International programs
History, Aims:
History, competencies:
Our association was founded in 2001 and we have been participating in international youth projects since 2003. Over the years, the international projects have become more and more important in our activities and for today we have a long list of our foreign partners in our databases.
Our international collaborations started in the network of EFYSO (European Federation of Youth Service Organisation), where we participated in the organization’s Summer Youth Conference in Poland, 2003 and in Austria, 2004, and then we could also organize a summer conference in Debrecen, in 2007. Through the Foundation for Democratic Youth, we were at an international festival (Crossborder Festival) in Zakopane, Poland, where we performed with a dance production, too. Our youngsters had the opportunity to go to Germany, Luxembourg through Platform Camps, which we can thank to the Municipality of Hajdú-Bihar County.
During this initial period, we established relations with Hungarian youth organizations across the border, mostly in Transylvania. Our young people were recurring participants in several events of MAKET and MAKOSZ, such as the Spring Ball and Autumn Ball, Craft Camp, students’ self-governments’ free university, while this time, the youngsters from Transylvania could participate in the programs of the Summer Youth Festival in Hajdú-Bihar County for several years. We managed to organize a Hajdú-Bihar-Bihor student meeting in the framework of an international project supported by the ERSTE Stiftung, focusing on volunteering and debate.
We have been an EVS (now ESC) sending, hosting and coordinating organization for 12 years. The ESC (European Solidarity Corps) is an international opportunity for young people between the age of 18 and 30 to volunteer in a foreign country for up to 12 months. This is a great opportunity for young people to learn about a new culture and, at the same time, themselves. Thanks to the project, youngsters have the opportunity to discover the world, make new international friendships and learn languages. The voluntary service is part of a European Union project. The cost of the travel, accommodation, local transport, food and pocket money are provided by the project. Since 2008, we have recruited many youngsters with this project, so our young people have had voluntary experience in countries such as Finland, Spain, Germany, Liechtenstein, Denmark, Italy or the United Kingdom. As a hosting organization, we are even more active: over the years we have already received 98 young people from 15 different countries. Currently (in 2021) fourteen young people perform their voluntary service with us: nine came from Transylvania, two from Italy, and 1-1-1 youngster from Germany, Spain and France.
In addition, we are also active in Erasmus+ projects, including KA1 and KA2 activities. We are currently involved in three KA1 and one KA2 projects, initiated by Poland. We have participated in a lot of youth exchanges both as organizers and partners. In these 6 10 day meetings our staff, youth leaders and volunteers were attended, approximately 6-8 times a year. We have had young people in Bröllin and other German cities and in Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, France, Sweden, Estonia, Ukraine, and Romania among others.
One of our important events was the KDT (Meeting of the students’ self-governments of the Carpathian Basin) in 2015, which invited young people belonging to the Hungarian, Transylvanian, Highland, Vojvodina and Transcarpathian students’ self governments. The nearly 100 participants spent a week together in Nyíregyháza, during which they were able to develop their skills in various trainings, which can be used in the future, running the students’ self-government. Leisure programs and joint experiences also contributed to the development of good acquaintances and friendships. In 2017 we managed to organize this program for a second time, in Nyíregyháza again. In the framework of “Határtalanul” (“Without Borders”) programs, we have already helped almost 10 Hungarian educational institutions to visit Transylvania as a professional trip. Our trips mostly led to Cluj-Napoca, Satu Mare, Oradea, Miercurea Ciuc and Balan.
In connection with international networks, we are members of the Eurodesk and ALF (Anna Lindh Foundation) networks, and our Juventus Soliditas membership is also alive. At Hungarian level, our network membership includes ISZOSZ (National Association of Youth Service Providers), NIT (the National Youth Council) and the OKIDE (National KID Association).
Programs:
Contacts:
Bálega János - strategy leader
Telefon: +36 30 718 8649
E-mail: balega.janos@kozpontegyesulet.hu