On behalf of four LGBT organisations in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania we would like to invite you to participate in the Baltic Pride 2010 in Vilnius, Lithuania, from 7 – 8 May 2010.

The Baltic Pride 2010 is an unique opportunity for human rights defenders across Europe to get together and discuss common problems and challenges, share experiences and best practices on tackling discrimination and advancing equality and human rights for LGBT people, as well as celebrating achievements. The “Baltic Pride 2010” is dedicated to highlight the importance of equality of homosexual, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons.

In June 2009 Tolerant Youth Association began the realisation of the 'Fight for Yourself – for LGBT Rights' project funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Project is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, its duration is one year.

“Refugee integration using active methods of socialisation” is a joint project of the Office of the Ombudsman of Equal Opportunities and Tolerant Youth Association and is being carried out as part of the the European Refugee Fund’s five-year (2008-2013) and year-long (2008) programmes.

During the year of 2009 we were busy carrying out a project whose aim was to bend the society towards a more positive view on third country nationals' integration. The number of international migrants in Lithuania is expected to rise, yet the locals retain an adamantly negative view of foreigners living here. No institution coordinating their integration exists in Lithuania, thus with this project we endeavoured to contribute to preparing Lithuanians for living with and trusting people originating from countries outside the EU. Most of our activities during that year – we created an educational virtual space, travelled the country's towns, their schools and local events with debates, music, food and 'living library' events - were of informational character. They introduced local people with countries from which most immigrants come and their culture, as well as to the phenomenon of migration, its causes and circumstances. At the end of the year we published an educational publication “What should I do if my neighbour is a newcomer?”.

This was our first project developed and implemented with the aim of encouraging refugee integration into the Lithuanian society by introducing both to each other, and developing possibilities for individuals under international protection in Lithuania to maintain their social and cultural identities. Throughout the year we researched into the socio-cultural subtleties of the refugee community in the country, came up with suggestions of a more effective legal framework regarding integration, trained civil servants, organised public events and released a feature documentary about the issue.

Period of implementation - 2008.

To learn more, please visit http://www.tja.lt/savastarpsvetimu/ (Lithuanian language).

Creating equality, awareness and participation of minority youth in Europe by sharing experiences and creating practices

Type of activity: Community College, August 2007. Nine days at a folk high-school in the Copenhagen area, Denmark. Organised in cooperation by Tolerant Youth Association, Lithuania and ACC-Copenhagen (Association for Community Colleges).

Main theme: To create intercultural awareness of gender and sexuality in Europe – among participants and on an European level through concrete awareness projects.