On May 20, 2025, the village of Nyírpilis hosted the opening event of the Presence in Emerging Communities (ESF+) project, marking a new milestone in the Emerging Communities (Fete) program, which was launched in 2019. Co-financed by the European Union and Hungary, the project’s aim is to support social inclusion in 300 disadvantaged settlements by 2029.
The Fete program is implemented using both domestic and EU funds. The driving force behind the program is a network of local Presence Points, built on physical presence, the creation of opportunities, and mutual trust. These are coordinated by the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta in cooperation with 28 church and charitable organizations. Instead of applying standardized, one-size-fits-all solutions, the Presence Points offer meaningful, tailored support based on local social assessments—for example, through initiatives such as community solar power plants or telemedicine service systems.
Zoltán Gyenes, Lead Economic Expert of the European Commission, emphasized that the European Union actively contributes to the operation of Hungarian programs, including Fete. This project is a good example of the effective use of EU funds, improving the lives of many.
The integration process launched in 2019 has already produced visible results. The aim of the opportunity-creating system is to support those in need from birth through to employment. A major step forward is that certain elements of the Fete program—such as the study halls (tanoda)—have now become basic services. Education plays a key role in helping children break out of the cycle of poverty and build a secure future based on their own knowledge.
The Presence program was launched two decades ago. Building trust and maintaining constant presence are the most important tools in supporting families. The continuity of the program is ensured by both domestic and EU funds—because if it is interrupted, restarting it can often be more difficult than launching it in the first place. Education is the main pathway to breaking out. The aim is to ensure that an increasing number of children gain access to secondary schools that offer graduation certificates, equipping them to become self-reliant adults.
Participants got a glimpse into various local program elements: there was a music rehearsal, mobile playground, dog therapy session, and a Freestyle FC performance. They also learned about early childhood development efforts, preventive work, and had the chance to visit mobile medical and veterinary buses.
The project is aptly named Pillar—it is one of the flagship initiatives of the EU development period 2021–2027, delivering visible results and tangible changes in everyday life.
June 2025 will see the Fete project’s musical program culminate in public Symphony concerts in Nyírvasvári, Csököly, and Erk—highlighting the powerful link between cultural engagement, community presence, and social inclusion.
