Its History as an Organization
This year, the World Lithuanian Youth Association (WLYA) celebrates its 50th anniversary. The latest digital exhibition at the Lithuanian Museum-Archives of Canada tells the story of Lithuanian youth in Canada as they began to organize in the 1950’s. What were their concerns? What organizations came first? How did the Canadian chapter of the World Lithuanian Youth Association come into existence?
In the early days, university students who had immigrated to Canada with their parents were busy adapting to a new environment, and had little time to form an organized group. With time, various clubs and associations united not only to foster social interaction (which was often pointed out as their only goal), but to share ideas in academic, cultural, religious, political, and athletic fields. Lithuanian youth was energized by belonging to what became a world-wide youth organization working with the World Lithuanian Community and its branches. It established the structure and the example for second-generation Lithuanians in Canada and the US to step up and take on leadership roles that enabled them to take on further responsibility for maintaining various aspects of the Lithuanian Community in the diaspora, as well as promoting ties with and eventual assistance to Lithuania as it reached independence.
Were you involved in any of those activities? What is your reaction to this fun and fascinating chapter in the history of Lithuanian youth in the diaspora? Tell us about your memories and experiences as a newcomer or child of immigrants in Canada. Write to us in English or Lithuanian to [email protected] (or click: https://tevzib.com/en/contact-us/).
But first, visit the exhibition on the Lithuanian Museum-Archives of Canada website: https://www.lithuanianheritage.ca/lithuanian-youth-in…/.
