The organisations of civil society are the embodiment of social goodwill in Hungary. By helping these organisations, the Government itself is able to support families in need more effectively and more successfully, the Deputy State Secretary responsible for church, nationality and civil society relations at the Ministry of Human Capacities stated at the inauguration of the programme Family Resources Centre on Thursday in Püspökladány.

Attila Fülöp pointed out: at present, there are some 60 thousand non-governmental organisations, many of which work for communities in the fields of social services, culture or leisure-time activities, for that matter. It is the totality of these organisations and activities that offers a true reflection of the values that civil society stands for and how it operates in Hungary, in contrast to the few organisations calling themselves non-governmental whose activities do not extend beyond the organisation of street demonstrations, he said.

The Government looks upon civil society which serves communities as a strategic partner, in cooperation with which it seeks to implement one of its most important aspirations, the promotion of families, by also providing financial assistance with their programmes, the Deputy State Secretary stressed, indicating that the Cabinet has allocated some HUF 6.2 billion for the purpose within the framework of the call for proposals Protective Net for Families.

He remarked: meals provided for children constitute one of the most important forms of family support, as part of which almost one third of all children, some 620 thousand young people receive free or discount meals from an allocation of HUF 74 billion.

Sándor Bodó, Fidesz Member of Parliament for the constituency stressed upon praising the work of the Püspökladány-based Sunshine Support Social Association: the association is living proof of the fact that social assistance is inconceivable without humility. At the same time, versatility is also a requirement in this field as it is a major challenge to win funds in a call for proposals and to successfully implement developments and programmes from those funds, he added.

Project manager Gábor Kiss said regarding the development of the local Family Resources Centre: they are implementing the centre in its entirety from the more than HUF 37 million awarded as part of the call for proposals Protective Net for Families. Within the framework of the project that will last for two years, the Association will provide family support services with the involvement of five external experts and two social workers from the available funds.

The Family Resources Centre will provide advice for families, will host group sessions, and will organise events for local youths, young people living in the foster parent network of the Püspökladány district and disabled youths as well as for the parents and foster parents concerned. The most important objective of the initiative is to improve the participants’ quality of life, to build communities, and to enhance the social activity of families.

(Ministry of Human Capacities/MTI)