Dual Geographic Project: Belarus—Lida Region A Dual Geographic Project connects individuals with common ancestry from around the Belarus-Lida region. The region has a complicated historical and political past. Over the centuries, it has been governed by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, the Republic of Poland, the Soviet Union, and currently the republics of Belarus and Lithuania. This project thus encompasses the area loosely bounded by Vilnius (Wilno), Lithuania, to the north; Hrodna (Grodno), Belarus, to the west; Navahrudek (Nowogrodek), Belarus, to the south; and Minsk, Belarus, to the east. This group is open to females with a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) test, to males who've taken a Y-chromosome DNA (Y-DNA) test and/or a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)test and/or Autosomal test with Y-haplogroup unlock. Females may also check their direct paternal line by testing a male relative in that line. Members should have some reason to believe that their direct maternal line and/or direct paternal line originated in the Lida area. Membership is free and voluntary; members may join or leave this project at any time. Goals The Belarus—Lida Region Dual Geographics Project has the following key goals: 1. To help members identify a common male ancestor and/or a common female ancestor. 2. To help identify relationships between family branches that in recent generations may have become separated or estranged due to immigration, war, deportation, etc. These upheavals have scattered people with Lida roots throughout the world—to other countries in Europe and Eurasia, North and South America, Australia, and Africa. 3. To assist with any other relevant genealogical research with support from the project administrators.