Young Conservative League (JKL)  

Young Conservative League is non governmental youth organization, established in 1993. It is one of the largest youth organizations in Lithuania and unites more than 1300 members (aged 14 to 35).

Our vision : Mature society in modern state. We are developing tolerant, responsible; following Christian values young people who are able to take an active part in state creating process.

Our Values : Property and Strong State, Free market and democracy, freedom and peace.

Our strategy for years 2004-2009 to become the largest youth organization and actively participate in creation of public society.

We are members  of International organizations: DEMYC, IYDU, EDS .

DEMYC- The Democrat Youth Community of Europe is the international umbrella organization of the youth wings of Christian-Democratic, Conservative and like-minded parties of Europe. With currently now more than one million affiliates in its member organizations, DEMYC is one of the strongest political youth organizations in Europe.)

IYDU - International Young Democrat Union: IYDU is a global alliance of 80 centre right political youth organizations' from 50 countries, united by a common desire for greater freedom and less government, and a shared commitment to fight socialism.

EDS -  European Democrat Students (EDS) is a federation of Christian-Democrat, Conservative and Liberal student organizations. With 41 member organizations from 40 countries EDS represents more than 300.000 students from all over Europe.

Young conservative league's international achievements

• On 3-8 of June, 1996 in Lithuania was organized the first European Young Conservative's meeting (In Vilnius and Palanga) - that was the first international political organization's meeting in our country.
• On 1996 JKL has won "Margaret Thatcher" award as the best EYC (European Young Conservatives) organization.
• On 1996 JKL international secretary Giedrius Karsokas got elected vice-chairman of EYC
• On 1999 and 2000 JKL international secretary Mantvydas Juozapavičius got elected vice-chairman of EYC as well as of DEMYC.
• On 2003 JKL international secretary Giedrė Uzdilatė got elected vice-chairwoman of DEMYC for two years term.

International events

• Young Conservative League (JKL) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Seminar-summer camp "Membership of Lithuania in International Organizations" 26-28 June 2002, Palūšė;
• International Youth Conference "Elections at the Beginning of the 21st Century: Return of the Rights" 21st-23rd February 2003 Vilnius, Lithuania;
• Young Conservative League and British Conservatives' Seminar "Principles for a Free Society" Training Centre "Dainava", Druskininkai, Lithuania, July 11-13, 2003;
• International Summer School "Youth Policy in the Baltic Region" August 21st -24th, 2003, Palanga Hotel Linas;
• DEMYC 20th Congress & DEMYC Seminar, "Social Exclusion of Youth" 11-14 September 2003, Vilnius, Lithuania (International Secretary of the Young Conservative League Giedre Uzdilaite got elected Vice-Chairman of DEMYC for a two-year term);
• JKL contributed to the organization of the International DEMYC's study-session: "The prevention of conflicts and violence. How can the youth create a tool to prevent conflicts and violence?" At the European Youth Centre in Budapest, 28th of March - 4th of April 2004;
• International Summer School "Are CIS Countries Partners or Competitors of the New EU Members", August 26th -29th, 2004, Palanga;
• Study trip to the European Parliament, Brussels, 2004 Summer (with the Invitation of Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis, MEP);
• International Winter School "Media and Politics: Effective Communication", "Europa City" Hotel, 14 Jasinskio Str., Vilnius, 17-20 February, 2005;
• International training seminar "Youth is the Civil Power" 2-8 May 2005 Palanga, Lithuania;
• March, 2006. International seminar for Belorussian youth, organized by IYDU and Westminster foundation;
• International Youth Forum in Estonia, Narva. 2006, June. Russia and Neighbors: Youth Dialogue");
• October, 2007. Conference in European Parliament. "Youth mobility, opportunities to study and work in European Union";
• October 19-22, 2006. A common project with IRI "Lithuanian and Belorussian youth - preparing to self-government elections";
• December 4-8, 2006, Berlin. JKL was participating in creating youth political organizations' network - Euro-Med;
• February 9-11, International conference - training "Belarus conference", which was organized by „Jarl Hjalmarson foundation", „Christian democratic international center";
• October, 2006, Great Britain. A meeting with Great Britain's young conservatives from "Conservative Future";
• November 29, 2006. IYDU meeting in London. A meeting with ex-prime minister of Great Britain M.Thatcher;
• Yalta European Strategy summers school, Ukraine, Kiev, June 2007. Theme - Ukraine's integration in to European Union;
• "Youth policy formation and implementation in Azerbaijan", 2007 April;
• 2007, Ireland, Training Course "Media and Citizenship". Topics: strategic planning and campaigning, non violent action tactics, media intervention, project management and networking;
• 2008, Georgia, Presidential Elections, Parliamentary elections: JKL delegation were international observers of Presidential and Parliamentary Elections in the Republic of Georgia;
• 2008, April. International training seminar in Germany. "European Citizenship". The main topics discussed: European citizenship, Europe and being European, Citizenship in everyday life, democracy, active participation, human rights, etc;
• 2008, Malta. EDS (European Democrat Students) Summer University. Elections of the leadership for European Democrat Students;
• 2008, Sicily, Catania. JKL became one of the partners of the European - South America youth project about youth participation: "Encuentro de Juventudes Creadoras";
• 2009, DEMYC Winter School in Lithuania, "Free-Belarus campaign - how to move it forward?" (organized by JKL and DEMYC).

JKL 2006-2008 Political actions:

• JKL political action in support f Estonia: "Europe, don't forget Estonia". (The 2007 April events in Estonia - troubles which caused the soviet bronze soldier's statue's movement);
• JKL political action in support of Republic of Georgia, from Russian Federation blockade;
• JKL project - Protect The Baltic Sea while it's still not too late! A message, with which we appealed to the institutions of the European Union and national Governments demanding that they initiate an independent environmental impact assessment of the Nord European Gas Pipeline project, which may result in ecological disaster of the Baltic Sea - "mare nostrum" of the EU;
• JKL Political action near the embassy of Belarussia, in support to the leader of the youth Belorussian organization - D.Dashkevich;
• JKL political action in support of Republic of Georgia, against Russian invasion! (The 2008 summer events in Georgia - troubles which caused Russian troop invasion in Georgia).

Simona Rakitaitė
International program coordinator
Phone: +370 625 80127
Fax: +370 5 2784722
E-mail: international@jkl.lt