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Ambassador Stephen Mull To Visit the Panevezys Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Children School

May 13, 2004

Press event: 11.00-12.00 h, The Panevezys Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Children School, Parko g. 19, Panevezys, Tel: 8-45-517300/311/435; Director: Danute Krisciuniene

On Friday, 14 May 2004, Ambassador Stephen Mull will be visiting Basic School for the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired Children in Panevezys.  Children of the school will give a short concert, and after the ribbon cutting ceremony Bishop Jonas Kauneckas will bless the renovatd school premises.

During the past 2 years, the school received significant financial support from the United States armed forces and over 80,000 Litas worth of property.  This assistance is part of the ongoing US Armed Forces in Europe (www.eucom.mil)

Humanitarian Assistance Program executed by the U.S. Embassy Office of Defense Cooperation.  

In 2003, a U.S. official signed a contract with a Lithuanian construction company that worked on renovating the school.  The U.S. Armed Forces Humanitarian Assistance program grant, which was more than $150,000, enabled the school to adjust the current building to the teaching needs of the hearing-impaired children and add a sports and recreation hall.

Every year the U.S. Congress approves the list of Humanitarian Assistance Projects that are executed through U.S. Embassies Offices of Defense Cooperation.  Last year, the European Command funded 259 HAP projects in 91 countries of Europe and Africa.

In Lithuania, previous approved and already finished projects include hospital renovations in Siauliai and Taurage, orphanage renovation in Palanga, renovation of two regional Civil Protection Training Centers with a total value over $900 thousand USD.