Lithuanian singer Radži Aleksandrovičius honored his guardian, Vida Minevičienė, with a bouquet of spring flowers and heartfelt gratitude on International Women’s Day.
“Mom, warmest greetings on Women’s Day! Be healthy and happy! We love you! Jorinta, Saulius and Radži,” the singer wrote in a message accompanying the gift.
Guardian Shared Story of How She Took Radži In
Minevičienė, who is immensely proud of her son’s accomplishments, has previously shared the story of how they met and her decision to become his guardian.
Having worked for 40 years as a music teacher at the Panevėžys Children’s Home, Minevičienė vividly remembers the moment she first saw the young boy who stood out from the other children.
“Radži was born in a correctional facility because his mother was convicted and imprisoned at the time. After he turned 2.5 years old, he came to our children’s home. It’s a rare case, because Roma people usually don’t abandon their children,” she explained. “My daughter was too working here at the time, and Radži ended up in her group. I remember her running to me saying, ‘Mom, they brought in such a gorgeous Roma boy!’ I went to the group to take a gaze – he was a really cool kid. Gradually, my daughter started to care for him, taking him everywhere, bringing him home, even though she was still young. That’s how it all started. Then my daughter moved abroad and left that ‘gift’ with me.”
Minevičienė was candid about facing some negativity from others despite the warm welcome Radži received from her own children. “Acquaintances would say to me, ‘How will you raise a child of that nationality? What a struggle it will be!’ I would say – isn’t he a human being? We are all people. Nationality doesn’t determine character.”
Minevičienė wasn’t just a mother figure to Radži; she also fostered his early musical talent. Recognizing his aptitude, she helped launch his career. “I prepared him for ‘Song Song,’ where he became a laureate,” she recalled, also remembering more somber performances. “We would go with the children to the correctional facility where Radži’s mother was imprisoned at the time, and we would perform there. The children would sing and dance, but Radži’s mother never came to watch. She didn’t need him.”
