Lithuanian Preparation Activities – Ukmergė Youth Team

As part of the ECAPT preparation activities, the Lithuanian team from Ukmergė carried out an in-depth local exploration of discrimination as experienced by young people in their everyday lives. Through research, reflection, and creative expression, the participants aimed to move beyond theory and give visibility to realities that are often ignored or normalized.

The preparation process began with a local survey involving young people and youth workers, allowing for a 360-degree perspective on discrimination in schools, public spaces, workplaces, and interactions with adults. The findings were clear and powerful: discrimination is present, and it takes multiple forms—some visible, others deeply embedded in systems and social behaviors

Building on the research results, the team identified three main forms of discrimination affecting young people in Ukmergė:

  • Invisible discrimination, where exclusion happens quietly and without acknowledgment,

  • Systemic discrimination, rooted in institutional rules that fail to recognize individual needs,

  • Horizontal discrimination, expressed through peer-to-peer behaviors such as labeling, "jokes," and social exclusion.

Beyond analysis, the Lithuanian team chose art as a tool for resistance and empowerment. Through posters, visual storytelling, and creative methods such as street art, forum theatre, digital content, and identity collages, they transformed research findings into messages that are emotional, accessible, and impossible to ignore. Their work highlights a key message of ECAPT: young people are not passive victims of discrimination, but active voices capable of naming problems and proposing change. 

Research & Visual Outputs

📌 Note: The full research findings, as well as all posters and visual materials created by the Lithuanian team (including works on invisible, systemic, and horizontal discrimination, and art-based actions), are available on this page and presented below as part of the Lithuanian preparation activities documentation.

1. Introduction: Survey in Ukmergė

As part of our local preparation, we conducted a survey in Ukmergė, Lithuania, to assess the real experiences of young people regarding equality and inclusion.

  • The Participants: The study involved local youth and youth workers to get a 360-degree view of the situation.
  • The Reality: The conclusion was clear—Yes! Young people in Ukmergė do experience discrimination.
  • The Locations: Discrimination occurs in schools, classrooms, public spaces, workplaces, and even during travel.

2. Identifying the Problem: Three Main Forms

Through our research and analysis, we identified three primary ways discrimination manifests in our community:

  • Invisible Discrimination: Subtle and overlooked isolation where a young person remains unnoticed or unsupported.
  • Systemic Discrimination: Institutional rules that fail to account for individual needs, such as a lack of tools for people with dyslexia or physical disabilities.
  • Horizontal Discrimination: Peer-to-peer exclusion based on appearance, lifestyle, or subcultures.

3. Horizontal Discrimination: Peers and Their "Jokes"

This section focuses on how we, as young people, sometimes create barriers for each other.

  • From "Innocent Joke" to the Edge: Calling someone "poor" or "weird" isn't just humor; it is a process where informal leaders push others into the margins.
  • Building Walls: When we label others, we build walls that will eventually prevent us from communicating freely.
  • Future Leadership: How we communicate today is how we will govern tomorrow. If we discriminate now, we will continue to do so as future leaders.

4. Power Games: Discrimination by Adults

We also analyzed how the "adult" world and its systems can disempower the younger generation.

  • Invisible Power Games: Decisions are often made for us in areas where we are already capable of choosing, leading to a feeling of being "nugalinimas" (disempowered).
  • Systemic Gaps: The labor market often demands experience that the system itself doesn't allow us to gain.
  • The Value of Non-formal Education: Skills gained in youth centers are often undervalued compared to formal education, creating a "battle of sectors".

5. Taking Action: Art is Your Voice

We believe that creativity is the best tool to fight these barriers.

  • Street Art: Using temporary installations to highlight "invisible" issues in public spaces.
  • Forum Theater: Acting out real-life discrimination scenarios to teach the audience how to intervene.
  • Digital Art: Creating TikToks and podcasts that deconstruct harmful stereotypes.
  • Identity Collages: Showing that our "weirdness" is a strength, not a weakness.