What we do?

It is not easy for anyone to start a new life in another country, especially in a foreign culture. Although in many respects the same rights are granted to those arriving in Hungary as the Hungarian citizens, at first the smallest things can be challenging for them. We provide individual, group and community social services for the refugees, subsidiary protected and third-country nationals who contact us, in order to contribute to their successful social inclusion. 

We are particularly responsible for the successful integration of migrant children. Not only because they are the most vulnerable, but because the attitude towards them determines the kind of society we are heading to.

Effective integration of migrants also requires an inclusive society, therefore it is important for us, beside the support of immigrants and professionals, that the majority society shall become more open and receptive to foreigners coming to Hungary. To this end, we aim to build a bridge between the parties with school and community programs, book publishing and product development.

In addition to addressing the majority society, we also consider the training of the professionals to be essential. In order to strengthen cooperation and professional self-knowledge, we offer migrant-specific, intercultural, conflict management and other competence-building trainings for social workers, administrators, educators, child protection professionals, healthcare and law enforcement staff who deal with refugees and migrants, and those who work at refugee reception centers and guarded shelters.

As a member of international coalitions or independently, Menedék regularly participates in domestic and international level asylum and migration forums. We deliver professional opinions and suggestions to decision-makers in order to ensure that professional aspects are taken into account during the pre-legislative work, in governmental assessment, in decision-making, in the legislation process and during the institutional operation.