Projects 

	,,Addressing Socio-Demographic Problems of the Balninkai Community” (2001)    Conference–reunion of Balninkai residents and those born in the area. Project coordinator: Jone Maniuskiene.     Sponsor: The Baltic-American Partnership Fund
	,,Youth Day in Balninkai” (2001) Conference-fiesta for teenagers and young adults from Balninkai, Girsteitiskis and Zelva villages. Project coordinator: Vilija Budrioniene. Sponsors: National Council of Youth Affairs.
	,,Let’s Play Together” (2001) The project for preschool kids in Balninkai. Project coordinator: Irena Paskeviciene. Sponsor: National Foundation for Educational Change.
	,,Let‘s Work Together“ (2001 – 2002) Development of civic society in Balninkai.  Project coordinator: Jone Maniuskiene.  Sponsor: The Baltic-American Partnership Fund.
	,,Under the Sky of the Homeland” (2002) Professional artists‘ collaboration with rural youth. Project coordinator: Janina Mickoniene. Sponsors:  Open Society Fund Lithuania and "Art in Action" Program of the Netherlands.
	,,Discover Yourself” (2002) Rural youth collaborating with professional ceramist V. Vaitkeviciene. Project coordinator:  V. Budrioniene. Sponsor: National Council of Youth Affairs.
	,,Enhancement of Rural Social Capital through Philanthropy“ (2002 – 2003) “There is no person in the world who could not help someone else.” Project coordinator:  Jone Maniuskiene. Sponsors: Moletai county office and the Baltic-American Partnership Program.  The project was administered by Open Society Fund Lithuania.
	,,Civic self-government – the new stage of in development of community organizations "(2002 -2003)  Increasing civic participation in Balninku community activities.  Project coordinator: Jone Maniuskiene.   Sponsor: The Baltic-American Partnership Program.
	,,Depression in Balninkai township and the surrounding areas: Causes and impact on community‘s social, cultural and economic affairs“ (2002 – 2003) Project coordinator: Ona Jurkeviciene. Sponsor: Open Society Fund Lithuania.
	,,Enhancing youth creativity to foster future success“ (2003) Youth collaboration with professional artists. Project coordinator: Janina Mickoniene. Sponsors: National Council of Youth Affairs.
	,,It‘s Fun to Work Together "(2003) Teenagers learn to collaborate in taking pictures of domestic animals and placing them on the Internet.   Project coordinator: Janina Mickoniene. Sponsors: National Council of Youth Affairs
	,,Battling Social Exclusion Through Engagement in Arts“ (2003 – 2004)   Reviving traditional arts: weaving and knitting. Project coordinator: Irena Pusvaskiene. Sponsors: Ministry of Culture
	,,Digital technologies enhancing Balninkai Community" (2004)  Middle school pupils teaching their parents computer literacy and working on communal website.   Project coordinator: Janina Mickoniene.   Sponsors: Open Society Fund Lithuania.

Balninkai advantages:

-         Conveniently situated 75 kilometers from Vilnius, 30 km from Ukmerge; 30 km from Anyskciai;

-         Clean and scenic surroundings

-         Sandy beach, shallow clean lake  (excellent place for family vacations and vacations/rehabilitation for disabled);

-         Revival of traditional crafts: weaving and knitting  

-         Access to Internet

-         Art gallery housing  graphics and glass works exhibitions

Balninkai problems: 

-         Underutilized for purposes of tourism scenic surroundings of the township

-         Lack of active individuals who can initiate and implement community projects

-         Underdeveloped small business sector

-         Lack of cooperation within the community

We are looking for partners who are:

-         interested in and would like to cooperate in activities promoting ethno-cultural heritage and traditions of Eastern Lithuania;

-         interested and able to facilitate rural small business development (ecological farming, rural tourism)

-         are interested in creatively engaging teenagers and young adults.