"Ales, I'm very proud..." Lithuanian schoolchildren congratulated Bialiatski on his birthday
A meeting with local schoolchildren was held at the Simonas Daukantas Gymnasium in Vilnius on the birthday of Ales Bialiatski (September 25). It was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania with the support of Viasna human rights center. It is on the building of this gymnasium that a fresco depicting Ales Bialiatski has been previously painted.
- Fresco depicting Ales Bialiatski on the building of Simonas Daukantas Gymnasium in Vilnius
Ambassador-at-Large Asta Andrijauskienė talked about why it is important for Lithuanian schoolchilren to know about Ales Bialiatski and the situation in Belarus.
- Ambassador-at-Large Asta Andrijauskienė
"Lithuania is a country of freedom. We ourselves had a very difficult and difficult path to the restoration of independence, to the struggle for freedom. Therefore, I think we understand the situation in Belarus better than anyone. And I think we are also interested, no less than people in Belarus, in having a free, independent, and reliable neighboring country. This is our interest too. The children understand this well," the Ambassador noted.
Strategic Communications Attache Julius Mite drew the children's attention to the fact that Belarus is very close to Lithuania:
- Strategic Communications Attache Julius Mite
"The border is only 30 kilometers away, and there are teenagers in prison in Belarus for fighting for democracy, for human rights. Therefore, it is extremely important for us to help and support as much as possible," said Julius Mite.
In conclusion, the children took part in a quiz with questions about Viasna human rights center and Ales Bialiatski.
Also the children were asked to write a letter with wishes to Ales Bialiatski on one large sheet.
"Ales, there is your portrait on the wall of our school, and I am very proud of it," wrote one of the students of the gymnasium.
"The children said that it was very interesting to them, and I watched what they wrote and drew: a Snowman with a red scarf, and tomatoes with sour cream, so they heard what was said, and it was reflected in these pictures and wishes," Asta Andrijauskienė shared. "A lot of children wished him freedom. The fact that they feel solidarity with those people who are now in prisons in Belarus is very important."
