Lithuanian-American Daina Čyvas awarded with the honour award 'For Diaspora Merits to Lithuania'Bilateral RelationsCultural DiplomacyCultural eventsNews of the Ministry

Daina Regina Čyvas, an active member of the Lithuanian American community, was awarded for her long-time dedicated work in fostering Lithuanian culture abroad and for special merits to the Homeland. On 16 October, she was presented the medal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' "For Diaspora Merits to Lithuania".

"This award symbolises our communion - Lithuania is where a Lithuanian heart beats. Thanks to Daina Čyvas for many years of work for Lithuania and Lithuanians: for her service to the cause of Lithuanian freedom during the occupation, for preserving our history, for her active involvement in the U.S. Lithuanian community and the Union of North American Athletes, for safeguarding and nurturing the spirit of the legendary 'Dainava' camp," the Vice-Minister Plepytė said when congratulating the laureate.

While visiting Lithuania during the period of Soviet occupation, Daina Čyvas met with underground figures, secretly smuggled photographs and microfilms of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, and shared this information in the U.S. with the editorial office of the Voice of America. Her long-standing work in the Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Lithuanian Catholic Mission in Lemont, and her organisation of various events - community days, pastoral conferences, camps for children - proves her commitment to the Lithuanian community.

In recent years, Daina has been particularly focused on preserving the history of the Sisters of Saint Casimir covenant in Market Park, Chicago. She collects and systematizes archival materials, develops content for the future museum, and seeks to preserve for future generations the memory of the work done by the sisters in the Lithuanian school and hospital. Čyvas is an active member of the National Board of the Lithuanian American Community, the Council of the North American Lithuanian Catholic Federation Ateitis ('Future'), and the Camp of the Senior 'Futurists', fostering the spirit of the Camp 'Dainava'.

The Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs presented the award to Daina Čyvas during the premiere of Ramunė Rakauskaitė's documentary "That Farm in America" in Vilnius. Film tells the story of the Camp 'Dainava', established in 1955 by U.S. Lithuanians in the southern part of Michigan. It became an important cultural centre for Lithuanian-American community.

Since 2019, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has honoured the representatives of the Lithuanian diaspora with the honour award "For Diaspora Merits to Lithuania" for their outstanding contributions to fostering the Lithuanian identity abroad, encouraging Lithuanians living abroad to engage in Lithuania's life, and contributing to the country's well-being.