Public Events at the Presidential Palace

The President: Attentiveness to the disabled – an attribute of a healthy society

Sunday, January 16, Vilnius - President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė attended a concert by winners of the second national competition-festival Perliukai (Little Pearls) of young musicians with disabilities.

The concert by talented children, winners of local contests of Vilnius, Kaunas, Šauliai, Alytus, and Klaipėda, took place at the Presidential Palace Sunday afternoon.

"These people demonstrate that despite disability they can lead a full life, love music and singing, display their remarkable talents and their spiritual beauty. They bring joy to their loved ones who have a really difficult task of bringing and educating their disabled children. I am happy that thanks to the dedication of non-governmental organizations and educators these children can share their creation with a wider circle of people. This is an attribute of a healthy society," the President said.

Little Pearls, a national competition-festival of young musicians with disabilities, is aimed at fostering the thirst for art and creation among disabled children and young people, promoting their self-expression, identifying the best vocal and/or instrumental groups and performers.

In 2010, the competition brought together contestants representing 42 educational institutions from 18 towns of the country.