Lithuanian youth are considered among the happiest in the world, yet according to research, as many as 93% experience emotional difficulties — a reality we still too often remain silent about. Around 50,000 young people contact the Youth Line each year, and this number is not decreasing.
That is why, in an effort to draw attention to young people’s emotional well-being, “Happy Youth Day” — a free emotional health festival and concert — will be held for the second time on May 23 near the White Bridge in Vilnius.
Visitors will be welcomed by an open space featuring creative workshops, active activities, games, conversations, and concerts by popular Lithuanian artists including Pijus Opera, Monika Pundziūtė, SHWR, Saulės Kliošas, and others.
“We are happy to continue the ‘Happy Youth Day’ initiative that we launched last year. More partners are joining, and the program and activities for young people are expanding. If we want an emotionally resilient future for Lithuania, we must take care of young people’s emotional health today — by creating an environment where young people feel safe to talk, seek help, and get to know themselves better. All feelings in life are normal and necessary, and ‘Happy Youth Day’ reminds us that we can create happiness ourselves — through connection, community, and care for ourselves and one another,” says Diana Bukantaitė, head of Youth Line.
An event where the most important thing is being together
This year’s program invites everyone to pause for at least one day and experience happiness.
Starting at 2:00 PM, a hike titled “An Easy Walk with Swedbank” will take place together with Walk15, encouraging people to dedicate time to themselves, their well-being, and togetherness.
From 4:00 PM, the “Meadow of Happiness” will open near the White Bridge — an open space with creative workshops, active experiences, games, and conversations. Emotional, physical, and financial health themes will come together there, and participants will not only hear about but also experience ways to improve their daily well-being.
The Power Hit Radio team will broadcast live from the event, promising inspiring interviews, games, and other entertainment for listeners.
The evening’s highlight will be a live concert featuring well-known Lithuanian performers. The stage will host Pijus Opera, the band Galera, Monika Pundziūtė, SHWR, Saulės Kliošas, and the event will conclude with a surprise special guest.
The event is organized by Youth Line together with its partners — Swedbank, the Vilnius City Municipality, and the TV3 Media Group. Together, they are joining forces to strengthen young people’s emotional well-being.
A reality that needs to be talked about
“We care about society’s emotional health, which, together with physical and financial health, is an inseparable part of human well-being. That is why we strive to improve access to emotional support, help attract more volunteers to Youth Line, and spread knowledge that helps people develop the skills to take care of their emotional well-being every day. We see meaning in contributing to this tradition because after last year’s first event, both the number of answered calls and the number of volunteers increased,” says Ernestas Ramonas, Head of Social Responsibility and Sponsorships at Swedbank Lithuania, about the company’s role in creating “Happy Youth Day.”
According to him, the bank also actively supports Youth Line’s long-term goal of ensuring that every emotional support call or message sent through the mobile app is answered on time.
Meanwhile, TV3 Media Group contributes to the initiative with the goal of ensuring that conversations about emotional health reach as wide an audience as possible.
“Over the decades, TV3 Media Group has created numerous social responsibility projects. But everything started with small steps — just like those now being taken by ‘Happy Youth Day.’ Every young person encounters difficulties, but by speaking openly about them and looking for solutions, we are already one step ahead. We are glad to have found like-minded people who want to build an emotionally resilient Lithuania. Together, we can encourage important conversations and unite communities that care,” says TV3 CEO Laura Blaževičiūtė.
Another organizer of the event, the Vilnius City Municipality, emphasizes the city’s role in creating an open and supportive environment for young people.
“Youth Line provides emotional support to young people every day, so contributing to this event means contributing to real help. Such synergy is an opportunity for the city not only to unite with an experienced, professional organization, but also to reach more young people and more ambitiously increase awareness about youth services available in Vilnius. A quarter of all Lithuania’s children live in Vilnius — our audience is broad, and reaching them requires partnerships and trusted voices,” says Vilnius Vice Mayor Simona Bieliūnė.
We invite you to join us
On May 23 from 2:00 PM, everyone — young and young at heart — is invited to gather near the White Bridge in Vilnius. Together, let’s create a day where youth happiness becomes not only an aspiration, but a reality.
More information: Youth Line – Happy Youth Day
