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Maltesers

Maltesers (the Order of Malta Relief Organisation) represent the oldest charity in the world – the Sovereign Order of Malta that provides assistance for the poor in 120 countries. The Order of Malta Relief Organisation in Lithuania was established on October 10, 1991, by Juozas Tunaitis, Jonas Boruta, the priest Vaclovas Aliulis and other founders. All of them have shared one magnificent idea – to have a Catholic charity in Lithuania that would be managed according to the motto of the main Order and provide assistance for people of all races, nations, and religions. Currently, the Order of Malta Relief Organisation in Lithuania has around 1500 volunteers in 44 local cities and villages. Maltesers provide assistance for lonely elderly, children from socially vulnerable families, the disabled, refugees, and for everyone who is in need.

 

 

Statistics
  • 44 Malteser groups;
  • 20 young Maltesers groups;
  • 1500 adult volunteers;
  • 500 young Maltesers;
  • 2320 elderly who get our regular assistance;
  • 1 Malteser care home;
  • 13 Malteser children daycare centers;
  • 350 children from socially vulnerable families;
  • 1 teenage day home (13 teenagers);
  • 1 open-type youth center in Vyžuonos, Utena district;
  • 1 senior clubs with 11 members;
  • 6 senior day center with 118 members;
  • 28 locations with program ‘Meals on Wheels’.

Milestones
  • October 10, 1991 – The establishment of the Order of Malta Relief Organisation in Lithuania.
  • 1993 – The start of the project ‘Meals on Wheels’ where Maltesers provide warm meals for poor elderly.
  • 1993 – The establishment of the Young Maltesers group.
  • November 1996 – The opening of social assistance and management center in Vilnius.
  • 1998 – The beginning of the project for social assistance services at home.
  • 2005 – 4 children daycare centers are opened.
  • 2006 – The pilgrimage of the disabled to Lourdes has started.
  • 2006 – The start of the project ‘Maltesers’ Soup’
  • 2013 – The start of the First aid training courses.
  • 2013 – The start of children support campaign ‘Small Hearts – Big Ideas’.
  • 2013 – The  start of “Malteser Easter” campaign.
  • 2014 – The beginning of shuttle service for the disabled “Let‘s go”.
  • 2014 – The Malteser cannotherapy project is launched in Tauragė.
  • 2014 – The first “Malteser‘s Day” is celebrated in Panevėžys region.
  • 2014 – The 900th birthday of the Order is celebrated in Lithuanian, celebrations takes various places in palaces of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
  • 2014 – Young Malteser project for first aid begins.
  • 2015 – The first public Malteser youth space center opens in Aukštadvaris.
  • 2015 – The first „Move it“ camp for the disabled was organized
  • 2015 – New project “Young school paramedics” was launched
  • 2015 – Order of Malta concert was organized in Munich under the auspices of President Dalia Grybauskaitė.
  • 2016 – The “Righteous Among the Nations” project is launched.
  • 2016 – The main event for “Little Hearts – Big Ideas” moves to Daukantas Square.
  • 2019 – 2 senior day care centers are opened.
  • 2019 – The first Malteser mobile kitchen is opened in Tauragė.
  • 2019 – Civil protection unit has been set up.
  • 2019 – The personal assistant services are launched to be provided in Vilnius.
  • 2019 – The regionalization of the organization begins. The Western region is formed from surronding group.
  • 2020 – The Southern and the Eastern regions are established.
  • 2021 – The 30th anniversary of the organization was celebrated.
  • 2021 – The annual summer camp for people with disabilities in Monciškės ‘Turn Disability into Power’ is launched.
  • 2021 – The first Maltesers’ care home, named St. John the Baptist, is opened.
  • 2021 – The youth escort service was launched (ongoing in Telšiai, Kaunas, Marijampolė).
  • 2022 – Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2 registration centres for war refugees were opened in Marijampolė and Vilnius. A hotline call centre is launched in the capital.
  • 2022 – The first teenage day-care home ‘Stories’ is opened – a joint project with the Jonas Valančiūnas Support Foundation.
  • 2022 – The autumn campaign ‘Bravier to Life’ is launched to support young people under the care of Maltesers.
  • 2023 – The Lourdes Candle Campaign, which was suspended during the pandemic, is resumed and a pilgrimage for people with disabilities to Lourdes is organized.

Malteser prayer

Lord Jesus, Thou hast seen fit to enlist me for

Thy service among the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem.

I humbly entreat Thee through the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin of Philermo,

of Saint John the Baptist, Blessed Gerard and all the saints and blessed of our Order,

to keep me faithful to the tradition of our Order.

Be it mine to practise and defend the Catholic, the Apostolic, the Roman faith against the enemies of religion;

be it mine to practice charity towards my neighbours, especially the poor and sick. Give me the strength I need to carry out this my resolve,

forgetful of myself, learning ever from the Holy Gospel a spirit of deep and generous Christian devotion,

striving ever to promote God’s glory, the world’s peace, and all that may benefit the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.

Amen.