Who we are
Lithuanian College of Democracy (LDUK) is a scientific think tank and civil society network that brings together NGOs, researchers, educators, practitioners, and community-based professionals working in the fields of digital citizenship, digital inclusion, democratic education, children’s rights, youth empowerment, and social innovation.
Established in 1994, LDUK has long-standing experience in linking research, practice, and civil society action. The organisation unites 10 non-governmental organisations working with and for children and young people in Lithuania, including organisations supporting vulnerable groups, Roma children and youth, children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and young people at risk of social exclusion.
LDUK works to ensure that democratic, digital, and educational innovation is inclusive, rights-based, and grounded in the real needs of children, young people, educators, communities, and civil society organisations. Our strength lies in combining research-based expertise, access to target groups, practical field experience, and policy-oriented engagement.
LDUK expertise and contribution: LDUK brings a combination of scientific expertise, civil society networks, access to target groups, and practical implementation capacity. The organisation can contribute to Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, Erasmus+, CERV and other European consortia by providing:
- Expertise in digital inclusion, digital citizenship, democratic participation, civic education, media literacy, AI literacy, children’s rights, youth empowerment, and social innovation.
- Access to schools, teachers, youth organisations, NGOs, children’s rights organisations, local communities, and vulnerable youth groups in Lithuania.
- A national civil society network of 10 NGOs working with and for children and young people, including organisations supporting vulnerable groups, Roma children and youth, and children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Experience in designing, piloting, and evaluating educational, social, civic, and digital innovation programmes.
Practical knowledge of working with children and young people from rural areas, socially vulnerable backgrounds, Roma communities, and groups at risk of exclusion. - Capacity to organise national pilots, focus groups, co-creation workshops, stakeholder consultations, multiplier events, dissemination campaigns, and community engagement activities.
- Experience in policy dialogue, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and cross-sector cooperation with civil society, education, public sector, and community actors.
- Ability to translate research outcomes into practical tools, training materials, educational resources, policy recommendations, and practitioner-oriented guidelines.
Relevant expertise
Play for Children with Disabilities
LDUK was an official member of the COST Action “Play for Children with Disabilities – LUDI” from 2014 to 2018. The network focused on the right of children with disabilities to play and brought together researchers, practitioners, resource centres, users’ associations, and experts from psycho-pedagogical sciences, health and rehabilitation sciences, humanities, assistive technologies, robotics, and disability studies.
Through its participation in LUDI, LDUK contributed to European-level cooperation aimed at:
collecting and systematising knowledge, research, clinical initiatives, and practical expertise related to play for children with disabilities;
developing new knowledge on settings, tools, methodologies, adapted toys, accessible play environments, assistive technologies, and inclusive practices;
disseminating good practices emerging from cooperation between researchers, practitioners, and end-user organisations;
promoting the recognition of play as a central element of children’s development, learning, well-being, and participation.
This experience is particularly relevant for projects on inclusive education, assistive technologies, accessibility, children’s rights, social inclusion, and technology-supported support for children with disabilities.
Rural NEET youth, social exclusion, and vulnerable young people
LDUK participated in the COST Action Rural NEET Youth Network: Modelling the Risks Underlying Rural NEETs Social Exclusion. The network focused on young people who are not in education, employment, or training, with particular attention to rural areas and social exclusion.
LDUK members were approved by the Research Council of Lithuania to represent Lithuania in the Management Committee of this COST Action. The network aimed to develop a better understanding of risk and protective factors related to rural NEET social exclusion, strengthen research capacity in this field, establish an online rural NEET observatory, and support the use of knowledge by policy-makers and practitioners at local, regional, national, and European levels.
This experience strengthens LDUK’s capacity to contribute to projects focused on:
- rural youth and social exclusion;
- NEET prevention and reintegration;
- vulnerable young people and positive socialisation;
- youth policy and youth work;
- education-to-employment transitions;
- evidence-based social and educational interventions;
- stakeholder engagement with practitioners, municipalities, NGOs, and policy-makers.
Strategic European and international networks
Artificial intelligence, ethics, and child safety
LDUK is active in the field of AI literacy, AI ethics, and the social impact of emerging technologies, especially in relation to children, young people, schools, and vulnerable communities. We work on strengthening young people’s critical thinking, awareness of AI-related risks and opportunities, and responsible engagement with digital technologies.
LDUK is also involved in the iRaise Coalition: AI Safety for Children, a multi-actor global initiative focused on safeguarding and empowering children in the age of Artificial Intelligence. This strengthens LDUK’s contribution to projects dealing with AI governance, children’s rights, digital safety, child-centred AI, and responsible innovation.
Digital inclusion and digital education
LDUK has long-standing experience in initiatives aimed at reducing digital exclusion and strengthening digital competences among learners, educators, and vulnerable groups. The organisation is active in European digital education and digital skills networks and contributes to discussions on responsible, inclusive, and human-centred digital transformation.
LDUK is a member of the European Digital Education Hub, a European community bringing together stakeholders working on digital education policy, research, and implementation. Through this community, LDUK follows and contributes to European-level developments in digital education, digital skills, innovation, and the use of technology in learning.
Access to target groups
LDUK can provide access to a wide range of target groups in Lithuania, including:
- Schools and educational communities.
- Teachers, school leaders, social pedagogues, youth workers, and non-formal education providers.
- Children and young people aged 6–18.
- Vulnerable children and youth, including learners from rural areas, socially disadvantaged backgrounds, Roma children and young people, and groups at risk of exclusion.
- NGOs working with and for children and young people.
- Youth organisations and civil society organisations.
- Parents, families, and local community actors.
- Policy stakeholders, experts, and public institutions active in education, digital policy, children’s rights, youth work, and civic participation.
LDUK unites 10 NGOs working with and for children and young people, including organisations with direct experience in supporting vulnerable groups. This gives LDUK strong capacity to involve target groups in needs assessment, co-creation, piloting, validation, dissemination, and policy dialogue.
LDUK also has a rural branch that works directly with vulnerable children and young people through daily social-pedagogical activities, which enables the organisation to contribute to field-based piloting, community-based research, and impact validation.
Possible roles in projects
LDUK can take different roles in Horizon Europe and Digital Europe projects, depending on the consortium needs. Possible roles include:
Pilot partner in Lithuania
Implementing and testing project methodologies, tools, platforms, training programmes, or intervention models with Lithuanian schools, youth groups, NGOs, and community organisations.
Stakeholder engagement and co-creation partner
Organising consultations, focus groups, workshops, co-design labs, living lab activities, and participatory processes with teachers, young people, NGOs, and public stakeholders.
Education and training partner
Developing or adapting training materials, educational resources, curricula, toolkits, guidelines, and capacity-building programmes for teachers, youth workers, civil society organisations, and young people.
Dissemination and communication partner
Supporting national and European dissemination through events, social media, professional networks, stakeholder mailing lists, conferences, public debates, and policy-oriented communication.
Research and evaluation partner
Contributing to qualitative research, needs analysis, case studies, interviews, focus groups, impact assessment, and evidence-based recommendations.
Policy and exploitation partner
Supporting policy dialogue, preparation of recommendations, valorisation of project results, and transfer of project outcomes to educational, civic, and social policy contexts.
Contact person
Viktorija Neverskaitė
Lithuanian College of Democracy / Lietuvos demokratinio ugdymo kolegija
Vilnius, Lithuania
Email: info@lduk.lt