Region: Baltics, Central and Eastern Europe, Lithuania
Author: Loreta Musanya/Friends of Vilnius University Botanical Garden
Consortium Member: Baltic Ecological Programs Office (ECOLOGIA)
Status: Completed - Final Report
Budget: $2200
Collected: $2200
Needs: $0
Result: In order to continue their voluntary work and make it more efficient, the Friends of Vilnius University Botanical Garden would like to acquaint themselves with the activities of volunteers in the botanical gardens and heritage parks in Finland.
Donors: Funds collected by the Friends of the University of Vilnius Botanical Garden, with Virtual Foundation Matching Funds [June 1999]
Comment: The group will spend seven days in Finland touring arboretums and botanical gardens.
Information about organization
NGO Friends of Vilnius University Botanical Garden was established in
1997 in order to raise awareness among the public and the authorities as
to the value of the Vilnius University Botanical Garden, to raise
funds for its revival and help open it to the public. Members of
organization include philologists, physicians, artists, pedagogues, technical
specialists, parliament members and concerned citizens who want to
revitalize the Botanical Garden and save it for the future generations.
Project need
Vilnius University Botanical Garden was founded in 1781. Now on the territory of 150 hectares there are four sections of the Garden: sections of dendrology (the study of trees), floriculture (the study of flowers), floral genetics and pomology (the study of fruit). There are impressive plant collections that during the difficult transition period because of the lack of funding were not increased or well cared for.
Since there are practically no traditions of fundraising activities in Lithuania for the benefit of heritage/cultural sites, it is very difficult to attract funding from local sources. Therefore, the Friends of the Garden are always searching for sources of funding from outside the country.
Project goal
In order to continue their voluntary work and make it more efficient, the Friends would like to acquaint themselves with the activities of volunteers in the botanical gardens and heritage parks in Finland, with their visitor/member programs and events designed to attract more
visitors and more funds.
Methods of implementation
During 7 days in Finland we'll visit Finnish botanical gardens and arboretums, meet with staff members and volunteers and discuss the following topics: fundraising activities, voluntary work importance, ways of recruiting new volunteers, visitor service infrastructure, and possibilities of joint projects.
Project duration: August 1-8, 1999
Expected outcome
Increased efficiency and a broader range of activities of the Friends of Vilnius University Botanical Garden to attract more attention and funds, attract more volunteers, provide support and advise the management of the Botanical Garden as well as other responsible authorities in opening the Botanical Garden to the public and developing visitor services, holding events, creating educational and cultural programs.
Total budget of the project is $4,500
Because Baltic Sea Center fully covers meals, lodging and transportation in Finland and the West Express Travel Agency, in Lithuania, is providing a 5% discount on ferry tickets, the amount requested from The Virtual Foundation is $2000.
| Ferry Tallinn-Helsinki-Tallinn for ten people and the minibus | $1,000 | Minibus rent and fuel Vilnius-Tallinn-Helsinki-Vilnius | $1,000 |
| VF Administrative Cost (10%) | $200 |
| Total | $2200 |