The first stage of the first-ever competition “Give Vilnius a Vision” has ended, in which more than 50 Vilnius city students presented their ideas on what the capital could look like in 10, 20 or even 50 years.
Students from grades 9–12 and grades 1–4 of gymnasiums from 34 Vilnius schools and gymnasiums participated in the competition. Students from Vilnius Lyceum (as many as 8 visions), Žirmūnai, Mykolas Biržiška and Fabijoniškės gymnasiums were particularly actively involved in the competition.
The 25 best visions have been selected for the second stage of the competition, from which the competition committee will select the main winners. The students’ works will be evaluated by an authoritative committee consisting of Robertas Dargis, Chairman of the Board of EIKA Group, Valdas Benkunskas, Mayor of Vilnius City, Tadas Burgaila, Founder of Kilo Health, Laura Masiliauskaitė, Head of the Education #1 initiative, Unė Kaunaitė, Head of EDU Vilnius, Tomas Balžekas, General Director of 15min, and Rūta Filončikienė, Teacher of the VGTU Engineering Lyceum.
An online vote will also be announced in the near future, where the public will be able to support the student visions they like the most.
“Vilnius is changing rapidly, but the future of the city depends on the people who will live in it tomorrow. Therefore, I greatly appreciate the initiative of young people to share their visions – they often help to see solutions that can become reality,” says Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas.
For the competition, students – individually, in classes or groups of students – submitted video recordings and text visions “Vilnius 2050: our vision, our city”, in which they creatively told stories about the capital of the future. Young Vilnius residents proposed ideas on how to transform Vilnius into a greener, more convenient city to move around, a city pulsating with creativity and an active city of youth, with less congestion, more public spaces and innovative solutions.
“Young people’s ideas are often bolder and freer from stereotypes. Therefore, it is important for us to hear how they see the future of Vilnius – the city in which they themselves will live and create in a few decades,” says Robertas Dargis, Chairman of the Board of EIKA Group.
The competition prize fund amounts to 8,000 euros, established by EIKA Group:
- 1st place – 4000 euros,
- 2nd place – 3000 euros,
- 3rd place – 1000 euros.
Special prizes are also waiting for participants.
The competition is organized by EIKA Group, one of the largest real estate development and management groups in Lithuania, in partnership with Vilnius City Municipality. The initiative aims to encourage young people to take a more active interest in the future of the city and engage them in a discussion about what Vilnius should look like in the coming decades.