Volunteer Everywhere: How Kaunas Stakeholder Workshop Strengthens Refugee Integration and Youth Volunteering

Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in Kaunas: strengthening youth involvement and volunteering

On 12 November we met at Tech Park Kaunas for our Stakeholder Engagement Workshop — a warm, focused gathering where we introduced the Volunteer Everywhere mobile app project to the local community in Kaunas. The app is being developed together with partners from the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Poland, and we’re working toward a demo later this month and a public launch in January 2026.

Throughout the afternoon, our speakers shared not only updates but also their personal perspectives on why this work matters:

🔹 Refugee Council of Lithuania spoke about the project’s vision and walked everyone through how the app will function and what comes next.

🔹 Živilė from Tech Park Kaunas introduced their long-standing work with deep-tech startups and highlighted their programs that support Ukrainian refugee women through mentoring and entrepreneurship.

🔹 Suat from Speak Lithuania told us more about their community-based language groups and intercultural events — and how these activities help people build confidence, friendships, and practical skills.

One of the most memorable parts of the event was hearing participants share their own experiences. We had people from Afghanistan, Lithuania, Turkey, Ukraine, and beyond — each with a different story about integration, learning, and volunteering. These conversations set a very sincere and open atmosphere.

Later, during group discussions, participants talked about what motivates them to volunteer, what tools and support they need, and what still gets in the way. The ideas were very down-to-earth: clearer information, stable mentoring, stronger cooperation between organizations, and more visibility for volunteering opportunities.

By the end of the workshop, we collected concrete action points: promoting the app, preparing volunteers for launch, strengthening digital outreach, and thinking long-term about how to keep the platform sustainable.

Overall, this was more than just a project meeting. It felt like a community coming together — sharing knowledge, encouragement, and a sense of purpose. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us in Kaunas and helped move the Volunteer Everywhere project forward.

This project is co-funded by the European Union.