Each year, the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid provides assistance worth tens of millions of Hungarian forints to the most disadvantaged Hungarian communities living in Transcarpathia.
Supporting the Hungarian community of Transcarpathia has always been a central mission of the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid. Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022, people living in the region have faced not only emotional burdens but also increasing economic, healthcare, and social challenges. In response, our Church Aid provides regular support to local communities through donations, financial assistance, and healthcare services.
Key Areas of Our Support Services in Transcarpathia
Supporting Charity Kitchens
Between December 2023 and October 2024, the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid supported the operation of charity kitchens in Transcarpathia with non-perishable food supplies from its own resources. Following this period, we launched a nationwide fundraising campaign to provide financial support for 26 charity kitchens.
These kitchens prepare hot meals every week for 1,118 people in need and elderly individuals. Their work is essential for local communities, as since the outbreak of the war thousands of elderly and vulnerable people have been left without adequate support. For them, a warm cooked meal, a personal visit, and a caring conversation provide invaluable assistance.
Summer Camps
For many years, our organization has supported summer camps for 150 children living in deep poverty. These camps place special emphasis on strengthening the children’s Hungarian identity, deepening their Christian faith, and developing their skills and abilities. At the same time, recreational activities, play, and community experiences allow them to forget the difficulties surrounding them, even if only for a few days.
School Bag and School Supply Collection
For many families in Transcarpathia, providing education for their children is a significant financial challenge. Purchasing school bags, textbooks, notebooks, and stationery places a heavy burden on household budgets, especially for larger families.
Receiving a school bag that someone else no longer needs but is still in good condition can also make a meaningful difference. Every summer, we support 100–200 children in Transcarpathia with school bags and school supplies.
Supporting Orphans and Children and Young Adults Living with Disabilities
We continuously support institutions caring for orphaned children—including the Sámuel Foundation, the Good Samaritan Children’s Home in Velyka Dobron, and the Forgotten Children Program—by providing food, clothing, toys, medical aids, and educational supplies.
The significant increase in the number of children living with disabilities is a major challenge in Transcarpathia, as the local state institutional system is not sufficiently developed or equipped to provide the necessary care and support. Our strategic partners in this field are the Forget-Me-Not Development Centres in Mezővári and Harangláb.
Health Promotion
We continuously support healthcare institutions, social care facilities, civil organizations, and individuals in Transcarpathia by providing medical equipment and essential supplies.
Transcarpathian Farmers Support Program
Together with local Hungarian community leaders, we consider it a priority to encourage farmers to remain in their homeland, continue cultivating their land, and look toward the future instead of choosing to leave, give up, or abandon their livelihoods.
Since 2010, with the support of Hungary’s leading seed distributors and members of the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture, we have provided farmers in Transcarpathia with high-quality seeds and fertilizers worth tens of millions of Hungarian forints.
