Aiste Navickiene

She was 11 years old, with no English and it was a big challenge to come to a country with a very different culture, climate and language. Initially she and her family came to live in Cork. It was here she found her love for rowing.

When she was 17 years old her family decided to return to Lithuania. This was a difficult time for her since she had completed her leaving certificate and had been accepted to study nursing, however she did go home with her family. She held Ireland in her heart and when she turned 18 years old came back to Ireland, this time to Mid Ulster to live with her aunt. She has lived in NI ever since and this is where she calls home.

Aiste is a very determined young woman and upon moving back to Ireland was committed to furthering her education and her dream of one day becoming a nurse. Her aunt’s support was especially important in the early days but she also craved her independence and through hard work and dedication was able to move into her own place and pursue the desires of her heart.

Family are very important to Aiste. She is married with two young children. She tries to keep her cultural heritage alive by celebrating Christmas, Easter and other festivals in a fashion similar to how her family did in Lithuania. The family do speak Lithuanian but it is increasingly difficult as the children prefer to speak English especially as they are at school.

Through joining clubs and societies she made friends and connected with people. She explains how this was very challenging at first but vital in order to integrate into a new community and build her new life. Her passion is rowing, this had been helpful as a child to keep her focus and also beneficial in reducing stress and anxiety as a newcomer living and going to school in Cork. As an adult she joined a rowing club where many women from other countries were training as well. Aiste has represented her country as a rower and is training for the World Masters championships.

Over the years, Aiste’s love of her sport has given her a great opportunity to make friends. Rowing fosters a deep sense of teamwork, communication, and trust. Crews are built on respect, where members support each other to build something greater than the individual, in fact this is a great life model.

“We’re all in the same boat” takes on a very literal meaning!