DON@ Project: Fostering Reciprocal Help Among International Students
During the Orientation Days on January 26th, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) hosted the traditional “Sharing is Caring” event, where newcomer international students found many useful items for their everyday life and studies in Kaunas for the Spring semester.
Throughout December and January, a previous cohort of exchange students and graduates left new or gently used essential items for a new generation of students. The event featured kitchenware, electronics, books, sports equipment, hobby materials, stationery, cleaning tools, umbrellas, mirrors, hangers, etc.
This edition of the “Sharing is Caring” event successfully brought together over 50 new international full-time and exchange students, fostering a culture of sharing that enhanced their sense of community and helped them cut down on expenses. In the friendly atmosphere, students enjoyed socializing and refreshing drinks.
A real highlight of the event was a lottery. Every participant who registered for the event received a unique number, and winners were selected via a random number generator. Some students were fortunate to win items such as a lamp, kettle, playing cards, drying rack for clothes, water filter, and tripod.
The initiative is being implemented within DON@ – Donation Opportunities for Newcomers. The project’s key objective is to facilitate the integration and improvement of living conditions of students with fewer opportunities by promoting mutual support, inclusion, and sustainable development.
The project involves the creation of a digital platform for exchanging and donating items, organizing events, and disseminating guides that assist in implementing similar projects at other higher education institutions and their partners.
Read more about the DON@ project:
The “Sharing is caring” event in August 2023: video and article
A transnational meeting in Valencia, Spain – Platform for Items Exchange Will be Launched Within DON@ Project
A transnational meeting in Athens, Greece – The Culture of Sharing: “DON@ – Donation Opportunities for Newcomers”
A transnational meeting in Kaunas, Lithuania – Work in progress: “DON@ – Donation Opportunities for Newcomers”
What VMU students think about this initiative – New Project for Students: “DON@ – Donation Opportunities for Newcomers”
