The Migration Information Centre "MICenter" of the International Organisation for Migration Vilnius Office (IOM Lithuania) opened its doors at the end of October last year. Since then, it has provided more than 1,500 different services and almost 3,000 remote consultations. Most of them have been received by war refugees from Ukraine. In total, IOM Lithuania has assisted more than 16,000 Ukrainians in two years.

We talk to Edita Urbanovič from IOM Lithuania about the daily routine of the MiCenter and the foreigners who visit it.

-What was the beginning? Where did the idea of establishing a Migration Information Centre come from?

As soon as the war in Ukraine started, we received the first calls asking for help. As IOM Lithuania was operating the Migration Information Centre "I Choose Lithuania" at that time, we were in a good position to start providing information and counselling to those arriving from the war zone, and to provide a range of assistance to those arriving. Seeing the needs and expectations of Ukrainians, we started thinking about long-term solutions. This led to the idea of expanding the services of the Migration Information Centre to help integrate not only Ukrainians, but also other foreigners already in Lithuania. We are well aware that arriving in a foreign country is not easy. Especially when fleeing war, people need all kinds of help: financial, psychological and general advice. We provide all these services to make the integration of foreigners in Lithuania smoother. Let us not forget that the number of migrants arriving in Lithuania is growing every year. Currently, there are more than 220 000 foreigners living in Lithuania, which is almost 8% of the population.  According to the statistics of the Migration Department, last year more than 77 000 lived in Vilnius County, and a little more than 3 000 in Alytus County.

-Do these figures show that Lithuania has become a destination country with fewer departures and more arrivals?

Yes, the figures speak for themselves - we are becoming a destination country and for one reason or another foreigners are choosing Lithuania. We can be happy that our compatriots are also returning and, having gained experience and knowledge abroad, are trying to apply it in Lithuania. For several years now, more Lithuanians have been returning to Lithuania than leaving it. We set up the MiCenter so that foreigners who are in the country know where to turn - as there are many questions that arise when settling in a foreign country.

-Who comes to MiCenter most often?

Many of our activities focus on war refugees from Ukraine. Of course, there are more than 55,000 of them in Lithuania at the moment. But our goal is to be a place where people of all nationalities feel comfortable and integrate. That is why we are very happy when not only Ukrainians but also Belarusians, Armenians, Indians, Filipinos, Turks, Argentinians - it would be difficult to name them all, but we have guests from far and wide. Every day we have classes for different age groups, therapy and counselling in our premises. We have wonderful canine therapy puppies, which are very popular with children, an adolescent therapy group, a seniors' club and concerts in the evenings. We also have specialists who give legal and career advice.

We want migrants settled in Lithuania to feel safe and accepted by the local community, no matter where in the world they come from. After all, successful integration essentially starts with a sense of security.

-How do the events help integration?

Socialising and making new friends is crucial for integration. Storytelling evenings are very popular - new friendships are always formed. Concerts, dance lessons (we learnt to dance Lindy-hop on Valentine's Day, and the teenage group learns street-style dance steps every week), meditation (yoga, gong bathing), educational events - we try to create an environment where everyone finds something interesting to do and makes new friends.

-What are the most common questions foreigners ask?

Although each foreigner's story is different, there are common questions - the most common questions are about taking the first steps in Lithuania, legal residence documents, employment relations, changing driving licences, getting married, paying taxes etc. The Migration Information Centre, established by IOM Lithuania in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, has been operating since 2015, so we have a lot of experience in providing advice (65,000 consultations!) - we know exactly what questions are most important for those who come here.

Over the last two years, IOM Lithuania has helped more than 16,000 Ukrainians. We adapt to the changing needs of war refugees. From the initial need for accommodation and medical services, there is now a growing interest in learning Lithuanian, receiving psychological support and overcoming trauma. This is natural - surveys show that more and more Ukrainians are looking to Lithuania for their future, so their needs are changing. We try to provide comprehensive assistance, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Security and Labour we hope to expand the range of activities.

-Can a foreigner integrate successfully in Lithuania?

Of course. After all, we Lithuanians are spread all over the world in search of a better life and new experiences. Our compatriots are also finding their place abroad: learning languages, starting families, raising children, developing successful businesses. It is important to feel that when you come to live in a new country, you are needed, that you have the opportunity to build a well-being and to integrate into the local community. We want migrants from all over the world to feel the same way when they come to Lithuania. As long as people genuinely want to integrate, they will be welcomed in every community.