With the support of the Fenix Charity Fund and WALLETTO, two rooms at the children’s day centre in Šiluva have been renovated and equipped. EUR 10,000 was allocated to the project, and the centre also received five computers to support learning and the development of digital skills.

The children’s day centre in Šiluva, supported by the Order of Malta, provides a safe and welcoming environment for school-age children. Today, up to 17 students in grades 5–8 attend the centre, with boys making up the majority.

From Monday to Thursday, between 11:00 and 17:00, children come here to do their homework, spend time together, take part in various activities and receive the support they need.

Importantly, the centre welcomes not only children living in Šiluva itself. Children also come from nearby villages and smaller communities, making the centre an important meeting place for families across the surrounding area.

In smaller communities, opportunities for organised leisure activities, additional learning and social interaction can be limited. The day centre therefore plays an important role in giving children a place where they can learn, communicate and spend their free time in a safe and comfortable environment.

A space designed for different needs

With the support of Fenix and WALLETTO, EUR 10,000 was allocated to renovate and equip two rooms at the centre.

One of the rooms has been transformed into a dedicated sensory space for children with special needs, including children on the autism spectrum and those with increased sensory sensitivity.

The room provides a calm and comfortable environment where children can take a break from external stimuli, relax and regain emotional balance. It will also be used for individual work with children. Twice a week, sessions with specialists are planned, taking into account each child’s individual needs and abilities.

The second room was renovated and equipped as a space for everyday activities. Children can use it to do their homework, study, socialise, participate in developmental activities or simply spend time together.

In addition, Fenix and WALLETTO provided the centre with five computers, giving children more opportunities to study, complete school assignments and develop their digital skills.

A place children want to return to

The children’s reaction to the renovated rooms has been one of the most rewarding parts of the project.

Many of them could hardly believe that the rooms would be completely renovated and transformed. Once the work was finished, they eagerly explored the new surroundings and quickly made the space their own.

Some of the boys were so proud of the renewed centre that they brought family members and friends to show them the new rooms. For them, the project became about much more than renovation — they gained a place they feel belongs to them and that they are proud to share with others.

Their everyday habits have changed as well. While the children previously preferred to spend much of their free time outdoors, they now increasingly choose to stay at the centre, where they can study, talk to friends or simply relax.

One small moment captured this change particularly well. After an outdoor training session with a punching bag, the boys returned to the centre together. Tired after the physical activity, they settled into the soft bean bags to rest.

It may seem like an ordinary moment, but scenes like this show the true value of the renewed space: the children now have a place they want to return to, where they can feel safe, relaxed and comfortable after an active day.

Support that makes a difference every day

The day centre is located in a house belonging to the parish priest of Šiluva, Žilvinas Zinkevičius, who provided the entire ground floor for the children’s day centre.

The number of children attending the centre is expected to grow in the future. This makes the renovation especially meaningful, as the improved facilities will allow the centre to support even more children from Šiluva and the surrounding communities.

Thanks to the support of Fenix and WALLETTO, the centre has received more than renovated rooms and new equipment. A modern, comfortable and functional environment has been created to meet children’s educational, social and individual needs.

Perhaps the best indication of the project’s impact is the children themselves: they want to spend more time at the centre, bring their friends and proudly show the renewed rooms to their families.