Marijus had always dreamed of being a dancer, but it wasn't until he was 43 years old that he finally had the opportunity.

Marijus belongs to l'Arche community house in Kaunas, Lithuania, which supports people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. He visits every Wednesday and takes part in activities like pottery or crafting handmade candles. However, it is when he mentions dancing that his eyes really light up.

As a result of specialist therapy over the past two years, Marijus has been able to explore the things he likes most - especially dancing. He has been supported in his decision‑making by Elika, a therapist focused on helping those with special needs to make choices.

Marijus, and others like him, have benefited from the ESF-funded Decision Support Services.

Initially, Marijus asked for help with things like writing and learning how to use a computer. But as he and Elika got to know each other, she realised there was more to him.

‘I had doubts,’ Elika explains. ‘It seemed that those wishes were not what he really longed for. So, we continued the discussion until one day Marius told me, “I want to dance, I want to play, I want to be on stage!”’

'Core members or fellows, as we call them, are often confined by what the environment wants from them,’ says Elika. ‘As a result, their own desires are pushed somewhere deep. They need help until they feel what they really want to do. You have to learn to distinguish between the desires of strangers and yourself. I am glad that Marijus did it’