December 2025

Project Implementation

PROGRAMM participants

1. Active Employment Centre “Eik” (Public Institution Centre “Eik”)
2. Alytus Region Association of Persons with Disabilities
3.  Anykščiai Women Employment and Information Centre
4. Association Zarasai Community
5. Pačeriaukštė village community of Biržai district
6. European Life Science and Knowledge Institute
7. Kėdainiai District Women’s Crisis Centre
8.  Klaipėda County Society of Parents of Hearing Impaired Children and Youth “Aidas”
9. Centre for Combating Trafficking and Exploitation of Human Beings (KOPŽI)
10. Charity and Support Fund Island of Renewal
11. Kaunas section of the Lithuanian Association of the Deaf
12.  Lithuanian Tricycle Sports Association
13. Association of Persons with Disabilities Group I of Marijampolė
14. Ribologija
15. Tauragė Women’s Employment and Information Centre
16. Utena Women’s Centre
17. Actio Catholica Patria (A.C. Patria)
18. Gilės sodas
19. The House of Diversity and Education
20. Youth line
21. Kiaurai sienas (Through the Walls)
22. Namų mama (Mom at Home)
23. Stebėk teises (Watch Your Rights)
24. Unikalus šokis (Unique Danse)
25. Child line
26. Via Alba

No. Applicant Partner Project title
1. European Life Science and Knowledge Institute (ELSKI) Namų mama Stronger together: fathers’ contribution to child health and disability care
2. Center Against Human Trafficking and Exploitation (KOPŽI) Kaunas Branch of the Lithuanian Association of the Deaf I cannot hear, but I can recognise: prevention of sexual violence and ensuring safety for persons with hearing disabilities
3. VšĮ Diversity Education House Actio Catholica Patria CMO – Change Mode ON
4. Kaunas Branch of the Lithuanian Association of the Deaf Families of People with Hearing Disabilities Association “Aidas” Empowering persons with hearing disabilities to recognise and respond to gender-based violence
5. Anykščiai Women’s Employment and Information Centre Tauragė Women’s Employment and Information Centre “Age and gender: equality without exceptions”
6. Kiaurai sienas Center Against Human Trafficking and Exploitation (KOPŽI Centre) Invisible birds: development of sexual violence prevention and specialised assistance
7. Child Line Diversity Education House Help that reaches. Sensitive to children’s diversity, open to everyone
8. Zarasai Community Biržai Pačeriaukštė Rural Community Respect begins with me
9. Families of People with Hearing Disabilities Association “Aidas” Without labels
10. Kėdainiai District Women’s Crisis Centre Utena Women’s Centre Sexual violence: knowledge is action
11. Lithuanian Tricycle Sports Association European Life Science and Knowledge Institute (ELSKI) “Tricycling towards equality and inclusion”
12. Namų mama Kiaurai sienas Equal partnership in families raising young children
13. VšĮ Via Alba VšĮ Unikalus šokis White path: a step out of silence

Applicants Partners Project title
1. Lithuanian disability Forum
Šiauliai Viltis, a care association for people with intellectual disabilities  
Pakruojis “Viltis” Community for the Care of People with Intellectual Disabilities  
Knowledge that Protects: preparing women with intellectual disabilities to identify and act against gender-based violence 
2. NGO Mental Health Perspectives  NGO Blue Moon   

Community Initiative Centre  

 Together Against Silence: Strengthening NGOs and Supporting Women at the Intersection of Domestic Violence, Mental Health Difficulties, and Disability  

  
3. Lithuanian Association of Families with Deaf and Hearing Impaired Children PAGAVA   Association of Families with Hearing Loss Aidas

Šiauliai Club of the Hearing Impaired persons ‘Auditus’  

 Breaking the Silence Barrier: Gender Equality and Safety in the Community  of Families with  Deaf 
4. Lithuanian Gay League (LGL)   Association „Equally“  

Observe Rights  

 Visible and Heard: Responding to Gender-Based Violence Against LBT Women and Non-Binary Individuals
5. Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights   Association “Let’s Help Children”  

Youth Personal Development Center  

 Beyond talking – taking action: education and community voices against violence  

  
6. Lithuanian Association of the Deaf   Marijampolė Branch of the Lithuanian Association of the Deaf  

Alytus Branch of the Lithuanian Association of the Deaf  

 Promoting equality in the Deaf community  
7. Center for Emotional Support and Counseling   Raseiniai Soroptimists club   Emotional connection is our strength  

Raseiniai ‘Bočiai’ Community  

No Applicant Partners Project Title
1. New East  Another Daugavpils 

Damedia 

 The Border of Silence: Voices from Latgale against Violence 

  
2. Ascendum (ASC)  Youth Association “Breaking Borders” 

very NICE 

 Safe Space: Raising Youth and Society’s Awareness of Grooming and Gender Stereotypes as Risk Factors (working title)  
3. Fathers for Family Support Foundation   Latvian Association of Social Workers 

NEXT 

 Manhood Challenges in Latvia: From Stereotypes to Possibilities 
4. Mellene  TIME-NOW 

LOBS 

 Seeing with the Heart 
5. Child and Adolescent Resource Center Support Fund   Kuldiga active youth association “Explosion” 

Adventure Garage 

Safe Relationships for Young People: Knowledge, Support, and Participation in Reducing Violence 

No Applicant Partners Project Title
1. Non-profit organization Pärnu Women’s Support Center Women’s Nights Film Festival NGO

NGO Civic Courage

   A more informed community where victims of intimate partner violence dare to seek help
2. NGO Ukrainian Center Ukrainian Women’s Union in Estonia

NGO Ukrainians in Haapsalu

 Stronger Together
3. Eesti Transinimeste Ühing (ETÜ) NGO Behemoth’s Books TransCare: Supporting the mental health of trans people and increasing accessibility to crisis services in Estonia
4. Non-profit Association Precise Eye NGO Männivaik

Open Eyes, Open Heart: Prevention Work in Valga County
5. Institute of Baltic Studies International House Tartu Mapping of needs of migrant women living in Estonia, and empowering the women, and creating materials for organisatsions working with migrant women.
6. Zonta Pärnu club
Foundation for Psychosocial Crisis Assistance to Ukrainian War Refugees
Consciously free from violence

Complaints

PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING AND EXAMINING COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS

Please review the procedure for the submission and examination of complaints. Complaints shall be examined in accordance with the established rules. Complaints must be submitted by email to pranesejai@olf.lt within five (5) working days of the date of dispatch of the decision notification or the occurrence of the event being appealed.

FUNDED PROJECTS

Projects Funded During the Program Implementation

About the program GrassRoots

The Program GrassRoots aims to reduce gender-based violence in our society by mobilizing and empowering a wide range of non-governmental organizations to work on this issue. The Program will strengthen the overall capacity of the NGOs to integrate gender perspectives in their day-to-day activities, with a particular focus on the prevention of gender-based violence, and promote cooperation between regional NGOs in the design and implementation of joint projects to change gender stereotypes. The Program is implemented in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia in 2024-2027.

The Program GrassRoots is developed and implemented by the Open Lithuania Foundation, the Centre for Equality Advancement, the MARTA Centre in Latvia, and the Women’s Support and Information Centre in Estonia. The Program is funded by the European Union Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Program (CERV-2023-DAPHNE).

WHY IS GENDER VIOLENCE EVERYBODY’S CONCERN?

Gender-based violence is one of the broadly spread crimes that have a dramatic impact on the societies of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. In Lithuania reporting to police about incidents of domestic violence annually comprises about 15,1 % of all crimes. Femicide rates in Latvia increase every year and are the highest among all European states. In Estonia, nearly twice as many Estonian women (64%) than European women (35%) have fallen victim to physical violence at home.
While gender-based violence is pervasive throughout the EU, problems in the prevention and protection of domestic violence against women are very similar in all 3 Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The explanations for this are the common historical and political backgrounds. In the time of the Soviet occupation, gender-based violence was considered a domestic conflict and a private matter to be solved within a family.

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE PROGRAM?

The GrassRoots program is open to all NGOs working to promote fundamental principles of human dignity, equality, and non-discrimination, in addition to NGOs with experience in combating violence. The Program welcomes applications from organisations of all sizes and scopes, from local and regional NGOs to national NGOs.

The first call for proposals is specifically targeted at regional NGOs in Lithuania to strengthen their capacities. The capacity-building Program consists of two stages: training (Stage I) and application for project funding, implementation of a funded project (Stage II).

The second call for proposals aims to strengthen NGO advocacy efforts to stop and prevent gender-based violence in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. In 2025, national NGOs from all three Baltic States that have established partnerships with regional NGOs will be eligible to apply.

Open Calls

Open call for applications in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (call is closed)

Call for Documents for Non-Governmental Organizations

Call open until October 5

  • In Lithuania, the call is implemented by the “Grassroots” program partners – the Center for Equality Advancement.

Program documents and all information about the application process: https://gap.lt/veikiam/

  • In Latvia, the call is implemented by the “Grassroots” program partners – Marta Centrs

Program documents and all information about the application process: https://www.marta.lv/veicam

  • In Estonia, the call is implemented by the program partners – the Women’s Support and Information Center.

Program documents and all information about the application process: https://naistetugi.ee/projekt/grassroots/

For other open calls please consult the Lithuanian version: Veikiam – ALF

Project „GrassRoots” (no. 101140032) is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. 

The project is co-funded by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania: International Donor Funded Non-Governmental Organisations Project Co-financing Call for Proposals in 2024 and 2025 Call for Large Scale Proposals for Institutional Capacity Building of Non-Governmental Organisations.