The decoration will be presented to Dalia Grybauskaitė by the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra' Matthew Festing, on Wednesday, October 28, in Rome.
The President and Grand Master Fra' Matthew Festing will also discuss the Order's activities in Lithuania as well as charity and support programs for the socially disadvantaged and single elderly people. With Europe facing a massive migration crisis, views will also be exchanged on how the Order of Malta could contribute to receiving refugees in Lithuania and providing assistance to the victims of war.
According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, the activities carried out by the Order of Malta in Lithuania are an outstanding example of how simple measures can effectively help the disadvantaged, those who need help most.
The President is an active supporter of the charitable activities carried out by the Order of Malta in Lithuania. The Order of Malta Relief Organization has brought together around 1 000 volunteers to provide social assistance in 28 Lithuanian cities. Social day care centers for children operate in 10 Lithuanian cities, and the projects Meals on Wheels and Social Homecare, delivering assistance to single elderly people who live in poverty, are carried out across the country. This year, the fundraising campaign Maltese Soup will be launched for the tenth time in Lithuania.
The Order of Malta contributes to the Christmas Charity Fair held at the initiative of the President every year and organized by NGOs at the Presidential Palace, during which money is raised for socially vulnerable people.
A charity concert, under the patronage of Dalia Grybauskaitė and President Joachim Gauck of Germany, will take place in Munich on 2 November to support the Righteous Among the Nations living in Lithuania who rescued Jews during World War II. The concert is held by the Order of Malta.
