THE VOICE OF INTERNATIONAL LITHUANIA
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DO UNTO OTHERS…A REPORT FROM THIS YEAR’S ‘BŪKIME KARTU’Text and photos Aage Myhre |
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“This event is not just about helping the orphanages. The idea is to give a more important thing to the children – personal attention and care.” Ambassador of Great Britain to Lithuania, Mr. Simon Butt
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The concept of ‘BŪKIME KARTU’ is that disadvantaged children from orphanages within the Vilnius area
are invited to spend a full day in the countryside, enjoying various activities sponsored by a number of
international companies, institutions and embassies. Joy and happiness are the hallmarks of the day!
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ZINA’S FARM ‘BŪKIME KARTU’ takes place at an ecologic farm owned and run by a truly fascinating individual, Ms. Zina Gineistiene, a farmer and a teacher at Vilnius University. Her farm encompasses a lot of different animals, birds, wooden farm buildings and barns, ponds, rivers and fields. All characterised by a genuine, traditional Lithuanian farm mood, and excitement, not to mention the very special smell of the living creatures and the farm itself… Zina’s unique farm not only provides a very different atmosphere and experience, but also plenty of fresh air for the kids and the many volunteers from Lithuania’s international community, throughout this complete spring Saturday, from 9 in the morning till 4 in the afternoon. |
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VOLUNTEERS As Ambassador Butt mentioned above: This is not just about traditional means of help, but also about that all of us who belong to the international community here in Lithuania, as well as the state's own institutions, through an event like this can make fair words and monetary assistance into concrete action face-to-face with children who truly need love and attention so very much… Our many volunteers have done a fantastic job in this respect. Thanks a lot - to you all.
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Ambassador Butt and Marius Marčenkovas, Deloitte |
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Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy, Timothy P. O’Connor with family |
Ambassador of Bulgaria to Lithuania, Mr. Ivan Pentchev Dantchev and wife Dobrinka Dobrinova-Dancheva |
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ABOVE: This team from the Pennsylvania National Guard (USA) arrived at ‘BŪKIME KARTU’ in the early morning hours to paint the faces of all participating children and continued by playing ‘parachute games’ with the kids. Well done! Left to right: MSG. Joe Brignola, LTC. Stephen Timmons, William Bobo (U.S. Embassy), SMSgt. Matt Giacobbe, SGM. Paul Mishoe.
BELOW: These five persons have been among the most active participants during the planning period, and they, together with a number of other volunteers, did an outstanding job also last Saturday. BRAVO! |
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Irma Ramaskaitė
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Angelė Čepėnaitė |
Carlos Brebbia
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Nijole Vrubliauskiene
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Vincent Karnila |
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Despite the difficult economic situation various organizations have generously offered their support to the event. It was sponsored by COWI Lietuva, Deloitte, EWMD, International School of Law and Business, Lithuanian Archery Federation, Lankininkų Sporto Klunas, Medicina Magna, Multi dora, Pentland, Radisson Blu Astorija, Reval Hotel Lietuva, Rimi Lietuva, Statoil Lietuva, Tres Mejicanos, Vilties akimirka, Ūkio banko lizingas and others.
In addition to the ‘patron embassy of the year’ – the Embassy of GREAT BRITAIN – the event has also been supported by the embassies of:
BULGARIA, NORWAY, SWEDEN, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TURKEY and SPAIN.
Thanks a lot!
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FOOD! The lunch programme at noon is a serious challenge. 130 children plus about as many helpers and staff from the police, fire brigade and customs officers must be fed in just one hour. Then, if that’s not challenging enough, every year we try to find new varieties, new menus and exciting chefs from countries around the globe – all with some sort of connection to Lithuania…
This year the choice fell on Mexico, and there is no doubt that it was a happy choice. Jose de Leon Padilla who runs the restaurant ‘Tres Mejicanos’ on Tilto Street in Vilnius, brought some wonderful dishes, luckily not too spicy (for us with tender stomachs)… In addition, our dear Lithuanian-American from Boston (an avid barbeque master and co-editor of VilNews) together with Bulgaria's ambassador, saw to it that the Statoil sausages were both grilled and tucked into the sausage buns. The cakes, ice cream and candies were all well received after the more heavy parts of the lunch mealhad been absorbed - well, it is hardly necessary to embroider more… |
Ambassador Butt and Gintare Miškinytė are fighting hard to understand the STATOIL sausage principle |
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The kids loved the Mexican food from Jose de Leon Padilla’s Vilnius restaurant ‘Tres Mejicanos’
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Fantastic cakes from two leading hotels… |
Geoff Cohen offered English sweets. A true goodie man!
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ACTIVITIES
This year’s ‘BŪKIME KARTU’ participants enjoyed many outdoor activities such as archery, horse riding, a bouncy castle, face-painting, team games, picnic and others. The magician Olegas Rimanas performed a magic show. The fire brigade, police and customs officers demonstrated some of their equipments and vehicles, and Carlo’s team of students made all kinds of scout games. You’d have to be there to believe… |
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A real magician (I’m not kidding), Olegas Rimanas, performs a magic show
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The police were once again doing a tremendous job with their dog squad, demonstrating investigation methods and, of course , the cars… |
Gytis Milašius coordinated the police activities |
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Not so easy to hit the target… Still the members of the Lithuanian Archery Federation / Lankininkų Sporto Klubas do their best to show the kids how to shoot with bow and arrows… |
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Lithuania's police, fire brigade and army has for years done great efforts for ‘BŪKIME KARTU’ and it has always been interesting to study the children's reactions in the face of these 'slightly dangerous' institutions. My clear conclusion is that these meetings have been warm and exciting - for the children, but probably also for the institutions. This year the army was busy with another event, but the Lithuanian Customs Authority (picture left) stepped in instead - and did a fantastic job of showing the children what they are doing, especially with regard to border controls... |
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WOW! The Vilnius Region Fire Brigade has got a brand new fire truck. Shouldn’t get dirty, though… |
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The fire department's competition with fire hoses is extremely popular – every year. |
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“Būkime kartu 2010” was the 9th annual event under the umbrella of Vilnius International Club where disadvantaged children from the Vilnius area and volunteers from different organizations gathered together to spend a whole day out, since 2005 in Zina Gineitienė’s ecological farm located 26 km north of Vilnius in the village of Melkio.
Another truly amazing day, full of fun and emotions, came to its end Saturday afternoon at 16:00 this wonderful 15th of May 2010…
Aage Myhre,
VilNews Editor – VIC President
‘BŪKIME KARTU’ ORGANISER SINCE 2001
HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL IN MAY 2011!
NOW IS THE TIME TO REGISTER AS SPONSOR AND VOLUNTEER…
TOKEN OF GRATITUDE:
‘BŪKIME KARTU’ WAS STARTED IN 2001 IN COOPERATION BETWEEN VIC AND THE
NORWEGIAN AMBASSADOR KAARE HAUGE AND HIS WIFE AASHILD HAUGE
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