The door to the new world

What did Växjö know about life in Lithuania in the late 1980s? And what did Lithuania know about Växjö and Sweden? Nothing or very little. No exchange of knowledge was considered.

Situation in Europe and in the region changed bringing new opportunities. People in Växjö reacted for a possibility to go East and see what the system had done to the Lithuanians, to bring help and support. At an early stage a contact was initiated between Växjö and Kaunas, two cities different in many ways, not only in size but also in structure and development. The first Twinning Agreement was signed in Växjö in 1990 to confirm a mutual will of co-operation. Groups of top officials and some representatives from business organisations paid several exchange visits. At first they were rather formal and there was much to learn from both sides. Slowly, closer contacts were established also on other levels of society and more concrete results could be reported.

Over the years the co-operation has been focusing on some specific spheres. Once it was a democracy development with exchange of political parties experience and participation in election campaigns. Växjö based company ID, Institution for Democracy, made several seminars in Kaunas and in other cities in Lithuania to explain how a democratic political system with multiple parties works in Sweden.

New levels of co-operation in education have developed over the years. Agreements between technical schools and universities (the adult education) have been signed. Energy projects have been developed, focusing on usage of biomass in Kaunas region. The experience was shared in a district heating system. Also, the project to modernise Kaunas street enlightening network was initiated. Another issue has been environmental protection with nature friendly transportation, solid waste management and other Agenda 21 issues, like environmental education for children and women teachers.

The cities exchange exhibitions and concerts of local musicians, designers, choir singers and musical instruments, museum workers. Boys and girls have taken part in international youth games. Direct links have been established between tourism agencies in Kaunas and Växjö. The co-operation between Växjö and Kaunas has now continued for over twenty years. It brought in wider understanding and the exchange of knowledge between these two cities.