Virgilijus Pajaujis
Education:
- Master of Laws (Vilnius University, Lithuania)
- Erasmus exchange (University of Social and Political Sciences of Pantheon, Greece)
Experience
- Transparency International, Amnesty International and Youth Initiative for Human Rights
Motivation
Since I was at school, my desire to go and test myself in foreign countries symbolised the beginning of wider opportunities. This ambition came to fruition during my studies, when I offered my expertise and enthusiasm to foreign non–governmental organisations (NGOs) in order to gain additional practical knowledge. Living in southern European countries, I reassessed the importance of community and social empathy in strengthening citizenship and tolerance. These are qualities that we still often lack in Lithuania.
Since returning to Lithuania, I have continued to stay involved in international projects. For some time, as a supporter of the LGBT community, I have been working on advocacy activities aimed at reducing discrimination based on sexual orientation. Later, I turned to research and to this day I am involved in a European project on the practice of detention. I feel a growing inner need to translate my scientific knowledge and experience into real work that can bring about positive change in our society.
“The ‘Create for Lithuania’ programme offers a broader range of opportunities that I used to associate exclusively with abroad at school. The team’s directional approach and the positive drive to develop and improve are the definite spark for this programme