The English-Speaking Union (ESU) is an international educational charity that was established in 1918 through the efforts of Sir Evelyn Wrench. In 1957 ESU received a Royal Charter, with The late Queen Elizabeth II as the royal patron. Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, has been President since 2012, having taken over from her father Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh who served from 1952 - 2011. Headquartered at Dartmouth House, Mayfair, London, the ESU aims to bring together and empower people of different languages and cultural backgrounds, by building skills and confidence in communication, such that individuals realize their potential. With over 50 international branches in countries around the world, the ESU promotes a variety of activities such as debating, public speaking, and student exchange programs, runs conferences and seminars, and offers scholarships, to encourage the effective use of the English language around the globe. In 1996 a steering committee was established in Lithuania and the English-Speaking Union Lithuania (ESU Lithuania) was registered on June 13, 1996. The official inauguration and launch took place in Vilnius on April 2, 1998. In 1997, ESU Lithuania joined the International public speaking competition in London for the first time. Since then Lithuania has been represented annually. Our vision is to provide people with communication skills, confidence and networking opportunities, helping them to realize their full potential.
