LCC International University > Research at LCC > Project – Peace at the Margins: Connecting through Language
"Peace at the Margins" was a ~1.5-year peacebuilding initiative (November 2024 – January 2026), co-designed and implemented with Prirašytos Rankos NGO, and supported by EU Solidarity Corps funding through the "Connecting through Language" program (March 2025 – January 2026). Rather than a fixed curriculum, the project was conceived as a reflective, evolving process — one built around consistent human presence inside prison walls.
The project launched in Šiauliai with a warm reception from the prison administration and genuine enthusiasm from participants. Early sessions combined structured English lessons with open conversation. Over time, a clear shift emerged: the most meaningful exchanges happened not in formal instruction, but in unstructured pair conversations — where dialogue could unfold naturally and both sides felt seen. This format consistently proved the most impactful. Volunteers and participants alike described these encounters as among the most human and respectful they had experienced within the prison environment.
Programming was adapted throughout the project based on feedback and the emotional climate of each visit. Highlights included:
Martyna led monthly English lessons at Šiauliai Prison as part of the project. Her first session made one thing clear — the participants came to learn.
Martyna Marčauskienė
English Teacher, LCC International University
Change was often quiet — but real. Among participants, the project brought increased openness, moments of vulnerability, and a growing willingness to reflect. Among volunteers, it was frequently transformative:
One student, inspired by his encounters at the prison, chose to write his BA thesis in partnership with the institution — conducting action research on rehabilitative and restorative practices.
Participants showed growing willingness to reflect on their lives and perspectives, including moments of genuine vulnerability.
For many volunteers, the project challenged their assumptions about incarceration, punishment, and rehabilitation. Stereotypes gave way to empathy and a deeper understanding of structural inequality and human resilience.
This project reaffirmed what consistent, respectful dialogue can do in spaces defined by control and distance. It created openings — for reflection, for connection, for change — on both sides of the prison walls.
2026-03-20
From 25th of February to 1st of March, students, volunteers and scholars from around the world gathered at LCC International University with a common desire - facilitation of peace in the world. Hosted by the Center for Dialogue and Conflict Transformation, the peace conference “Creating Resilient Communities for Peace and Justice: Roles of Business and Civil Society” brought business owners, civil society researchers, faith communities, practitioners and NGOs together in exploring the importance of integrating cooperation across different backgrounds and exploring currently at times unimaginable paths to peace. They looked at ways for creating a mutual understanding regardless of social biases and differences. Thus, practices of building resilient communities happened as different fields brought ideas around prosperity and mutual cooperation into a learning dialogue. A preconference panel with Dorothy Nyambi from Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) set the stage for further understanding through “The Case for the Nexus: Economic Prosperity and Peace.” This opened a larger discussion on the relationship between economic development and sustainable peace, how systems fracture and create vulnerability which provided new ideas from which the conference began. Virginija Poškutė, from ISM University of Management and Economics in Vilnius and our second keynote speaker emphasized ethical concerns and challenged us with the question “who is thinking about social responsibility?” and how business plays a role in society’s wellbeing. Over four days, participants engaged in plenary sessions with speakers, workshops, discussions, and interactive activities. These addressed the roles of business and civil society as essential to resilience in communities affected by conflict. Speakers and facilitators came from countries across the globe including Canada, South Korea, Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany, Croatia, Ethiopia, the United States, and beyond sharing their experiences and insights on ways towards transformation covering topics like culture and memory, social cohesion and community care, faith, civil society engagement, education, youth empowerment, and governance. One of the unique elements of the conference was the storytelling theatre led by Raffi Feghali, where participants had the opportunity to reflect on personal experiences and share their stories about resilience, faith, hope, and community. These transforming moments created space for deeper connection and dialogue among attendees. Our LCC student volunteers played a crucial role in the success of the conference. Many described the experience as both meaningful and inspiring. For International Relations and Development students such as AnnaRomanenko (a 3rd year student at LCC) shared that meeting people from different fields working toward peace gave her hope and motivation, especially during difficult global times. Uliana Horbenko,also a 3rd year student,noted that the conference expanded her understanding of peacebuilding and connected her with scholars, artists, pastors, and activists united by a shared goal. Salome Noniashvili, a first-year student, noted: “It was particularly interesting to connect business to peace and explore how they can complement each other”. Yan Levyskyi , a 2nd year student said “The peace conference helped me shift my focus to building peace and being a peacemaker through various workshops and lectures given by educated individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds” He continued to identify “ how peace plays a vital role in todays wounded and broken world.” Throughout the conference, participants emphasized the importance of dialogue, cooperation, and resilience. The bringing together of individuals from diverse cultural experiences and professions was a positive element. As one speaker, Dr. Elena Šiaudvytienė comments, “during the conference meeting people from many parts of the world who are working to build a more peaceful and just world truly strengthened my hope”. Overall, the conference not only created a space for exchange of ideas and initiatives; it also developed common ground for future cooperation, leading participants in a journey into a relational web. By remembering our common humanity and interdependency, it strengthened courage to dare hold out hope in difficult times while rethinking strategically the approaches and actions used to create resilience in communities. As the conference concluded with reflections and farewells, one message stands out to all of us who participated stood out clearly: building resilient communities requires collective effort, open dialogue, and a willingness to engage across differences. By Andrii Huk (peace intern) We are thankful to the support of Mennonite Mission Network (MMN) and Horsch Foundation for their continued partnership support of our peace work
2026-02-10
Over the course of one year, volunteers from LCC International University visited Šiauliai Prison to build something simple yet powerful: human connection through language. Through an English Conversation Club, students and staff met regularly with a small group of incarcerated participants, creating a space for dialogue, curiosity, and mutual learning. In addition to the volunteer visits, a professional English teacher held monthly lessons, offering more structured language learning opportunities. The initiative was implemented in partnership with the NGO Prirašytos Rankos, which helped coordinate and facilitate the activities. As the project progressed, what began as a language practice initiative gradually evolved into something deeper—a reflective process where trust, listening, and open conversation became the core of the experience. Rather than following a rigid program, the project adapted over time, discovering that the most meaningful moments often emerged in one-on-one conversations where participants and volunteers could simply talk as people. These encounters challenged stereotypes on both sides of the prison walls and opened space for honest reflection about life, responsibility, and hope. Two public events were also held at LCC International University, where student volunteers shared their stories and reflections from volunteering in the prison. The events were designed to inform the wider university community and the public about the realities of incarceration, the human encounters that took place during the project, and the lessons volunteers learned along the way. By sharing these experiences, the events aimed to break stereotypes about people in prison and encourage more thoughtful conversations about justice, rehabilitation, and human dignity. Disclaimer: This work reflects only the author’s views, and the National Agency and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for the information contained in it. The activities are implemented within the framework of the project “Connecting through Language.
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