Ignitis Renewables community gathering in Kaunas: focus on partnership, education on energy and ways to enable communities

Ignitis Renewables, an international green energy company, held its third community gathering, this time in Kaunas. Over 20 associations and communities have gathered from various regions in Lithuania, from Jonava and Kelmė to Klaipėda, Kretinga or Pakruojis. The event held in Kaunas was attended by nearly 150 participants, including community representatives, children, young people and partners. The event, which took place at Science Island, served as a forum for in-person dialogue on community spirit, partnership and the changes brought about by renewable energy in the regions.

The gathering was a place to meet people who are similar in their community-led activities as well as their proximity to renewable energy projects of Ignitis Renewables. The event led discussions about the importance of long-term cooperation, community-led initiatives, education on energy and about the contribution of local projects towards making regions stronger and more active.

“We want to make such gatherings not a trivial event marked in a calendar, but rather a place for communities to meet, share their experience and see their ideas transform into real changes. Over a couple of years, we witnessed the birth of new spaces for people, a boost to local initiatives and growing trust in each other. For us, it is very important to be long-term community partners, not just developers of energy projects,” says Giedrė Skerniškienė, Community Coordinator at Ignitis Renewables.

Communities are an important part of changes in the energy sector

During the event, community representatives shared their experience on how local initiatives become real changes, from renovated public spaces to new activities for children and young people.

During the discussion on drafting and implementing community projects, representatives of Girkaliai community, Vaiguva village community and Lauksargiškiai community shared their stories. Besides financial support, the speakers also talked about the importance of having a partner who helps and encourages communities to make their ideas come to life.

“Our partnership with Ignitis Renewables has given our community the incentive to grow and bring to life ideas that once seemed out of reach. Together, we renovated the community centre, installed a heating system and set up informational displays about the history of our region. For us, being good neighbours is not just about support, but also a sense of unity, technological progress and a relationship built on trust that encourages new initiatives and strengthens the community,” says Jūratė Šoparė, representative of a non-profit organisation, Girkaliai Community Centre.

During the gathering, participants also discussed the results of a four-year long partnership, the community projects, other relevant topics and presented the projects implemented across various regions in Lithuania.

Education on the energy sector through experience and curiosity

A large portion of the event was dedicated to children and young people. At energy labs created specifically for the gathering, students of different ages had a chance to learn about electricity generation, the principles of green energy and responsible energy consumption through practical activities.

The youngest participants built smart LEGO houses and learned who invented the light bulb, while older children constructed models of wind turbines. Students in grades 7–12 used microcontrollers and sensors to find ways to save electricity in their daily lives.

The educational activities on energy were created by the team at Science Island in partnership with Ignitis Group's #EnergySmartSTART programme.

Neighbours that strengthen communities

The gathering’s participants also visited the exhibition ‘Human. Nature. Machine’, took part in a community photo shoot at the interactive exhibit ‘CENTRE OF THE WORLD’ and engaged in informal discussions about the future of communities and sustainable neighbour relations.

The event, which brought together communities from different regions of Lithuania, demonstrated once again that partnerships between energy project developers and local residents are becoming long-term relationships based on dialogue, trust and joint initiatives, not just a formality.

“First of all, being good neighbours means having neighbours who are reliable, support community initiatives and help turn them into real changes. Over the past two years of collaboration with Ignitis Renewables, we have established a community space for meetings and educational activities, and today we are working together on projects that will breathe new life into spaces that are important to the community. When you see real changes, you become motivated to act, bring people together and create future plans,” says Dalia Skardžiuvienė, a representative of association, Vaiguva Village Community.

“In such events, the most important moments happen not on the stage, but in conversations between people when sharing their experiences and new ideas. When communities see each other’s experiences, they gain the courage to create, take the initiative and believe that change in their environment is possible,” says Skerniškienė.

According to her, Ignitis Renewables is consistently strengthening its ties with local communities, guided by the principle of being a good neighbour and aiming to build cooperation based on long-term partnerships and trust. The company's financial support initiatives help renovate infrastructure, implement community projects as well as bring people together for joint activities, strengthen local initiatives and promote energy topics. Such meetings provide a space for new ideas, the exchange of experiences and open dialogue, and the company remains committed to being a reliable neighbour that contributes to building a green energy future in Lithuania.

The financial support awarded to communities located near wind farms of Ignitis Renewables that are operational or under development is significant. In four years, the company has already granted over EUR 1.3 million for all community initiatives in Lithuania.