The Open Lithuania Foundations was the first non-governmental organization after the declaration of Lithuanian independence. On the 17th of December 1990, the first Government of the Republic of Lithuania approved the statutes of the Open Lithuania Foundations and its mission. The mission of the Foundation is to contribute to the open, democratic civil society. The Foundation operated until 2008.
In 2017, the activity of the Foundation was restored. It contributes to civil society, education, science, culture, law, free expression and independent media. It also aims to strengthen the protection of fundamental human rights in Lithuania and Europe, to reduce all forms of discrimination and to promote tolerance in society, to strengthen communities and NGOs and to contribute to their empowerment.
The Open Lithuania Foundation, 1990 – 2008
Restoration of the OLF, 2017
“Our main goal was to open Lithuania to Europe and Europe to Lithuania, to develop and consistently strengthen democracy in Lithuania. After all, historically we did not have a very deep tradition of democracy to build on. One of our most important tasks was to build a civil society that would encourage the Lithuanian people to be active and to be able to solve their own problems.” Prof. Irena Veisaitė, Founder of the Open Society Foundation
“The Foundation’s re-launch was prompted by the deteriorating social climate. Social exclusion, inequality and the emigration were on the rise, with a clear lack of social justice. We also saw what was happening beyond Lithuania’s borders in neighbour countries. We have seen how their societies are not resilient. We wanted to continue our preventive work, keep talking about the idea of the Europe, and invite people to rethink it.” Milda Ališauskienė, Chair of the Board of the Open Society Foundations, 2017