Anita Herczegh, who is also a member of the board of trustees of István Regőczi Foundation, which supports orphaned and semi-orphaned children due to the coronavirus epidemic, said, quoting the organization's name: "we must prove our love not with words, but with actions" .
"Hungarians still understand these words today and follow them," he emphasized. The wife of the head of state presented and praised the charitable work and standing performed by civil organizations and volunteers with numerous examples.
He put it like this: "civilians, volunteers, donors, we also walk on this unifying path of love, because we not only want good, but also serve it". "This good service is our mission ," said Anita Herczegh.
Among these, he mentioned the donation of masks and disinfectants at the beginning of the epidemic, as well as the blood plasma necessary for the treatment of the infected - then "in the absence of vaccines and medicines". He recalled that hundreds of people regularly participate in the National Civil Blood Drives.
Anita Herczegh, among others, praised the activities of the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, the Catholic Charity and the Hungarian Red Cross. According to his words, more and more people helped the patients, the healthcare system, those in quarantine and the relatives of the victims.
Anita Herczegh reminded that 1,200 children lost their mother, father or sometimes both parents as a result of the epidemic. She and her husband, János Áder, created the István Regőczi Foundation to alleviate their financial problems in the long term. He also spoke about how "we experienced the miracle of solidarity" in the "It's good to be good" campaign, which was joined by Pope Francis.
He put it this way: "civilians, volunteers, donors, we also walk on this unifying path of love, because we not only want good, but also serve it". " This good service is our mission, " he said.
Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky , Deputy Secretary of State for Civil and Social Relations at the Prime Minister's Office, said in his speech that the Civilians' Day is 25 years old, which is held on Friday, February 4, and that the Civil Centers operated by the Prime Minister's Office are also celebrating their tenth anniversary.
„Their work is essential for the operation of the civil tender system”
he said.
Turning to the results of the past four years, Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky explained: the resources of the National Cooperation Fund (NEA) were increased fourfold by 2022, and a civil fund in cities and villages was created to increase the support opportunities of those involved. He also considered it a success that knowledge related to civil affairs is now taught as a subject in two higher education institutions.
The deputy state secretary continued: several important changes to the law for civilians have been initiated in recent years. Among them, he mentioned that the income ceiling for applying for NEA funds was raised from HUF 50 million to HUF 75 million, which enabled thousands more organizations to receive support.
Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky also reported that the Award for Value-Creating Communities was founded three years ago, which is a significant recognition.
„Communities and values must be created, and this is what we expect from civil organisations”
- he said, adding: there are civil organizations whose activities the government criticizes, but most of them are greatly appreciated and supported.
Turning to the activities of the Civil Centers, he stated: from 2018 to 2022, the amount of support provided by the Prime Minister's Office to the centers to enable free advice and services to civil organizations increased from HUF 330 million to HUF 510 million. Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky also praised the role of Civil Centers in the defense against the coronavirus epidemic.
At the round table discussion organized at the event, Zsolt Nyitrai, ministerial commissioner responsible for priority social affairs, spoke among other things about the fact that civil organizations were very active in Hungary even before 1945, then there was a 40-year hiatus due to communism, and prosperity only came after the regime change. . According to his list, the tasks of civil organizations are value preservation, creation, modernity and assistance.
State Secretary for Social Affairs Attila Fülöp spoke, among other things, about the fact that 530 NGOs performing social tasks in Hungary receive state support, which is not a given in many European countries.
Miklós Soltész, the state secretary responsible for church and ethnic relations, said, among other things, that the preservation of Hungarianness also depends on spiritual factors. In this regard, from the point of view of the future, he emphasized the importance of reaching out to young people for civil organizations.
MTI
Photo: Anita Herczegh, President János Áder's representative gives a speech at the 1st National Civil Conference in the Groupama Arena on February 4, 2022.
MTI/Koszticsák Solid
