The National Museum of Lithuania (NML) is launching a new civic education project “Breathe in Lithuania: Stories of Citizenship”, aimed at students in grades 6–7 of the Visaginas and Vilnius districts. The initiative aims to reveal in a relevant and understandable way what citizenship means today: through the examples and prominent personalities of 20th century Lithuanian history, students will be offered a look at the formation of civil society and their role in it.

Will Bring Together Hundreds of Students

Taking into account the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Visaginas and Vilnius district, the NML project pays special attention to strengthening community, identity and intercultural dialogue. The project also aims to strengthen students’ critical thinking, resistance to disinformation and a conscious relationship with the state. It is planned that over 350 students from seven schools will participate in the activities.

The project will be implemented in two stages. First, schools will host engaging lessons and discussions with lecturers – Vilnius University sociologist and historian Tomašas Božerockis and historian and public figure Benas Lastauskas. They will be joined by NML educators, inviting students to learn about history through interactive activities.

In the second stage, students will visit the museum’s departments, where they will deepen their knowledge about citizenship through authentic exhibits and experiential education. At the end of the project, a visit to the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania is planned – here students will participate in a game activity designed to explore the concept of citizenship today.

NML Deputy Director General for Museum Activities Milda Gembickienė emphasizes that today the museum goes beyond the traditional limit of telling of the past and actively contributes to the creation of a conscious society.

“The museum’s mission is to strengthen the public’s self-awareness, especially that of the youth, through historical memory. Citizenship is not just about the past. It is the ability to think independently, make responsible decisions, respect other opinions, critically evaluate information and build a community. If a young person leaves the project with the feeling that they can be active, that their voice is also important, then we have achieved our goal,” says M. Gembickienė.

Historical Examples Become a Lesson About Citizenship Today

The project “Breathe in Lithuania” explores citizenship through specific historical examples: the activities of the Society for the Relief of War Victims, the first Lithuanian art exhibition, the Baltic Way and the flight of Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas. The aim is to show that citizenship can manifest itself in various ways – through courage, creativity, focus or concern for others.

According to Augustė Brijūnaitė, the coordinator of educational activities at NML, the project is focused on today’s youth and their experiences.

“This is a lively, inclusive project that helps young people understand what it means to be a citizen today. We speak in a language that is understandable to young people and, through real historical events, we show that citizenship is not just a buzzword. It is important that students recognize this in their environment and realize that even the participants in historical events did not consider themselves heroes – they simply acted based on the principles of citizenship for the common good,” she says.

The first activities of the project will start today in Visaginas – at “Žiburis” primary school and “Gerosios vilties” progymnasium. On April 30, the initiative will reach “Draugystės” progymnasium and “Verdenės” gymnasium, and in the fall the project will continue in Vilnius district schools.