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LGPS Lietuvos Gyventoju |
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Basanaviciaus 20-11
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LITHUANIAN CITIZENS ADVICE
UNION The LGPS is a non-governmental, voluntary, nonprofit organization which provides the Lithuanian people with information about their rights, obligations and opportunities. There are such organizations in most European countries. They have won people´s thrust and popularity. The LGPS has been set up on the basis of the experience of the British Citizens Advice Bureaux. These have been functioning for 60 years. The British Know How Fund is carrying out a two year project to support it, and is providing financial help to establish the LGPS and start its work. In 1999 the Lithuanian Government and other countries are also providing financial support. Experts from Britain are helping to create the information base, to prepare training programmes, and to train leaders, advisers and volunteers. The Central office of the Lithuanian Citizens advice Union has been operating in Vilnius since 24 September, 1998. There are steering groups in 22 towns in Lithuania. Plans are for 15 advice bureaux by the end of 2000, and for such bureaux to be opened in every region and town as soon as possible thereafter. Paid and volunteer workers in LGPS bureaux will offer free advice to everyone who needs help irrespective of a person´s age, social status, or political and religious views. Independence, impartiality and confidentiality will be the main principles of LGPS work. This means that : * Advice bureaux operate independently from state institutions - because some people coming for advice will later have to deal with state institutions or courts. * Advice bureaux work for the benefit of the enquirers who come to them for advice. They seek to win people´s confidence by giving them sound advice. * Advisors help people to find out where to go for solutions to their problems. They help people not just with one question about one subject, but will provide answers to many and complicated questions so that people do not have to go round various institutions to find solutions. * The service is accessible to everyone - it is free of charge. * Advice bureaux do not reveal or pass on any information about an enquirer without that person´s permission. THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE LGPS * To inform people about possibilities of receiving help from state institutions and non-governmental organizations providing social services and financial support. * To advise people about solving their problems (housing, family matters, employment, taxes, loans, health care, insurance, indemnity for losses, etc.) * To explain to people their rights to obtain information, and to free state institutions from solving small personal problems. * To draw general conclusions from people´s suggestions and needs and to advise state institutions on eliminating present faults and deficiencies. * To advice the Government and municipalities on social policies and to influence legislation and administrative regulations following legislation. * To expand the network of LGPS bureaux, to improve methods of training volunteers, to participate in various national and international programmes, to prepare publications giving information, to ensure that LGPS bureaoux provide a good, accessible service of high quality. THE LGPS INFORMATION SYSTEM The LGPS information system is based on Lithuanian national law. It will include many important information blocks . social security (pensions, benefits, compensations, loans, advice on taxes and contributions, etc.); public health; employment; housing; human rights; legal help; education; business; customs; family; leisure; etc. LGPS volunteers will be trained to use this system. |