Hungary

 

- Word for associations: nonprofit.

 

During communism, volunteering in Hungary was obligatory; e.g. youth associations were often sent out to do "voluntary" work. This was not necessarily viewed in a negative way per se, however the term "volunteering" in Hungarian still bears connotations of "working for free" which affects the occurrence of volunteering and how it is perceived. After the transition in the beginning of the 1990s, people became more concerned with earning money to survive, and chose to invest their time in paid work instead of volunteering. The Hungarian volunteer law of 2005 on voluntary activities in the public interest, defines "volunteer activities with a public aim" as work carried out within a host organisation without compensation. In article 4, the law also specifies that any person with legal capacity above the age of ten can become a volunteer.  

 

For further information, see the report of the European Commission about volunteering in Hungary.

 

ÖKA - Önkéntes Központ Alapítvány

(The Volunteer Centre)

 

The mission of The Volunteer Centre is to promote and spread the idea of voluntarism by serving as an information and resource centre in Hungary. It seeks to connect individuals with NGOs and thus strengthen solidarity in the Hungarian society. The Volunteer Centre offers its services to different actors of the society (individuals, NGOs, government, local authorities, institutions and companies). The services of the Centre are open to anybody and are free of charge for NGOs and individuals. The long-term goals of The Volunteer Centre are:

- to create an environment in Hungary in which the majority of the individuals volunteer regularly;

- to ensure that NGOs are well prepared to host volunteers,

- to encourage and facilitate public support of volunteering and to involve the different sectors of society.

 

Önkéntes Központ Alapítvány / Volunteer Centre Foundation

1123 Budapest

Kékgolyó utca 20. I.em 4/a

Tel: +36-1-225-0710

Fax: +36-1-225-0711

onkenteskozpont@onkentes.hu
http://www.onkentes.hu

 

 

Nonprofit Information and Training Centre Foundation (NIOK)

Margit krt. 43-45. IV/3

Tel.: +36 (1) 315-3151

E-mail: contact@niok.hu

Web site: http://www.niok.hu

 

Hungarian Malteser Charity Service

Szarvas Gábor u. 58-60

1125 Budapest

Tel.: +36 3914 700, +36 3914-704

Fax: +36 3914 728

E-mail: mmszok@maltai.hu

Web site: http://www.maltai.hu

 

Motiváció - Foundation for Helping Disabled People

Henszlmann I. u. 9

H-1053 Budapest

Tel.: +36 1 3174417

Fax: +36 1 3174417

E-mail: motiv@mail.tvnet.hu

Web site: http://www.motivacio.hu

 

Other organisations 

 

Cultural Institute of the Republic of Hungary

Palisády 54

81106 Bratislava

Tel.: 00 421 7 52 44 29 61

Fax: 00 421 7 352 960

E-mail: kimrpozs@mkm.x400 gw.itb.hu

Web site: http://www.hunginst.sk

 

Hungarian Union of Society

Balazs Bela Utca 17

H - 1094 - Budapest

Tel.: + 36 1 215 38 32

Fax: + 36 1 215 45 11

 

Ifjúság 2000

E-mail : ifjweb@ifjusag2000.hu

Web site: http://www.ifjusag2000.hu

 

Magyar Vöröskereszt

The Hungarian Red Cross

Tel.: 1/374-13-36; 30/606-19-66

Fax: 1/374-13-12

E-mail.: info@hrc.hu

Web site: http://www.voroskereszt.hu

 

The Hospital Volunteer Helping Service

Szent Margit Kórház

Bécsi út 132. C épület Fszt.32

1032 Budapest

Tel.: +36 250 2420 / 357

Fax: +36 212 1101

E-mail: info@korhazionkentes.hu

Web site: http://www.korhazionkentes.hu