In December 2024, we officially launched our project “Together for Stronger Volunteering”. The opening conference was hosted by Berde Mózes Unitárius Gimnázium in Székelykeresztúr (Cristuru Secuiesc). The event was not only a milestone marking the start of our project, but also an inspiring meeting place where students, teachers and representatives of the partner organisations celebrated the community-building power of volunteering together.
The opening conference made it clear that the power of volunteering knows no borders. This project not only strengthens cooperation between the participants but also opens new doors for promoting and developing volunteering. Thank you to everyone who was part of this unforgettable day – with it, we have officially set out on our shared journey towards stronger volunteering!
The highlight of the morning was a round-table discussion, where representatives of different countries shared their experiences of the situation, challenges and opportunities of volunteering. Blanka Kaszper (Hungarian Scout Association), Éva Tóth Molnár (TANDEM, n.o.), Dr. Sándor Lakatos (Berde Mózes Unitárius Gimnázium) and Géza Attila Nagy (Transylvanian Youth Association) gave insight into how their organisations motivate young people to volunteer. To close the round table, each participant shared a short message. We would especially like to highlight the message of principal Dr. Sándor Lakatos, which we feel captures well what volunteering can give us.
“It is important for a person to have a profession, but it is just as important to have a cause.”
The afternoon was devoted to interactive workshops. Using the world café method, teachers, students and representatives of organisations worked together on how to make the volunteering process sustainable. These ideas and proposals will serve as the basis for the project’s training materials.
The conference was not only about professional development but also about getting to know the local culture and history. Guided by our hosts, we explored the history of the school and admired the local Unitarian church, where Reverend Orsolya Farkas guided us through the mysteries of the past. We visited Sándor Petőfi’s famous pear tree and enjoyed a special guided tour at the Molnár István Museum.
The conference was opened with motivating speeches by Dr. Sándor Lakatos, principal of the school, and Imre Hegedűs, managing director of the coordinating organisation, NIT a Fiatalokért Nonprofit Kft. After the welcome speeches, the school’s students delighted the audience with a captivating folk dance performance, which brought the local culture closer to everyone and embodied the cohesive strength of our community.
Next, Hunor-János Koncz, Mayor of Székelykeresztúr, gave a motivating talk highlighting how the local government supports local volunteering initiatives. Following this inspiring speech, the members of the project consortium introduced their organisations, showing their commitment to volunteering. This was followed by a presentation of the project’s goals, planned activities and expected results. As a good example of volunteering organised as a system, the KÖZÖS University Volunteer Point was presented.
Our project “Together for Stronger Volunteering” (project number 2024-1-HU01-KA220-SCH-000256403) is co-funded by the European Union.
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Tempus Public Foundation. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
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2024-1-HU01-KA220-SCH-000256403
