Vilnius

WE visit to Lithuania 8 – 10 June 2011 a success! 

The goals of WE visit to Vilnius were:

• WE expansion to Baltic countries and Belarus through Lithuania. Getting to know Lithuanian partners and environment better.
• Transfer of European Know-how about integration of people with disabilities into labour market. Initiatives of increasing employment of people with disabilities.
• Preparation for a possible 2013 annual WE meeting in Vilnius. 

WE has two members in Lithuania: The Valakupiai Rehabilitation Centre and The Union of Disabled Social Enterprises“ (NSIS/UDSE) 

One important session was the meeting in the Valakupiai rehabilitation center  with representatives of disabled associations, representatives of rehabilitation institutions and the board of UDSE. Topics were the Rehabilitation system in Lithuania, issues and good practices - as the role of Social Enterprises - in Europe, the UN Declaration on the Rights of People with a disability and the European Union Disability Strategy 2020.                       

After this seminar was a meeting with Audra Mikalauskaite , Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania. 

On Friday the 10th of June 2011 there were meetings in the Parliament, with the chairperson Irena Degutiene, with the chairman of Social matters and labour committee Rimantas Jonas Dagys and with Mantas Varaska, member of the parliament. 

WE will go further on the path of exchange of best practices for integration, for Social Companies and to stimulate  the membership in the Baltic countries and around.

WE is very gratefull for all the activities, organized by NSIS/UDSE, and the intentions to develop joint activities in the years ahead.