On Saturday, December 21st, the Christmas fair of foreigners living in Lithuania was held in Vilnius Old Town. Organized for the second time by the Migration Information Center MiCenter, established by the International Organization for Migration (IOM Lithuania), the event offered Vilnius residents and visitors an opportunity to purchase a variety of handmade goods while connecting with people from diverse countries and cultures.

The fair took place at Pirmas Blynas, a social restaurant that employs people with special needs. This collaboration brought together two meaningful initiatives under one roof, fostering inclusivity and community spirit.

This year’s Christmas fair featured participants from various countries, including Ukraine, Belarus, Ghana, Turkey, the Philippines, Morocco, Azerbaijan, Iran, and others.

According to MiCenter project manager Aistė Kasperė, such events are beneficial for both foreigners living in Lithuania and Lithuanians themselves.

“Lithuania is becoming increasingly global, with the number of foreigners living in the country surpassing 200,000. For newcomers, it’s important to establish connections, build relationships, and showcase their activities. At the same time, we want to get to know them better. We believe that during the Christmas fair, Vilnius residents and visitors had an excellent opportunity to meet their foreign neighbors, take home not only exotic, unique handmade items but also positive emotions, as many of the participants speak Lithuanian fluently,” said A. Kasperė.

The organizers noted that last year’s fair was more challenging to organize, as MiCenter had just opened in the fall, and finding foreign sellers required some effort. Nevertheless, the event exceeded expectations – participants not only sold their products to customers but also networked with other vendors and visitors. Following this success, it was decided to repeat the fair this year while contributing to the social and educational mission of Pirmas Blynas.

Connecting Distant Parts of the World

Among this year’s participants was Aayoub Bendriouch from Morocco, who has been living in Lithuania for five years. At the fair, he offered handmade, eco-friendly home decor items from Morocco, such as blankets, ceramic gift sets, various bowls, and selenite stone candle holders.

“Such events are very important because they help small businesses run by foreigners integrate into Lithuania, allowing them to grow, hire employees, and pay more taxes. Additionally, the Christmas fair enables Lithuanians to discover unique products and services from other parts of the world. For example, we bring our rugs from villages in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, so people don’t have to travel there themselves to purchase them – we essentially connect two distant parts of the world,” said A. Bendriouch, who was participating in the fair for the first time.

The Moroccan participant shared that he loves the calm and tolerant people of Lithuania, as well as its nature, weather, and tranquility. He has also learned to speak Lithuanian fluently during his time in the country.

A Desire for Shared Activities and Learning Lithuanian

MiCenter, which helps foreigners integrate into Lithuania, offers various consultations, including support from integration specialists, psychologists, legal advisors, and career counselors.

“Foreigners arriving in Lithuania often lack information and assistance in navigating institutions and documentation, so we play a crucial role in providing them with structured information about living and integrating in Lithuania. Our website, micenter.lt, is an especially useful tool, offering information in Lithuanian, English, and Russian, as well as LiveChat and a hotline,” explained A. Kasperė.

She added that events and shared activities are essential for foreigners who want to adapt to life in Lithuania, as these provide opportunities to better understand local culture and form new connections. MiCenter hosts activities such as movement therapy sessions, concerts, quizzes, workshops, and storytelling evenings. A significant focus is also placed on learning Lithuanian – the center hosts weekly gatherings for foreigners learning the language, supported by local Lithuanians.

“It’s heartwarming to see migrants who have lived here for just a few years speaking Lithuanian fluently and helping new arrivals learn the language,” said A. Kasperė.

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