My name is Thomas, I was born in London in 2005 and my mother moved from Alytus, Lithuania to the United Kingdom over 20 years ago. Over the last 19 years, I grew up and went to school in Northwest London, and now I am an undergraduate at Princeton University. Changing environments have been an instrumental part of my life so far, which is why I was drawn to the Bring Together Lithuania (BTLT) program. The opportunity to get out of my comfort zone by living and working in a different country was an experience that I could not pass up.
Growing up, I attended Lithuanian school when I was younger, but my Lithuanian community only ever extended as far as my family and their friends. This meant that my network of Lithuanian people in the UK was only a fraction of what it could have been. My family observes Lithuanian cultural traditions, visits Lietuva when we can, and keeps the language alive to the best of our ability, but I recognize that I can do more to preserve my Lithuanian heritage. As I’ve grown older and moved away from home, I’ve had less and less direct contact with my Lithuanian community, which is why Bring Together Lithuania was so impactful for me.
There were countless highlights to this trip in both the professional and cultural spheres, such as the visits to key historical sites in Vilnius, or the day at Auto Moto Parkas near Trakai. However, my highlight was definitely the Joninės celebration at Kernavė, as I had never experienced this tradition before, and this year I got to immerse myself in it fully, which I will never forget. By engaging in activities like Joninės at Kernavė and visiting the "Home of Basketball" in Kaunas, I have made active efforts to strengthen my connection to Lithuania. As a young ambassador of Lietuva, I am committed to promoting every aspect of Lithuania to both diaspora and non-diaspora people, ensuring that our history and traditions are preserved.
As a result of the program, I now have a community of people around the world who are of a similar age and share a common heritage and cultural identity. Thanks to this opportunity, I now have a network of young Lithuanian professionals, a group of my people, and most importantly, a group of friends. Together, we’ve experienced some of the most prestigious and sought-after events in Lithuania, such as a visit to Seimas, meeting the First Lady, and attending the Global Lithuanian Leaders 2024 conference in Kaunas. In just six weeks, I feel like I’ve explored so much of the country, and I’m eager to return to Lietuva to continue my journey.
As a young ambassador of Lietuva, I am committed to promoting every aspect of Lithuania to both diaspora and non-diaspora people, ensuring that our history and traditions are preserved.
I had an opportunity to intern at the Innovation Agency, Green Tech Hub as part of the BTLT program. During the internship period, I was eager to contribute actively to a company that focuses on promoting the innovation ecosystem of Lithuania, in areas such as Green Technology, Defence, and Manufacturing. Since its establishment, Inovacijų Agentūra has played a key role in shaping the business startup landscape of Lithuania and is committed to supporting the growth of innovative activities in a variety of emerging sectors. With regard to the broader picture, Inovacijų Agentūra operates under the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation.
Ultimately, this program has made me more aware of who I truly am, and it has ensured that Lietuva will be a part of my future. Thank you to the Program Director Kamilė Perminė, the organisers and the sponsors for making this dream a possibility.
In just six weeks, I feel like I’ve explored so much of the country, and I’m eager to return to Lietuva to continue my journey.
"Bring Together Lithuania" is a unique summer internship and modern Lithuania discovery program for talented Lithuanian diaspora youth from around the world. The main goal of the program is to develop future leaders and young Lithuanian ambassadors, who during the summer gain not only professional knowledge but also rediscover their connection with their ancestral country, meet other Lithuanians from around the world, discover their Lithuanian identity, and learn about contemporary Lithuania.
Since 2018, the program has been initiated and sponsored by the Kazickas Family Foundation. The initiative has been supported since its inception by the Lithuanian Foundation based in the USA and entrepreneur Vladas Lašas. Since 2022, the program's development has been supported by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Read more about the Bring Together Lithuania: www.bringtogether.lt
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