One such organization is the Kaunas “Arka” Community, which for more than fifteen years has been creating spaces for people with intellectual disabilities to live independently and with dignity, while consistently bringing together partners from philanthropy and the business sector around its mission.
“At the Kazickas Family Foundation, we seek to create long-term impact in Lithuania by going beyond financial support. We aim to empower smaller organizations that deeply understand people’s needs because they work directly with people in need. Kaunas Arka Community is an excellent example of this. They work consistently and have the power to change their environment,” says Domantė Howes, Executive Director of the Kazickas Family Foundation’s Vilnius office.
According to Domante, KFF’s goal is to help such organizations grow, strengthen their activities, and attract more partners so that the impact they create can reach a wider segment of society.
A Community That Sees the Person
The story of the Kaunas “Arka” Community is told by its director, Rūta Lašaitė. According to her, Arka is a place where people with intellectual disabilities and long-term mental health conditions are welcomed with all their abilities and potential.
“Every member of our community is accepted exactly as they are. Here, everyone is a friend,” says Lašaitė.
Kaunas “Arka” was founded in 2010. As the director explains, the beginning was very simple, weekly meetings initiated by the community’s founder Gedas Malinauskas, who recognized the lack of community-based services for people with intellectual disabilities in Lithuania.
“Over fifteen years, those first meetings have grown into a day center, social workshops, and two community homes,” Lašaitė shares.
Today, 16 friends live in Arka’s community homes, another 16 develop daily living skills at the day center, and 13 learn and work in social workshops. Kaunas “Arka” is also part of the International Federation of L’Arche Communities, which brings together more than 160 communities across 38 countries worldwide.
Why This Work Matters to Society as a Whole
According to Lašaitė, most services for people with intellectual disabilities in Lithuania are still focused primarily on meeting basic needs.
“Without quality, independence-oriented support, adults with intellectual disabilities are unable to live independently or fully participate in society,” she says.
The Kaunas “Arka” Community strives for more, developing daily, social, and work-related skills that help people build self-confidence, become more independent, and create dignified lives within society. This work transforms not only the lives of community members but also society’s perception of disability.
However, one of the greatest challenges remains visibility and, with it, sustainable funding. “The less society sees, the harder it becomes to attract long-term supporters and partners,” Lašaitė emphasizes.
A Friendship Between Business and the Arka Community
One of the most notable examples of long-term collaboration is the partnership between the Kaunas “Arka” Community and Festo Lithuania, which has been ongoing for nearly a decade.
“It all started with our colleague Miglė, who was volunteering at the Kaunas Arka Community at the time and suggested that the company get involved. From the very first steps of financial support to beautiful events that have become traditions, this friendship continues to this day,” says Kristina Drumstienė, a representative of Festo Lithuania.
Festo is a family-owned business, making traditions and long-term relationships especially important to the company. Over the years, the partnership has grown into ongoing initiatives such as a Christmas charity auction, participation in Arka’s Open Courtyard Day, and employee volunteering.
“Our employees engage very warmly and actively. During the Christmas auction, handmade items, services, and works created by the Kaunas Arka Community are auctioned. Seeing how thoughtfully colleagues prepare and participate is the best feedback we could receive,” says Drumstienė.
According to her, this type of partnership creates value that cannot be measured in monetary terms. “Kaunas Arka is not just an organization. It is a strong sense of unity and genuine friendship. I sincerely encourage companies to become part of this community. The return is an invaluable inner experience.”
A Partnership That Creates Change
The stories initiated by the Kazickas Family Foundation about its grantees are not only an opportunity to hear individual narratives, but also an invitation to see how long-term social impact is created. The experience of the Kaunas “Arka” Community demonstrates that trust-based partnerships between communities, philanthropy, and business can form a sustainable foundation for change that truly transforms people’s lives.
Photos: Giedrius Matulaitis, KFF and Arka
Press release originally published on 15min.lt in Lithuanian language
