According to the statistics, there are 10,608 families at risk group growing 22,703 children in Lithuania. Children growing up in such conditions often end up like their families or even worse - get in foster home institutions. Social support system for families living in poverty or poor conditions is mostly financial. Children and their families get used to do-nothing lifestyle and do not make any effort to change their living conditions.
It is much more important to provide support, which would increase the responsibility of families and children, form their social skills, teach, how to cope with crisis, study and work, take part in society‘s life. This kind of support can be ensured by children day centres, which organize activities in order to teach, form and develop children social skills, enhance necessary family abilities for children care, help them to become employed and provide many other services, that allow a child and family to get out of distress, poverty, passive life and find their own abilities. p>
About the project. “We care” is the initiative of Lithuanian runner club in Ireland, which seeks to turn society‘s attention to children day centres in Lithuania and support them financially. Funds will be collected during official amateur various distance running competitions in different countries. The first “We care“ initiative took place on April 6th, 2014 – Lithuanian runners in Ireland participated in a Paris Marathon and Dublin “Great Ireland Run“ 10 k run.
Lithuanian runner club in Ireland invite local communities, organizations and all active citizens of Lithuania living in different sides of the world to take part in realising the project, to become our partners, share the infomation and encourage their friends to support children day centres in Lithuania. Lithuanian runner club in Chicago and several individual runners all over the world have already joined the initiative.
Funds are mostly needed to:
1. Improve the food quality for children, because state funding is very limited.
2. Ensure the existence and activity of children day centres.
3. Organize educational activities for children.
The projet is administered by NGO Goodwill Projects, which is responsible for collecting and allocating funds to day centres, promotion and report preparation. Project is implemented in cooperation with “Save the Children” Lithuania.
All collected funds will be allocated to children day centres in proportion based on essential particular needs.
Together we can make a difference, because WE CARE!!!