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“When I lost my mother, Dad gave me and my brother to the SOS Children’s Village. Probably, at the time, he thought that he would not be able to take care of us alone. The connection with my father was not broken: we spent time together all weekends, so after a year in a nursing home, my brother and I were returned to my father.
Still, the home she once loved was no longer what it was when we had a mother. Increasingly, Dad started consuming alcohol and eventually he could no longer control it. Although my father got up a little later and stopped drinking, the problems did not end, “says Patricija.
PHOTO GALLERY. Patricija Aurylaitė
As a teenager, he met a model previously known in Lithuania, and now with modeling agent Meda Jonaityte, with whom he was no longer afraid to open up and tell her what was happening inside the walls of the house. During the warm conversations, Patricia revealed not only about neglected life, but also about the psychological violence she experienced. The girl is now grateful to Medai for not remaining indifferent and invited to seek solutions.
“Meda contacted the child rights service and told me about my situation. Speaking to the staff, I said that I no longer want to live with my dad, but that I also do not want to live anywhere other than the SOS Children’s Village. I am glad that you have heard my wish and at 14 I started living in the village of SOS mothers and aunts of SOS children again. ”
The youth home is an independent school of life
After spending SOS children in the village for a few years at the age of 16, Patricia moved into the Youth Home. Participants in youth home programs are youth who have reached the age of 18 or who have decided to start living independently. Those who, like Patricia, grew up in SOS children’s villages at the age of 16 can move to Youth Homes, where they are preparing for an independent life, gradually gaining more and more freedom for this, demanding more and more responsibility for it. .
They help them get an education and establish themselves in the job market. Patricia also talks about the fact that the Casa de la Juventud is a great place to prepare for independent living.
“The youth home is a transitional stage where, even if you are equipped with everything, you learn to be independent and begin to prepare for the life that will be waiting for you when you leave. They teach you not only how to take responsibility for yourself and your actions, take care of yourself and your home, but also buy food yourself, do housework, learn to manage finances.
Also, there is always a social worker nearby who can help plan your free time or finances, organize the necessary documents. He is the person with whom I am not afraid to speak on any subject. I would call it safe independent learning. The activities and rules of the youth home are thought out by the young people themselves, so everyone takes responsibility for themselves. ”
The girl is open: the easiest way to move to a new place was to find a common language with the Youth House staff, and the biggest challenge was getting along with the residents of this house, her peers. Patricia says with a smile that while living in the SOS Children’s Village, she learned to live in perfect order, so she was surprised by the young people who were not very friendly with the order.
“Disagreements with peers were caused by common order, or perhaps more by their absence. At the SOS Children’s Village, it was established that you should always take care of yourself, and the Youth House was encouraged to want to take care of itself. Because of that this house was home to gathered young people from different backgrounds, there was a lot of friction. It is not surprising that when twelve personalities preparing for an independent life live under one roof, everything happens. “
A social worker is more than an employee.
Patricia is happy that while living at the Youth House, she was able to trust the staff around her. She only responds with warm words about her social worker Asta and the head of the Gražvydas Youth House.
“They trusted me and allowed me to be who I am, allowed me to unlock my full potential. We got on well with our social worker Asta from the first days, we understood each other very well, I loved her and respected her a lot, until now.
Asta was the first adult I could finally fully trust, open up to, and after a long time felt sincere care and love. I remember that I was always going to talk to her when I came home from school. We talk about all kinds of things until night. Furthermore, Asta was also the person who knew me very well, so her advice was always accurate.
I also had many conversations with the director of Youth House Gražvydas, it’s fun that I managed to create a warm connection. Social workers have helped me get to know myself and, most importantly, to love myself. ”
Discovering your career path was not very easy
Patricia always studied well. According to her, she followed him, even with little effort. After all, she was more motivated by the desire to be the best. Based on that, the girl entered one of the best gyms in Vilnius and is now studying at ISM University.
“When I lived in the SOS Children’s Village, I had a tutor Julia from the project” Not to drink, but to give “- she helped me in science. Driven by this, I went to the National Student Academy, which brings together more Lithuanian students talented, who also delve into some field, solve tasks and attend conferences.
I chose to study in the Physics and Nanotechnology section because at that time I was doing well in physics and I was planning to enter air traffic control, and I took a physics exam to enter. I met many bright, friendly, and intelligent students at the academy, and I wanted to be like them. That place was like another world to me, where I wanted to live. “
Many options in Patricia’s life were determined by the environment she had created: friends, friends from the academy, social workers. From each person she liked, she tried to accumulate as many positive experiences as possible for her. The girl says she didn’t even consider it and that she already knew she would definitely study after graduation.
“The university has always been in my plans. At first, as I mentioned, I wanted to study air traffic control, but in eleventh grade, I began to question my choice. It was like a huge success in school, so I was able to get into almost anywhere, but I had no idea where. Youth Home staff offered to attend career counseling.
It took me a long time to work on myself until I realized what I wanted. This is how I chose to study international business and communication at ISM University, as these studies seemed broad enough to me and covered many areas. I am very happy with this choice, because ISM not only has a modern atmosphere, but also professional teachers, quality conferences and a wonderful community. ”
“I am grateful to the Youth Home staff for getting to know myself”
The girl says that she is incredibly happy to have met so many amazing people in her life. Among them are the social workers of the SOS Children’s Villages Youth Home.
“I am very grateful to the youth home staff for allowing me to get to know myself. They encouraged every day not to be afraid to reveal themselves, to believe in themselves and to love themselves. They have always supported me and helped me find a way to feel happy, “says Patricia.
– My social worker Asta is still the person I trust and I know I can call her at any time. Also, I’m still in contact with the head of the Youth Home. These people were not just employees for me. I know that I truly care about them as we continue to communicate and nurture the connection that has been established. That is what I will get out of the Youth House. “
SOS Children’s Villages is the largest family in Lithuania, helping 1,000 children have the opportunity to enjoy their childhood. It is the only foundation that can provide a wide range of assistance to children in need by providing 7 different services: permanent care, short-term care, youth homes, care centers, work with families at risk, day centers and advocacy. The mission of SOS Children’s Villages is to make every child grow up in a safe family.
They are concerned not only with dressing and feeding the child, but also with ensuring a safe and happy life. Having raised two generations of young people, up to 350 young people have been sent to an independent life.
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