You belong to more than one Non-govermental organisation (NGO) and  you are active in different fields. Could you list your main activities? 

My main field of interest is education and youth empowerment, so I am currently active in organisations and institutions in this field. Since last spring, I have been the head of the Lithuanian School Students’ Union, a member of the Lithuanian Education Council, the Council of Youth Organisations of Lithuania Control Commission, and the head of the youth programme of the Lithuanian Red Cross Society. I am also regularly involved in various activities that contribute positively to promoting volunteering and citizenship in our country.  

You are the President of the Lithuanian School Students’ Union, so you represent and care for a better tomorrow for all Lithuanian students. What fascinates you the most about this activity?  

Every day I face different challenges in leading the Lithuanian School Students’ Union, which gives me the opportunity to develop and contribute significantly to the changes in the education system. Volunteering in this organisation for more than seven years now, I am happy to see the change that this NGO is creating. This is reflected not only in the education reforms, the renewed secondary education framework, the consolidation of democratic processes in general education, but most importantly, in the everyday lives of young people. I am proud that this organisation is nurturing our country’s future leaders, who are starting to grow little by little in the Lithuanian School Students’ Union, and, later, having acquired new knowledge and competencies, are active in other sectors.  

Could you name your greatest achievement? 

There have been many victories and achievements as a volunteer, but the most heartwarming one is the new Life Skills Programme! When I was still studying in my hometown – Kėdainiai – I started to raise awareness about a problem sensitive to schoolchildren – the poor implementation of sex education in Lithuanian educational institutions. I had to put in a lot of effort and sacrifice many sleepless nights to see a heart-warming change – a new curriculum with a strong focus on sex education, first aid and emergency preparedness. It is important to mention that I have always highlighted this subject as essential not only to renew existing programmes and to create new ones but also to ensure that such programmes are delivered efficiently and effectively with additional funding. The programme that I mentioned is not only renewed but also has additional funding focused on improving teachers’ competencies. 

As a student representative, you are often involved in debates with politicians. How do you prepare for these meetings? What are the biggest challenges for you as a young person?  

Every meeting is unique, so the preparation is never boring or monotonous. I usually don’t spend long preparing for all the discussions because everything happens organically, so I try to look at the main topic and its specifics, make a note of my goal, i.e., what message I want to get across, etc. If I have to prepare a presentation, the preparation takes longer, and the process is more complicated because I always want to draw not only on general trends, to share the students’ insights but also to provide statistical data, foreign experiences or relevant recommendations.  

You contribute to shaping Lithuania’s education and other policies. How do your studies at IIRPS VU help you? Do you manage to put the theoretical material into practice? 

I think that my choice of political science studies helps me in many ways. By studying at the Institute and learning from experts in their field, and interacting with motivated students, I am developing my critical and analytical thinking, which allows me to anticipate my actions in a more responsible and rational way. This makes it easier to meet the goals and expectations I have set! I also believe that the theoretical knowledge I have acquired at the Institute also correlates well with the work I do and the tasks I have because I can put all the theory I have acquired into practice, which I admit is extremely satisfying.  

You work for the Lithuanian Red Cross; why did you join this organisation? What are the biggest challenges of working for an organisation that is probably the most important in Lithuania in terms of helping Ukrainians who have arrived and are fleeing the war? 

I have been working for the Lithuanian Red Cross Society for almost a year now, and not for one moment did I think that my decision to contribute to humanitarian aid and human dignity was inappropriate or wrong… Working for this organisation, I contribute directly to helping people in need, so I feel that my work is selfless and meaningful. Of course, this kind of work requires exceptional skills and competencies because you have to remain neutral, humane, impartial and universal at every moment.  

In the context of the war, the Red Cross is indeed very active in assisting Ukrainians arriving in Lithuania, but it is worth recalling that our activities are much broader than that – we want everyone to know how to provide first aid, so we provide first aid training, visit lonely elderly people, organise activities in migrant camps and so on. 

How do you keep up? What keeps you motivated to stay active for others? 

My beloved and well-known political figure Nikolas Machiavelli, who is well-known to IIRPS VU students, said that where there is a great desire, there can be no huge difficulties. I am sure that planning time and wanting to make sense of my existence not for myself but for others is one of my vocations. I feel fulfilled when my activities are focused on others.  

Finally, is there anything you would like to wish the Institute community? 

I would like to wish the Institute’s community not to lose its greatest strength – a united community that inspires excellence and allows each member to excel in a wide range of fields.