HOW WE HELPED: HUNGARY

Dec Member Presence

Ukraine

Bringing people together

In September 2022, the DEC member charity’s partner organisation organised a treat for Ukrainian refugee families: a visit to the circus. Most of the families came from temporary shelters with limited or no facilities for social activities. This was just one of several activities organised by the DEC partner organisation with the aim of bringing together refugees and members of the local Hungarian community. A report on the event said:

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Dec Member And Partner Breakdown

(which has led to steep rises in the price of basic supplies such as groceries) further complicated by a housing shortage and host community fatigue or resentment towards refugees, including those from Ukraine.

One DEC member charity is responding in Hungary, providing integration assistance to support refugees to settle into the community by addressing a wide range of their needs. Based on feedback from refugees the programme was redesigned to provide greater flexibility in meeting the individual needs of each person. The programme was adapted to include a cash and voucher component which they could chose how to spend to meet their greatest needs, and to provide tailored support to each individual rather than a standard package of assistance.

As a result, refugees have access to a range of different types of assistance including: rental payments for flats; cash assistance for winterisation; health care support including medical consultations and the purchase of medicines; employment counselling; psychosocial support through individual and group sessions; and language training.

The programme also organised 16 community events to support refugee and host community cohesion including activities such as arts and crafts workshops, and social clubs for older people. As well as bringing refugees together with local people, these events galvanised a growing volunteering spirit among the refugee community, with many refugees getting involved in the preparation of the events. A sense of purpose and mutual aid is an important component of a people-centred humanitarian response.

“What made the show special was that Ukrainian refugee artists hosted by the local circus community were among the