On 18th of September, the Lithuanian charity foundation “Vilties liepsna” (“Flame of Hope”) celebrates its 14th anniversary.
For fourteen years, the Foundation has been helping children and families across Lithuania – from children living with serious illnesses to those growing up in foster care or families facing financial difficulties.
Behind these fourteen years are hundreds of individual stories, long-term projects, partnerships with companies and sponsors, and one simple idea that has remained unchanged from the beginning: to be there when help is needed.
“Vilties liepsna” was established in Lithuania in 2012. It began with a simple and very personal wish – to help one child.
That first experience soon brought us to the Children’s Hospital at Santaros Klinikos in Vilnius. There, we met families, whose children were seriously ill, facing months of medical tests, treatments and operations.
One story led to another. More families needed help, while more people and companies were willing to contribute. What began as help for one child gradually grew into “Vilties liepsna”.
Today, the Foundation works with children and families across Lithuania. It supports seriously ill children, children in foster care and children growing up in families facing financial or social difficulties.
The help depends on what each child or family needs. The Foundation contributes towards the costs of treatment, rehabilitation, medical equipment, physiotherapy and other therapies. It provides prescription glasses, supports after-school activities and summer camps, helps children prepare for the new school year and makes Christmas wishes come true.
Some families need help once, others stay with the Foundation for years. A child may need treatment today and rehabilitation several months later, another may need glasses for school, while for someone else swimming, gymnastics or another regular activity can improve their health, confidence and everyday life.
This is why the Foundation’s work has never been about one type of support. It is about looking at each situation individually and finding the help that is needed at that particular moment.
At the heart of “Vilties liepsna” from the very beginning has been its founder, Irina Mėdžienė.
The Foundation grew from the founder’s decision to help one child and her belief that support should always remain personal.
Over the past fourteen years, Irina Mėdžienė has worked closely with families, social workers and specialists, while bringing together companies, donators and people willing to help.
What started with one child gradually became a foundation working across Lithuania. But as the Foundation grew, the founder made sure that its approach did not change.
Behind every request is a particular child and a particular family. For the founder, the principle has always been simple: listen, understand what is really needed and find a way to help.
That personal approach continues to shape the work of “Vilties liepsna” today, and this is why the Foundation’s work has gradually developed into a number of long-term programs designed around the different needs of children and their families.
Projects and initiatives
“Glasses for Children”
A pair of glasses may seem like a small thing, but for a child it can change everyday life completely.
Since 2017 “Glasses for Children” project has provided prescription glasses to children from families facing financial difficulties.
Working with social workers and optical specialists across Lithuania, the Foundation makes sure that children receive the glasses they need.
Over these years, more than 1,000 children received new glasses through the project.
Sometimes making a real difference begins with meeting a very simple need.
“Children’s After-School Activities”
Children need opportunities to discover what they enjoy, develop their abilities, spend time with other children and simply do something they love.
Through “Children’s After-School Activities”, the Foundation helps children in foster care and families facing financial difficulties take part in sports, dance, music and other activities that might otherwise be out of reach.
The project also supports gymnastics for children with Down syndrome, as well as physiotherapy and other therapies for children with serious health conditions.
These activities are about much more than filling the hours after school. They help children become stronger and more confident, make friends and discover what they enjoy and are good at.
“Breath of Hope”
The project supports children living with serious illnesses and complex medical conditions.
The Foundation provides financial support for medical and daily care equipment, treatment, rehabilitation, physiotherapy and other therapies.
The question we ask is simple: What would make this child’s life better right now?
“The Great Talent – The Little Talent”
One of the Foundation’s newest projects, “The Great Talent – The Little Talent”, brings together children from socially vulnerable backgrounds and young artists who become their mentors.
Through creative workshops, visits to museums and exhibitions, and time spent together, children are encouraged to explore their creativity, discover their talents and build confidence.
The project is still young, but we hope to see it grow and give more children the opportunity to discover what they can do – with someone beside them who believes in them.
“Backpack Full of Knowledge”
Every child deserves to start the school year thinking about new classmates, teachers and experiences – not worrying about whether there is enough money for a backpack or notebooks.
Every year, before the new school year begins, “Vilties liepsna” invites companies and their employees to collect school supplies for children, who need them.
Backpacks, notebooks, pens and other essentials are delivered to children through social care centres across Lithuania.
Around 500 children receive school supplies through the campaign each year, helping them start the school year with everything they need.
When a cake becomes a Christmas dinner
Autumn also marks the beginning of preparations for Christmas.
On 6 November, the traditional Cake Day in Lithuania, companies and their employees bake cakes, share them with colleagues, enjoy time together with a cup of tea and donate the money for the Foundation’s Christmas campaign.
All the the donations are used to prepare Christmas food packages for elderly people living alone and large families experiencing financial difficulties.
Whenever possible, the Foundation team delivers the packages personally. The visit is not only about bringing food for the Christmas table. It is also a chance to sit down, talk and spend some time together.
Making children’s Christmas wishes come true
Another long-standing tradition is the Foundation’s Children’s Christmas Wishes initiative.
Children draw or write down what they would like for Christmas, and companies and their employees choose a wish to make it come true.
For a child, it is not only about receiving a present. It is also about knowing that someone thought of them and wanted to make their Christmas special.
And for the people who take part, meeting the child often makes the experience just as meaningful.
Looking ahead
After fourteen years, “Vilties liepsna” is approaching an important turning point.
The Foundation has grown significantly since 2012. Its projects now reach children and families all over Lithuania, a growing number of companies and sponsors are involved, and the range of support has become much broader than it was in the early years.
Now it is time for the Foundation to grow further. In the coming months, “Vilties liepsna” will introduce a new brand identity that better reflects, who the Foundation is today and where it is heading.
But this is not simply a change of name or visual identity. The Foundation is preparing to broaden its activities and expanding beyond Lithuania, developing new partnerships and bringing its work to children and families in other countries.
The next chapter will take “Vilties liepsna” further, but the reason it exists will remain the same – to be there when help is needed.