A growing number of Lithuanians living abroad see their future in Lithuania and are discovering career opportunities there
As many as 95 percent of young people from the diaspora who participated in internships in Lithuania this summer say they would like to live here for at least one year in the future and would consider building their professional careers in Lithuania. Two young people have already decided to stay in Lithuania after their internships, and about three–quarters of the interns stayed longer – extending their internships at companies, taking Lithuanian language courses, and traveling around the country.
“Lithuania needs talented people, and we see great potential in our diaspora. We want them to see Lithuania as a place worth living and working in, and to contribute to the country’s growth with their knowledge and ideas. That is why we support initiatives that allow them to get to know our country up close, establish professional connections, and discover career opportunities here. For some of them, Lithuania transforms from a summer internship destination into a real choice for living and working. This perfectly illustrates the tangible impact such initiatives have,” says Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
These opportunities for young people in the diaspora are provided by the “Bring Together Lithuania” internship program, supported by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, which took place for the ninth time this year. Thirty young people of Lithuanian descent from the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Ireland, New Zealand, and Turkey participated in the program this year.
This year, they had the opportunity to complete professional internships at Lithuanian companies and organizations, including the Ignitis Group, the Innovation Agency, Invest Lithuania, the BIOK Laboratory, Oxylabs, NRD Cyber Security, TutoToons, the Center for Life Sciences at Vilnius University, the Faculties of Physics and Mathematics and Informatics, and other organizations.
Participants also familiarized themselves with Lithuania’s business and innovation ecosystem – visiting Elinta Group, the Tesonet Group, Nord Security, Light Conversion, Lighthouse Hub, and other companies and organizations. The program placed a strong emphasis on professional networking, career opportunities, and personal development.
The program encourages people to stay and return to Lithuania
This year’s participants rated their overall experience with the program at 9.4 out of 10, and all respondents said they felt a stronger connection to Lithuania and their Lithuanian roots after the program. The participants’ experiences show that the program is changing their perspective on Lithuania and the opportunities it offers – young people are discovering Lithuania as a modern country where they could build a professional future.
Participants from previous years are also returning to Lithuania. Four of them came back this year for summer internships, two to live and work here, and another five plan to arrive in the fall to look for long-term employment.
Over the nine years of the “Bring Together Lithuania” program, 185 young people from the diaspora have participated. A quarter of the program participants who completed their studies later decided to move to Lithuania and build their careers here.