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The Australian Lithuanian Youth Association

G'Day Mates! It's The Xth World Lithuanian Youth Congress!

The Australian Lithuanian Youth Association is the sponsor of the 2000-2001 World Lithuanian Youth Congress and invites all Lithuanian heritage youth between the ages of 18 and 35 to travel forth to Australia this winter.

The Xth World Lithuanian Youth Congress (Pasaulio Lietuvių Jaunimo Kongresas or PLJK) is organized every three to four years by members of the World Lithuanian Youth Association (Pasaulio Lietuvių Jaunimo Sąjunga or PLJS). The year 2000 Congress is being organized by the Australian Lithuanian Youth Association (Australijos Lietuvių Jaunimo Sąjunga or ALJS) in conjunction with the PLJS. The formal part of the Congress is for all Lithuanians living outside of Lithuania between ages 18 and 35, whilst the Congress Tourist program is offered to all who want to attend.

There will be three parts to the Congress: the Conference (Studijų Dienos), the Camp (the Stovykla), and the Tourist Program (Turistinės Ekskursijos).

At the same time as the Congress is taking place, the Australian Lithuanian Community will be holding its Cultural and Sports Festival. The Cultural and Sports Festivals have programs that are all their own. Congress will blend in daytime formal discussions with as much of the Festival's nighttime program as possible.

The Conference – Studiju Dienos

22nd December 2000 to the 1st January 2001

The Studijų Dienos start on Friday, December 22nd, and finish after the New Year's Eve Ball on Monday, January 1st, 2001. The purpose of the Studijų Dienos is to hold a general meeting of the PLJS; provide discussion forums; and to listen to special presentations on a number of topics based on the Studijų Dienos themes.

The themes are based on the survival of Lithuanian communities abroad and the reform of PLJS and PLJK. Special emphasis will be placed on the conditions and problems of Lithuanians from Eastern Europe because their communities operate under the most adverse conditions and need our help. The Studijų Dienos is the most formal part of the Congress. It is the event where all future policy of PLJS is decided and the PLJS executive is elected.

You must register through your local Lithuanian Youth Association (Lietuvių Jaunimo Sąjunga or LJS) if you want to come to the Studijų Dienos, as the number of places for Atstovai (delegates) is limited by the PLJS constitution. To become an Atstovas, you must be elected by your country's LJS, and the term of your candidacy lasts from this Congress to the next. For further information about the duties and responsibilities of Atstovai, please contact your LJS or the PLJS. It is possible to attend the Studijų Dienos as an unelected observer, without any voting rights. All that are interested in participating are invited to come, whether as Atstovai or as observers. It is expected that Atstovai and observers will attend the camp after the Studijų Dienos.

The Studijų Dienos will be held at the beautiful Namaroo Conference Centre, just thirty minutes from the heart of Sydney. Sydney is the capital of the state of New South Wales and the largest city in Australia. Namaroo is situated on eight hectares of natural bushland and landscaped gardens adjoining the Lane Cove National Park. You can visit the native animal shelter, the visitors' centre, or take a swim in the pool.

Discussion Topics at Studiju Dienos

Topics to be discussed at the Studijų Dienos include:

  • A review of the activities of the Lietuvių Jaunimo Sąjungos around the world.
  • We hope to examine the different structures of the Associations abroad and form a global picture of Lithuanian life internationally.
  • Is there a need for future Congresses and the PLJS?
  • The problems of Lithuanian communities in Eastern European countries and what Lithuanian communities in the West can do to help them.
  • A discussion of the nexus between Lithuania and the Lithuanian diaspora.
  • The PLJS needs to determine a realistic cultural and political action plan in the light of Lithuania's independence.
  • The PLJS needs to understand its strengths and weaknesses as a global organization.
  • The PLJS should compare its survival strategies to other successful expatriate cultures such as the Jews and the Irish.
  • A discussion of the problems and needs of recent Lithuanian migrants, and how existing Lithuanian communities may help them. How can these migrants assist Lithuanian communities?
  • An examination of the role of the Lithuanian language in our communities, including a discussion of the benefits and importance of language in defining our national identity.
  • An analysis of possible Lithuanian community activities without the use of the Lithuanian language.
  • The election of the next executive board of the PLJS.

Here's a taste of what you'll be doing during Studijų Dienos evenings:

  • Congress Opening Ceremony.
  • Kūčios (Christmas Eve) to be celebrated in a traditional Lithuanian manner.
  • Christmas Day, after Mass, will be spent on the beautiful shores of Bondi beach.
  • The Sydney Harbour Boat cruise will delight you with spectacular views of the world's most famous harbour. Imagine cruising beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House with Lithuanians from around the world.
  • An International Concert will be held that will showcase the talents of the delegates.
  • To top off the week of events, greet the real new millennium at the biggest New Year's Eve Ball of the Century.

The Camp – Stovykla

2nd January 2001 to the 9th January 2001

Unlike the Studijų Dienos, the Stovykla is a more relaxed and informal affair; the emphasis is on hands-on activities and workshops rather than intellectual discussions. Expect an average temperature of above 30 degrees celsius (85° F) as you participate in various Lithuanian cultural activities and tours throughout the countryside.

The Stovykla is open to all youth between the ages of 18 to 35 years. There are no restrictions on who can be a Dalyvis (participant). It is possible for a Dalyvis to arrive before the camp, attend the Opening Ceremony, Kūčios, the flight tour (or observe the Studijų Dienos), the New Year's Ball and the Closing Ceremony.

The Stovykla will be held at the most prestigous agricultural College in the Southern Hemisphere — Melbourne University's Dookie College Institute of Land and Food Resources. Dookie College is located in the Goulburn Valley of Victoria, the heart of Victoria's fruit growing region, about 200km north of Melbourne.

Dookie has single bedrooms, a 25 metre outdoor pool, tennis courts, squash courts, a large football field (anyone for a spot of cricket?) and a mob of approximately 100 kangaroos that bound around freely throughout the grounds.

Some of the Stovykla activities include:

  • Tips, trips, and traps in the art of Lithuanian cuisine.
  • Lessons in basic Lithuanian.
  • Making traditional Lithuanian arts and crafts.
  • Sports activities.
  • Lessons in traditional Lithuanian folk singing and dancing.
  • Discussions on how to raise funds in your own community.
  • Lobbying techniques.

Some of the tourist activities include tours of the Goulburn Valley region including the local animal sanctuary where you can hand feed kangaroos and wallabies. Other tours will focus on the history of the Aborigines – Australia's indigenous peoples.

The Congress Committee and Where to Contact us

  • Petras Šurna – Chair
  • Vida Luimaitė – ALJS President
  • Linas Šeikys – Vice Chair
  • Melisa Savickaitė – Marketing/Public Relations
  • Gabrielė Staugaitė – Treasurer
  • Martynas Zdanius – Marketing
  • Casimir Zdanius – Secretary
  • Vytas Brazaitis – Webmaster
  • Šarunas Vaitkus – Jaužinios Editor
  • Tanya Cugura – Tourist Program Director
  • Lukas Zdanius – Critical Comments
  • Jonas Rukšėnas – Special Operations

Contact us at:

Xth World Lithuanian Youth Congress
13/16 Nicholson Street
Brunswick East 3057 Australia

-OR-

on the internet at www.rapidnet.net.au/~aljs for registration and more detailed information on the Congress.