THE FIRST BRITISH LITHUANIAN CHARITABLE GALLA DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION
In support of the disadvantaged children in rural areas of Lithuania An unforgettable occassion to enjoy exerpts from the critically acclaimed Lithuanian production of Giacomo Puccini‘s La Bohème in the company of: Director Dalia Ibelhauptaitė Performers Edgaras Montvidas, Joana Gedmintaitė, Dainius Stumbras, Asmik Grigorian, Laimonas Pautienius, Egidijus Dauskurdis and Costume designer Juozas Statkevičius
“Ibelhauptaite's directorial touch is astonishingly confident... She strikes to the heart of the drama”- Hugh Canning on Dalia Ibelhauptaite, The Sunday Times
„A completely new page in Lithuanian opera history. I already envy the viewers, who will be experiencing it for the first time.“ – Lietuvos žinios
„The cast – the young and charismatic generation of Lithuanian opera – brings an exceptional charm and appeal to the production... A feast for the eyes, a fantastic musical perfomance and an enviable chemistry between the performers “ – Lietuvos Rytas
„The costumes by Statkevičius are smashing – public gasps when Musette enters the stage“ - Lietuvos žinios
THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2007
LONDON
For more information please call 0207 034 1209
BENEFICIARIES OF THE FIRST BRITISH LITHUANIAN CHARITY GALA DINNER
HOLIDAYS FOR 195 DEPRIVED CHILDREN FROM THE COUNTY OF TAURAGĖ
„Childhood holidays“ – for many of us this brings back nostalgic memories. Trips to the seaside, camping, outings to famous places, new friends and discoveries, and that sad feeling on the last day... and returning to school – not only having gained an inch in height and but also in maturity – having experienced the joy of discovery, adventures, impressions, uncommon minor miracles, which are not only long rembered but inevitably form one‘s character. So summer holidays mark not just the rythm of a child‘s life but is also a magical, unrepeatable time, sometimes even determining the direction which a young person will take in the future.
Unfortunately, however, summer holidays are an unatainable luxury for a fair number of Lithuanian children. Sad to say, many families relying on social support not only cannot afford to give their children a holiday but have to struggle for a living during the summer – for example this is the time when children do not get free school meals. So for these families summer holidays, rather than being a time of carefree joy and discovery, are a struggle to make ends meet, to just survive in general.
According to the Lithuanian Department of Statistics a large part of the 18% of the population who live below the poverty line is comprised of lone parents bringing up children themselves (45.6%), and families with more than three children (39.3%). In other words, poverty and deprivation are experienced in the main by Lithuanian children. Looking at it geographically the greatest number of deprived large families live in Tauragė County: districts of Šilalė, Jurbarkas, Pagėgiai and Tauragė.
The purpose of the first British Lithuanian charity dinner is, with the money raised during the evening, to organise 10-day summer camps with sports and cultural progammes for the County‘s deprived children. This may appear to be modest. However, by combining efforts and finances with those of the Lithuanian Ministry for Education and Science, the Leader‘s Office of Tauragė County, and voluntary organisations (our partners include scout troops, „Save the Children“, „Prasmė“ society of parents of children with hearing difficulties), the money collected at the dinner will provide holidays for 60 children from Šilalė, 15 from Jurbarkas, 40 from Pagėgiai and 80 from Tauragė districts. So, if we succeed in collecting the amount planned, as many as 195 children will be enabled to enjoy a real summer holiday this year, for the first time ever for many of them.
