business – like relationships with international partners.

The House of National Communities encourages and maintains a regular dialogue with international communities and various governmental and municipal institutions. At their initiative regular meetings of representatives of national communities with heads of Lithuanian state, Seimas, members of Government, representatives of ministries, departments, other governmental institutions and organizations are taking place in the course of which problems of importance to national minorities are discussed, the processes of Lithuanian domestic and foreign policy processes analyzed. 10 – 12 such meetings are held annually – talks, discussions, round - table meetings, etc.

Leaders and responsible officials of foreign governmental institutions working in the field of protection of rights of national minorities frequent the House of National Communities. For example, in the year 2004 the House was visited by official governmental institutions of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine. During the meetings exchange of information, discussions of the situation about the situation of national minorities in various countries, exchange of work experience were taking place, perspectives of future cooperation were outlined.

Seeking to help representatives of national minorities to integrate into the society of our country the House of National Communities are constantly organizing the courses of the state language for socially supportable persons. Such courses are attended by 40–50 persons annually. Considering the necessity to improve the state language regularly the House of Foreign Communities established the State language training center, prepared training programs for improvement the knowledge of the state language and new Lithuanian language learning aids. Hopefully, activities of the Center will be able to assist the representatives of new national communities still in the process of establishment.

The House of National Communities is preparing plans aimed at reduction of social separation, hatred, realistic way of solving the problems of adaptability the purpose of which is to help representatives of national minorities integrate into social – economic life of the country.

Beginning with the year 2004, the House of National Communities is working at the program “The establishment and testing of support mechanism for the integration of national minorities into labour market” sponsored by joint initiative of European Communities EQUAL. The project is aimed at establishment and testing the mechanism of support of integration of national minorities into the labor market and the mechanism of support as well as cooperation networks by making use of the networks of non – governmental networks of national minorities, human resources and influence. Implementation of the project will help non – governmental organizations of national minorities to enrich the content of their activities with the possibilities of solving social problems.

The above projects of the House of National Communities help national communities to integrate into the life of the Lithuanian society, harmonize and stabilize national relationships in the state.

The House of National Communities working at the program “Cultural – educational activities” pay much attention to the development of national tolerance, elimination of national stereotypes, formation of positive image of national groups, introduction of multinational culture o0f the coustry6 abroad. To this end, it acquaints the society with the history, culture and habits of national minorities of the country, accumulates and generalizes historical, demographic, statistic material about national minorities of Lithuania, prepares reports, lectures, various visual aids (publications, slides, films, etc.) aimed at depiction of the history, culture, habits of national minorities of Lithuania and the processes of their integration into social – political life of the country.

In the year 2000the House of National Communities initiated publication of the Bulletin of national communities in which articles examining the problems of national minorities of the country and telling about the activities of their public organizations were printed. Four issues of the Bulletin of national communities are published annually.

The House of National Communities is engaged in publication activities, annually prepares to the press various publications the content of which reflects life of national minorities of the country, helps national communities to integrate into the life of the country. 10 – 12 publications of such type are prepared annually.

Seeking to develop tolerance, respect to the people of different races, nationalities and religions among young people of the country the House of National Communities is carrying out programs aimed at senior schoolchildren interested in politics. Participants of the above program, pupils of secondary schools frequent the House of Communities where they get acquainted with the history of national minorities, present – day activities of national communities. The schoolchildren have the possibility to see a vide film created at the initiative of the House of National Communities telling about national minorities of Lithuania as well as to get acquainted with literature on natural minorities, etc.

Depending on their possibilities, the House of Communities supports various events organized by national communities. For the third year in succession, they are sponsors of festival “This is our house” held in Trakai; they also assist in organizing already traditional days of Lithuanian Russians, support traditional international creative festival “Muza”, concerts – competitions “Young talents” organized by Lithuanian Russian cultural and educational community “Svetlica” and Vilnius Childrens’ club “Darija”, etc.

The House of National Communities is seeking to acquaint leaders of public organizations of national minorities with the work experience of Lithuanian and foreign colleagues, to open for them the possibilities to evaluate anew activities of their organization and to form up the vision of future activities of such non – governmental organizations, connecting it with the evolution of democracy and the processes of formation of open society both in the Lithuanian state and in united Europe. To this end, the House of National communities closely cooperates with various Lithuanian and foreign organizations. Close business – like relations exist with the Estonian Association of National Minorities and with the Latvian Association of Natural Cultural Organizations. Every year working meetings take place in the course of which important problems of activities of non – governmental organizations of national minorities are solved. In the year 2003, the House of National communities in Vilnius jointly with leaders of public organizations of national minorities of Latvia and Estonia and leaders of governmental organizations of such countries working in the field of protection of human rights and national minorities organized an international conference “National minorities at the stage of formation of open societies”. The materials of the conference were issued in Russian by a separate publication and deserved considerable attention of societies of all Baltic countries. Business – like relations with the House of National Communities in Moscow (Russia) are is the process of establishment.

Implementing the provisions of the programs of their activities, the House of National Communities creatively cooperate with the Lithuanian scientific institutions, diplomatic representations residing in Vilnius, various governmental institutions of the country, municipalities and non – governmental institutions.

Working for 15 years already in Vilnius, the House of National Communities are seeking to encourage inter – ethnical dialogue, to formulate mutual understanding between the people of different nationalities, to develop creative activeness of public organizations of national minorities and independence. Thanks to multisided practical methodological assistance the national communities, their non – governmental organizations can obtain relevant knowledge, skills and qualification enabling, in a more flexible way, to adapt to promptly changing present – day conditions of life, to seek for new forms of activities and the methods of their implementation, to develop and expand cooperation between public organizations of national minorities in Lithuania and in foreign countries based on contemporary information technologies.

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