WESTERN LITHUANIA CONSUMER FEDERATION

Western Lithuania Consumer Federation (WLCF) was established in 2002 as the voice of all the Western part of Lithuania. WLCF associates over 20 member organizations and represents a network of organizations in Western Lithuania, which works on informing, educating and representing interest’s members of community.  WLCF is a non-profit organization that protects the rights of the consumers and works together with the state consumers' organizations in consumer policies implementation.

Mission: WLCF engages in enforcement and development of consumer interest representation and anticipates consumers to become active citizens in consumer issues.

Main objectives: WLCF exists to educate the consumer regarding his/her rights as a customer; to protect the rights, economic and social interests of the consumer; to provide representation in case of ill doings against a consumer. Main goal of the organization is the development of consumer rights corresponding to the EU requirements in all the areas of consumption.

The methods of Work are: accessibility, publicity, democratic attitude, and cooperation.

Main tasks are:

• To protect consumer rights, their social and economic interests;
• To provide information related to consumer rights and legitimate interests in the area of consumption;
• To educate consumers and to develop the culture of rational consumption;
• To strengthen the collaboration between NGOs and state institutions in the area of consumer rights protection;
• To develop collaboration with partners form foreign countries in the area of consumer rights protection.

These tasks are executed applying our main principles of activities, which are: accessibility, publicity, democracy and collaboration.

Activities:  involve dissemination of information, consultation of customers, preparation of market researches, participation at development of legislation and court litigation.In order to actively contribute to the achievement of the European Commission Health and Consumer Protection Programme for 2007 – 2013 objectives, Western Lithuania Consumer Federation seeks actively to participate in consumer Education and Training Area.Consumer Education in Lithuania is one of the general education branches which is dedicated to developing the knowledge, understanding and skills that a person needs in order to live in a consumer society, WICK  in it’s work realized these objectives through project activities:

• Created a system in Western part of Lithuania that helped to coordinate and integrate consumer education into a consistent education system;
• Founded young consumers clubs in high schools and colleges, prepared methodical material;
• Fundamentally improved consumer organizations, school teachers and other institutions representatives‘  skills and knowledge of EU and Lithuanian consumer policies;
• Increased the role of consumer organizations in educating, informing and consulting areas;
• Created distance learning module for students in high schools and colleges.

WLCF VICTORIES:

• 2002 L.J.Vyner Charity and Support Foundation, administered by Klaipeda NGO Information Centre presented WLCF for the nominee of: “Best organization”.
• 2003 L.J.Vyner Charity and Support Foundation awarded the director of WLCF Mrs. Audrone Rickuviene as a winner of nominee “Best leader”.
• 2004 – 2006 representation in the European Consumer Consultative Group in Brussels.
• 2004 – 2004 WLCF a member of working group in European Network for Consumer Education which was responsible for creation of innovative material for consumers.
• 2006 – 2009 A member of observatory council of stock company “Klaipedos vanduo” (water supply company).
• In 2006-2009 A member of Klaipeda NGOs and Municipality Collaboration Council.
• 2007 WLCF has received an award form Klaipeda College of Social Sciences for active and close collaboration with “Lawyer’s club in providing legal advice for the society”.
• 2007-2009 Mrs. Audrone Rickuviene was declared “Member of honour” by Klaipeda College of Social Sciences.
• In 2007-2009 Mrs. Audrone Rickuviene has been elected a member of Consumer Rights Protection Council by the Ministry of Justice of Republic of Lithuania.