Hungary: Budapest

• The City: Budapest sits on the banks of the Danube River and is Hungary’s industrial, cultural, and transportation center, as well as capital city. It has well-developed commercial, transportation, and communication services, and is known for its textile and electronics industries. The main educational and cultural institutions of the country are located here, including Roland Eötvös University, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the National Széchenyi Library, the National Museum, the National Theater, and the State Opera House. (www.budapest.hu)
• Local Partner#1: Szabo Lorinc Bilingual Primary and Secondary School
• Coordinator: Anna Becsei
• Volunteer Group: The group is called 'Planetasok' and consists of 8 students. They joined DIA's network in 2001.
• Sample Projects:
  1. Civic Education: Becsei has developed a curriculum of reflection sessions about democratic society, human rights, student rights, environmental protection, the death penalty, and the role of nonprofit organizations in community development.
  2. Service Projects have included work with the White Cross (animal protection) and tutoring younger students with the Big Brother / Big Sister program.

• Local Partner #2: Karinthy Frigyes Dual Language High School
• Coordinator: Eva Sando
• Volunteer Group: 25 young volunteers (ages 15 to 18).
• Sample Projects:
  1. The International Peto Institute. Volunteers visit the Institute's physically handicapped children on a regular basis to share their knowledge of computers and organize handcraft workshops.
  2. Temporary Shelter for At-risk Youth (XVIII. District): During bi-weekly visits, volunteers provide academic tutoring, as well as personal mentorship for these at-risk youth.

Hungary: Veszprém

• The City: Veszprem is an historic town with a rich 1000-year history. Located between the Bakony Forest and Lake Balaton in the western half of the country, it has been the site for the coronation of all of Hungary’s queens. Today, it is a tourist destination, providing nature-lovers with countless hiking-routes in the nearby Bakony Hills and the Balaton National Park. It is also a major higher education center. (www.veszprem.hu)
• Local Partner: KOSZI Youth Association since 1999.
• Coordinator: Zsolt Bekefy
• Volunteer Group: 15 youth volunteers (average age: 17 years old).
• Sample Projects: Technical help and program support at the local youth center as well as collaboration with the Veszprem Zoo.

Hungary: Tapolca

• The City: Tapolca, a small town of nearly 20,000, lies North of Lake Balaton in the Tapolca basin surrounded by small volcanic hills. The town, built at the junction of ancient and medieval roads, is 5,000 years old. Around the warm lake in the center of the city, artifacts of numerous peoples (Romans, Huns, Avars, and Slavs) have been found. The name “Tapolca” derives form 'toplica' meaning 'hot water'.
• Local Partner: Batsanyi High School (partner since 1999).
• Coordinator: Katalin Halapine.
• Volunteer Group: The group began with 15 volunteers in 1999 and has grown to 69 volunteers in 2002.
• Sample Projects: Volunteers serve as mentors and conduct a puppet show for handicapped children in the community and children at a local hospital clinic. In 2001, volunteers helped Batsanyi High School celebrate its 50th anniversary by organizing a photo exhibition, researching and writing articles for the school’s "book of memories" and preparing a 2-hour cultural program. The volunteer group regularly assists the Volunteer Firefighters' Association, City Beautification Association, Tapolca Pensioners' Advocacy Group, the Center for Large Families and the Association for the Visually Impaired.

Hungary: Sopron

• The City: Sopron, a city of 55,000 inhabitants, is located 45 miles southeast of Vienna. It is Hungary's westernmost city and the only one in the country with a virtually intact medieval city center. Sopron proudly wears its title, “the Most Faithful City in Hungary,” earned in 1921 when it voted in a referendum to remain part of Hungary rather than be ceded to Austria under the the Treaty of Versailles. (www.sopron.hu)
• Local Partner: AKSI (Active Youth in Sopron)
• Coordinator: Szilard Strenner
• Volunteer Group: Strenner has developed a group of 20 young volunteers from three different high schools. They work closely with the local government and with many non-profit organizations and social agencies in the community. Strenner also served as Site Coordinator in DIA's HAVE program in 2001 at the Kodolanyi Special School in Sopron and as youth trainer at DIA's Volunteer Forum in Budapest. In summer of 2002, AKSI hosted the US Ambassador, Nancy Goodman Brinker, at a youth volunteer banquet at the AKSI office.
• Sample Projects:
  1. Organized children's day for 170 students with mental and physical disabilities at the Tomalom Children's Special School. Volunteers also visited the school throughout the year to talk and play with the children.
  2. Malta Goodwill Organization: Provided German language instruction (tutorials) to young students.
  3. Conference on journalism (February and March of 2002): taught the basics of journalism (editing and interviewing); started and maintained a city-wide youth newspaper.
  4. Volunteered with the Sopron Reforestation and Environmental Foundation.
  5. Assisted in the opening ceremony of the annual Transylvania Association cultural exhibition.
  6. Helped the "Holding Your Hand" association with its conference on speech therapy.
  7. Interpreted for foreign participants and assisted groups during the Summer Folkdance Festival in Sopron.