In the participatory budget program “Participate! Vilnius,” Svetlana Muchlia proposed creating Totorinė Square, inviting people to explore the heritage of the Grigiškės Tatars.
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In the summer of 2024, while participating in a tour of Grigiškės, Svetlana heard for the first time the story about the former Totorinė village that once existed here. Locals still remember the Tatar families who lived here, and the old apple orchard remains a living witness to this history.
“I was very moved by the thought that this place quietly preserves more than six hundred years of history. At that moment, I realized that it is important not only to preserve this memory but also to revive it – to create a space where people could meet, get to know each other, and their local heritage,” the woman says.
According to the idea’s author, everyone should get to know the place where they live. Therefore, she wanted to create a space that would remind people of one important part of Grigiškės’ history and at the same time introduce residents to the culture, traditions, and heritage of Lithuanian Tatars.
A connection with Grigiškės since childhood
Although Svetlana Muchlia has lived in Grigiškės with her family for 19 years, her connection with this town began much earlier.
“At the age of twelve, together with my sister, I danced in the Lithuanian Tatar ensemble ‘Alije’ led by Aleksandras Ali Melech, and I attended rehearsals every week at the Grigiškės Cultural Center. Even then, I said that when I grew up, I would live in Grigiškės. And so it happened – after starting a family, we settled here, between two rivers – Vokė and Neris,” says S. Muchlia.
The Tatar culture, which introduced her to Grigiškės, after many years inspired her to contribute to the revival and preservation of the local Tatar history.
Exceptional community support
Totorinė Square won the budget in the participatory budget program and has been developed for the second consecutive year. This showed that the idea was important not only to its author but also to the entire community.
In the first phase, a musical bench was installed in the square, dedicated to the memory of composer, music teacher, and choir conductor Maestro Aleksandras Ali Melech. The bench plays music composed by the Maestro himself. Informational stands and new walking paths connecting the spaces were also installed.
In the second phase, the space was already enhanced with a fresco decorated with Tatar motifs; outdoor musical instruments, new benches, and new walking connections will also be installed here. The structure of the square has special significance – the network of paths is designed so that viewed from above, it resembles a crescent and a star – two of the most important Tatar symbols.
However, according to Svetlana, the most important thing is not the infrastructure but the community’s interest and support.
“I always say that Totorinė is not just my project. It came about because many people believed in this idea together with me. Every idea can become the beginning of a change that after a few years will seem so natural, as if it had always been here,” says the author of the Totorinė Square idea.
Today, families, youth, and seniors gather in Totorinė Square. Music plays here, meetings take place, and informational stands invite people to learn about a history that many did not know until now. S. Muchlia believes that this story can inspire other Vilnius residents not to be afraid to propose their ideas.
An opportunity for everyone
The story of the Grigiškės resident is just one example of how one resident’s idea can become a real city change. Currently, Vilnius residents are again invited to submit ideas for the participatory budget program “Participate! Vilnius.” Proposals on how to improve their eldership or the entire city – from new public spaces, playgrounds, or relaxation zones to initiatives that help reveal and tell the local history – are welcome.
Ideas are accepted until September 21, and they can be submitted on the website dalyvauk.vilnius.lt. This year, more than 1.6 million euros are planned to be allocated for residents’ ideas.
A budget of 630 thousand euros is allocated for small-scale ideas (elderships) – up to 30 thousand euros will be allocated for a specific eldership project or projects. For large-scale (city) ideas, 1 million euros will be allocated – with a budget not exceeding 250 thousand euros for a specific idea.
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