When visiting the multifunctional services, day and social services centers of Plungė city and the surrounding area, the partners of the LLI-425 project “OCTOPUS” from Latvia and Lithuania got acquainted with the social services implemented in Plungė, gained new impressions and ideas, and shared their experience.

An experience exchange event was opened in the picturesque Plungė manor, which was the home of the Oginsk family. Here, the head of Plungė municipality Audrius Klišonis were greeted project partners and emphasized that projects that promote social welfare are necessary, because the attitude towards the weaker and more vulnerable is a measure of the degree of humanity.

Simona Derkinte, a specialist in the development department and the coordinator of the OCTOPUS project, presented the city and the district in more detail, looking at the history as well as the present – population statistics, employment, production, agriculture, tourism opportunities and other aspects.

Next, the participants of the event visited the Community Center, which received the support of the project “OCTOPUS”. Alma Buivydienė, the head of the community center, shared her experience about the organization of the centre’s work, the activities of the target groups – seniors and people with disabilities, and the number of visitors. The presentation was complemented by performances by two senior music ensembles.

The next day, the project partners went to the Plungė Municipal Social Services Center, which was set up in the former school and boarding school. There are more than a hundred staff in about six departments, providing access to a range of services for the population, such as home care (including integrated home care), day care center for adults with mental disabilities, crisis center, family support center , a childcare group, an assistant service, and a day center for children with disabilities will soon open.

The partners visited the day center for adults with mental disorders, where various classes take place – pottery workshops, painting, music therapy, sewing, embroidery and weaving lessons, as well as a physiotherapist and a doctor’s assistant are available.

At the end of the day, a day center for children from social risk families is visited, where they find a home after school – receive a warm meal, are cared for and supported.

The last visit took place in the multifunctional center, where various classes are held for children and young people as well as seniors. On the day of the project visit, the youngest visitors of the multifunctional center were trained to work with the drone. At the end of the exchange, the project partners were able to get to know the cuisine, habits and family traditions of Samogitia in a special program.

According to the project manager Ieva Zeiferte, this was the fourth experience exchange event in the OCTOPUS project. Traditionally, the project partners come from Lithuanian municipalities bordering Zemgale, but Plungė borders Kurzeme. Measurhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn9O8h_zjfYing the long journey was worth it, as the range of social services in the city and district of Plungė is very rich, and there is something to learn from.