February 2024

Video: Carnival is an excellent opportunity to get involved in community life

As we reported earlier, the professional staff of the 4IM project organized a carnival event in both Bábonyibérc and Tetemvár. A short film covering the latter event has been completed, and by watching it, we can gain a glimpse into community life and professional work. The video is in Hungarian.

Community carnivals at Bábonyibérc and Tetemvár

The professional staff organized carnival programs in both target areas of the 4IM project. The primary purpose of these was community development, in addition to addressing the parents through their children, and giving the young people a joyful experience. The professionals' intentions were partially fulfilled, and the events were successful.

There is enormous power in communities, but to reach their full potential, they must be worked and developed. Regular community events can be excellent opportunities for development work. In mid-February, the carnival events provided the opportunity for this.

Members of the professional staff organized events at Bábonyibérc and Tetemvár. About 15 children between the ages of 3 and 15 participated in the Bábonyibérc. They made creative masks, and their enthusiasm was reflected in the results. Those who wanted more, could get face painting.

All of this was welcomed with joy, and they seemed to have a good time at the program. So much, that some of the older girls stayed after and helped with tidying and cleaning.

Only children took part in the program, so it was not possible to contact their parents directly at the event or even maintain already existing relations. However, the professional staff hopes that the positive experiences brought home by the children will increase trust in the 4IM project. The organizers welcomed thtat children did not feel tense and opened up easily during the carnival.

The Tetemvár program was divided into two separate events. Together with the Presence point of the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service operating in the target area, they organized a craft activity for the local children before the carnival, so that they could participate in the festive event with their own masks and costumes. For this, the necessary material and tools were provided for the 10 participating children and 3 parents.

After that, the actual carnival event was organized at the Presence point, which was opened by a children's costume parade, followed by playful tasks, and in the meantime, guests were also treated to donuts - courtesy of the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service.

The outreach to the community was helped by the fact that in addition to around 20 children, around 10 adult chaperones also participated in the program.

Overall, it can be said that the carnival events were successful from both a professional and a social point of view.

Back to school after the field trip

With the help of the 4IM project, one of the young residents living in Tetemvár who previously failed to acquire a profession now has the option to continue his studies. Thanks to the project, he got to know the workshop school program of the Vocational Training Center in Miskolc.

One of the important professional foundations of the 4IM project is that employment is one of the most significant factors in social integration. That is why the staff organizes several programs for the people of Miskolc living in Tetemvár and Bábonyibérc, which promote employment in some form.

In the past, there were various trainings that - among other things - aimed at promoting reintegration into the labor market, or visits that meant to inspire with practical examples. The latter category previously included a visit to the "Tű, cérna, szeretet" factory of the Hungarian Red Cross Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Organization, or to the Training Information and Experience Center of the Vocational Training Center in Miskolc.

During the latest visit to the Training Information and Experience Center in mid-February, the staff of the 4IM project - in cooperation with the Miskolc Vocational Training Center - wanted to show vocational training alternatives to the residents of Tetemvár and Bábonyibérc who do not yet have a profession yet.

The field trip went so well that a young man who had not previously completed his studies as a room painter saw the opportunity in the center's workshop program. By completing the training, he might acquire a semi-profession in up to 6 months, which significantly increases his chances of finding a job on the labor market. He will soon visit the Károly Kós Construction, Creative Technical and Vocational Training School in Miskolc, where - if he decides so - he can continue his abandoned studies with the help of the 4IM project.