Studies show that Lithuania continues to be one of the most homophobic and unfriendly countries towards LGBT persons in Europe. Hate speech against LGBT people is widespread and tolerated, hate crimes are not reported. These multiple issues related to the non equality of LGBT people in Lithuania, as well as openly homophobic law amendments proposed by the local politicians affect LGBT youth by fostering hostile social climate against LGBT people. It is obvious, that worrying lack of inclusion of LGBT people as well passivity and limited resources of the local human rights NGOs and activists is an issue needed to be addressed. Throughout the years of working with the local volunteers and experience implementing EVS projects LGL observed that volunteers working in the field of human rights are not only empowering local LGBT youth and community to live more openly and be much more active when it comes to standing up for their rights. With the help from LGL these activists gain knowledge, skills and know-hows needed for their further work in the area of human rights. An overall objective of this project is to combine our knowledge and experience with the fresh ideas of volunteers and to create initiatives in order to develop new tools for encouraging young people to be active and informed citizens of the EU. This project foresees to have two EVS volunteers who, in addition to regular office activities would be responsible for specific tasks. One volunteer in addition to regular office activities would be responsible for the community mobilizing (developing LGBT center activities) and assisting on the communication work of the LGL staff. Second volunteer would be working on LGBT visibility in Lithuania through art. He/she would be responsible for creating various LGBT related artistic material, having art related activities in LGBT center for community, designing merchandise and campaigns style for the organization, creating publications for printings, books, reports, posters and panels. The volunteer must be familiar with graphic design programs and softwares and have a good knowledge of vector graphics. Moreover, he/she should be familiar in making PDF versions of publications. Experience in photography and in shooting videos is not necessary but will be considered as a plus. Participants of this project - two young people from Italy and Slovakia, motivated and passionate about LGBT persons rights are willing to spend 10 months in Lithuania (starting June 2016), where at the LGL office they will carry out their voluntary service. Main activities of the volunteers will be: • Writing articles and newsletters for the websites of the organization: www.atviri.lt, www.lgl.lt. • Helping the Volunteer Coordinator with the international youth exchange project, management of the local volunteer network; • Organizing leisure and community building events for LGBT people and their allies, as well as workshops, seminars, trainings and conferences to raise awareness on the LGBT people situation in Lithuania, homophobia, hate crime, etc. • Helping with the local and international communication, organizing social and awareness raising campaigns • Helping in administration work of the ongoing projects (preparation of documents, updates on web page, reporting etc.) • Developing ideas for future projects and activities of LGL • Helping in correspondence, replying to requests from international partners • Collecting data for various documentation activities and surveys • Assisting in the activities related to Baltic Pride 2016 in Vilnius In addition to this activity list, both volunteers will be given an opportunity to organize their own special project in the framework of the general objective of the project. Throughout the project volunteers will be supported by the Volunteer Coordinator, a peer group (LGL's volunteer network), other staff members of LGL (Advocacy, Communication and Project coordinators, Chair of the Board and other board members), and a Mentor, who will also be monitoring their learning process and progress. Development of the volunteers will be evaluated periodically, using peer evaluation method, assessing various quantitative and qualitative indicators. As a result, volunteers will gain practical experience of working in a national LGBT advocacy organization which is very active on international level too. Participants will be able to decide for themselves if it is a type of work they are willing to choose as their career. Also, they will gain valuable skills, knowledge and know-hows to be used in their future human rights activism in their own countries. Finally, of course, their participation, ideas and work will benefit Lithuanian LGBT community and serve as an example to encourage local LGBT leaders to be as active.