The most vulnerable segments of society, those living in poverty and disadvantaged individuals, often face the feeling of exclusion. Poverty not only entails material difficulties but can also have profound social and psychological consequences that further isolate those affected. Some districts are considered particularly at risk in this regard. In these areas, essential public services and provisions are available only to a limited extent for children and adults living in extreme poverty, resulting in a world lacking hope.
To curb the further decline of the affected areas and reduce the developmental disparities within the district, the Presence Program, developed by the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta under the Human Resource Development Operational Program, was created and adapted in numerous locations across the country. The program aims to develop innovative collaboration models and solutions that enhance local community growth by improving living conditions and supporting policy measures that promote social inclusion.
In Baktalórántháza and its surrounding areas, the greatest challenges were the high proportion of public workers, the disintegration of communities and families, the deepening poverty, as well as the residents’ lack of self-confidence and the feeling of social distrust. These issues have negatively impacted both individuals and the local economy.
In the early stages of the project, a diagnosis was conducted at the district level using a methodology developed by the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta. This process identified specific problems in each settlement and proposed potential solutions to address these issues. The backbone of the project was presence-based social work. The goal was to reduce developmental disparities by empowering local communities through interventions that improve life prospects, quality of life, access to services, and community mobilization. The initiative included strengthening and assisting under-resourced services while leveraging opportunities from their integration.
Within the framework of the Presence Program, participants received various types of support: on one hand, in the form of material and other tangible assistance, such as aid, vouchers, donations, and direct financial support, and on the other hand, the project also provided mental support through psychological assistance and community programs.
By establishing two Presence Points In the villages of Magy and Rohod, service and community centers have been established where residents can confidently turn for help in managing their various tasks and issues. In addition to providing information and guidance, these centers serve as venues for programs aimed at initiating positive changes and strengthening the local community, whether it be through counseling, ensuring access to professionals, assisting with administrative tasks, activities that support school integration, strengthening parent-child relationships, or other developmental and recreational opportunities. The organized events provided opportunities for building social connections and strengthening the sense of community. Considering the situation in the district, supportive training programs and labor market counseling that encourage reintegration into the primary labor market from public employment were also popular. The elements of the program were implemented not only at the two Presence Points but also in 10 other settlements in the district.
The experiences of the development so far indicate that several participants have achieved financial stability, and the efforts towards social integration can also be considered successful. The dropout rate has decreased, and more individuals have successfully returned to the labor market while building supportive community relationships that help them shape their future.
The development was implemented from EU funding in the project EFOP-1.5.1-17-2017-00001 under the Human Resource Development Operational Programme.
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