Citizenship Laboratory

Despite the programmes in place, the situation among young people is not improving, and according to a study by the Civil Society Institute, the Civic Empowerment Index for the 18-29 age group has fallen from 41.3 (2021) to 38.4 (2022). Political analyst D. Šlekys (Staggering statistics: conscripts hide from the Lithuanian Armed Forces in the face of threats | 15min.lt) notes that “even in the context of the war in Ukraine, the number of young people called up for service is not reaching the target. […] it is a question of the attitude of the whole state and society”. Klaipėda State College (KSC) provides quality higher education studies, trains in-demand specialists, implements projects, carries out applied research and dissemination of its results, and influences the region through social and cultural activities. According to the KVK reports (2022, 2023), the share of KVK students involved in volunteering activities is not high (7.1% in 2021; 10.9% in 2022; 14.94% in 2023). Most of the students involved in volunteering activities at the College gain their initial experience by participating in free blood donation campaigns, helping animal welfare organisations, volunteering in hospitals, museums, childcare institutions, etc. However, the number of students serving in the National Defence Volunteer Force or leaving for compulsory service is very low.

1. To provide students with essential knowledge, skills and civic will to strengthen Lithuania’s defence capabilities and societal resilience.

2. To provide students and young people with essential knowledge, skills and civic motivation in building Lithuania’s defence capability and resilience through engaging non-formal education methods.

Project Results:

1. Educational seminars for forty participants (first group of project participants): the importance and opportunities of student involvement in strengthening Lithuania’s defense capabilities and society’s resilience to threats; types, goals, and methods of civil resistance; awareness of societal threats and developing resilience to them; shaping civic will; civic-mindedness and patriotism in everyday life; personal preparedness for extreme situations.
2. Creative workshops for the experimental event “Civic Laboratory” (writing an extended scenario, creating tasks, tools, etc.).
3. Implementation of the experimental event “Civic Laboratory.” The event will take place three times, with at least 124 students participating each time – a total of at least 370 students (the second group of project participants).
4. Creative workshop for adjusting the scenario and tasks of the experimental event “Civic Laboratory” based on the survey results and editing the video content of the event

Added Value:

The implementation of the Citizenship Laboratory project will create an opportunity for students of KVK and project partners (both male and female) to understand the importance of every Lithuanian citizen’s involvement in strengthening Lithuania’s defense capabilities and society’s resilience to threats, provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills, and shape their civic will. Young people also spend a lot of time in the digital space and often attach greater importance and certainty to events taking place there than to those taking place in the real world. It is therefore necessary to inform young people how to recognize anti-state behavior in their environment and in the digital space, how to behave in situations that are unfavorable to the state, in dangerous situations, in extreme situations, etc.