“It’s important to feel the power we have as residents”

We spoke with Petra Sára Kiss and Zsófia Lázár, members of the Zöldendre Association and participants in our Revitalising Small Towns Programme, about taking up abandoned green issues in Szentendre, the relationship between advocacy and community building, shaping small-town thinking, and the nature of power.

Why did you feel it was up to you to deal with community issues?

Petra Sára Kiss: I grew up in Szentendre and have always loved living here because I saw strong communities organizing events and fostering a vibrant cultural life that was easy to engage with. As a typical resident, I had never been particularly involved in environmental issues, but I noticed that the local environment was in danger. Szentendre is livable because of its close connection to nature, yet there was little focus on preserving this. The town is constantly growing, and for some reason, most people still associate development with more concrete, more buildings, and easier car access. Environmental issues continue to be downplayed, which made it increasingly important to address them.

Zsófia Lázár: Szentendre has a unique characteristic: protected natural areas “flow” through the town—there are four streams and the Danube, which connects directly to the historic center. The city’s fabric is equally composed of nature and built infrastructure. However, we see no real strategy from the local government on how to preserve this or recognize its value, despite the fact that—especially in the climate crisis—this is an incredible treasure.

I’ve long wanted to work on environmental issues because I’m deeply interested in how to act ethically in the age of climate change. Of course, individuals can change their behavior, but the impact is limited; saving the planet is too great a challenge. So I searched for a level where I could make a real impact. I realized that this was at the local level—here, we can influence policies and promote awareness. Initially, I was focused on promoting climate-conscious lifestyles, I didn’t expect that we would have to fight to protect areas already designated as protected by law. Yet, this is exactly what happened. Two major urban issues (see the boxed text) sparked organization among environmentally conscious people and later the broader community.

Is environmental advocacy as important as community building? How do they relate to each other?

Zs.L.: A specific issue brings the community together, which can then continue to grow.

P.S.K.: Right here, right now, yes. Beyond that, I also realized that you don’t have to be an official decision-maker to shape public life and your town—you have opportunities as a resident as well. If you find like-minded people who share a vision, you can achieve a lot.

Does your community keep growing around new issues?

Zs.L.: It’s a bit more conscious than that (smiles). In short, our first issue was protecting a lake that a developer literally wanted to fill in. This shocking story brought together a core group, and we started working together. But we also wanted to ensure that we weren’t just seen as fighters or activists, so we focused on activities that were easier for people to connect with.

What kind of activities?

P.S.K.: Awareness-raising. Alongside advocacy, education is central to our work. We organized events where experts talked about how to live in harmony with a stream, for example. We want people to understand why we want to protect something and how it relates to their lives.

Zs.L.: These discussions focused on how to engage with urban nature in an informed and sensitive way.

Are people interested? Do they get involved?

S.P.K.: Yes. We were surprised by how much interest these programs generated, especially considering the persistent misconception that development equals infrastructure expansion.

Did interest extend beyond those directly affected, such as residents living along the streams?

S.P.K.: Yes, it was citywide. That’s because Szentendre isn’t just about cobblestone streets and museums—it’s also about the Danube and the Pilis mountains. People move here for these reasons, not to turn it into a big city with shopping malls and wide roads.

Zs.L.: There’s a contradiction: people move here for the green space and Budapest’s proximity, yet they end up stuck in traffic. Many don’t anticipate what suburban life entails. Others struggle with the constant expansion—both in population and built areas.

Can you engage the indifferent or those who prioritize driving? How can you change their perspective?

Zs.L.: We’re still exploring this. Keep in mind, we’ve only been active for about a year and a half, during which we’ve tackled two major advocacy cases and organized an educational program series—so it’s been intense. What you’re asking is a huge challenge that will take time.

S.P.K.: It’s also important to recognize that people who drive aren’t necessarily indifferent to the environment. I have a car and use it when needed. It’s not about two opposing sides. I don’t believe in contrasting “green people” with “non-green people.”

For the previous beneficiaries of the Revitalising Small Towns Programme living in the suburbs, it was important to blur the lines between locals and newcomers and to engage with the many newly arrived residents. Is this a goal for you as well?

S.P.K.: I don’t think we can make distinctions like locals loving nature while newcomers only want to drive cars—there are many common points among those who live here, such as a love for nature. Beyond that, I see that new residents want to connect with the city and contribute something to it.

L.Zs.: I don’t think there’s such a sharp divide either. Szentendre has always been a culturally diverse and inclusive city, where, besides Hungarians, Serbs, Dalmatians, Germans, Slovaks, and Greeks have lived, and we have nine churches. It’s hard to imagine what a diverse community already existed in such a small area back in the 1700s.

When you appeared on the scene a year and a half ago, how did the local civil community and the municipality receive you? How has your relationship evolved since then?

L.Zs.: For many years, there was a strong civil presence in Szentendre, but then the people who embodied this presence took decision-making positions in the local government, and as a result, the civil sphere more or less emptied out. Then a particular issue emerged that required civil oversight, and those who cared about nature conservation stepped up to fill this gap—including us.

S.P.K.: Precisely because of our advocacy work, our relationship with the municipality has become somewhat conflictual. We are working to ensure that civic engagement, participation, and a love for nature are not just empty slogans. It’s also important to understand that if you, as a civil actor, express a critical stance toward a municipality composed of former civil activists, it doesn’t mean you are an enemy. At the same time, it doesn’t mean that you should be expected to voluntarily take over municipal tasks. Ideally, a municipality should support independent civil initiatives rather than seeing them as a threat or competition.

L.Zs.: We need to recognize that this is not a case of “civilians versus civilians.” Rather, they have transitioned into decision-making roles, while we have remained on the civil side.

Does power change everyone?

L.Zs.: No. Their role is simply different now.

But isn’t that what power means?

L.Zs.: A decision-maker has a certain position of power, but ultimately, it is just a role they take on for a period of time. I would rather approach this from the perspective that it’s not ideal to elect people every five years, put them in positions of power, and then expect them to fulfill all our requests while only really taking citizens’ voices seriously in the year leading up to the next election. It would be more effective if they consistently focused on public needs, ensuring that the vision of more than just 10, 12, or 14 individuals is realized.

S.P.K.: It’s important to focus not just on what city leaders can or will do but also on the power we hold as residents. If we have a vision, can organize, and find supporters, we can shape our city. I know I’ve said this before, but it can’t be emphasized enough.

How did you come across the Revitalising Small Towns Programme by the Roots and Wings Foundation? Why did you decide to apply?

L.Zs.: I had been following the program for a while and knew the two previous grant recipients. I saw how active they were and became interested in what exactly the program supports. So when I noticed the new call for applications, I paid attention.

S.P.K.: I was aware of the program too. What intrigued me was how having our own organization could expand our possibilities. We realized that as an association, a formal entity, we would have more opportunities to secure funding and be taken more seriously. The programme of RWF specifically provides support to build and strengthen your own community and organization.

So the formation of your association, Zöldendre, was part of an organic process that the RWF support reinforced?

L.Zs.: Yes. Even as an informal group, we participated in the Strengthening Civil Communities incubator program to expand beyond advocacy and also run awareness-raising and educational programs that are easier for people to connect with. Let’s be honest—advocacy is a tough field. It requires a lot of work, constant readiness, and often leads to frustration, making it harder for people to stay involved long-term.

What do you expect from the support of RWF?

L.Zs.: Personal development. I didn’t particularly want to, but I have found myself in this quasi-community leader role, and I would like to take on this role more consciously and confidently. I’d also love for our core team to work more intentionally and knowledgeably since, until now, we’ve mostly acted intuitively.

S.P.K.: I believe that if we receive professional support for our concept, we can represent it more credibly, effectively, and involve more people. And of course, we expect funding as well (laughs).

That’s fair. What would you spend it on?

L.Zs.: Running the organization and our programs naturally involves costs. Beyond that, we often need expert and legal assistance for different causes, which can’t always be requested on a voluntary basis.

S.P.K.: Civic engagement shouldn’t necessarily mean exhausting, unpaid volunteer work that leads nowhere. It is possible to secure financial support so that our activities have a more structured, professional nature.

How do you find the energy to do all this for the city while also working?

L.Zs.: In 2024, I often found myself working like an employee while doing volunteer work, and I don’t want to continue this way. I’ll need the association’s support to change that. Still, I don’t regret putting so much energy into these important causes during the early phase of our organization.

S.P.K.: I believe that what we’re doing has meaning, and that’s what keeps me going. Of course, it’s exhausting too, but I can’t help myself—I have to keep at it.

What do you consider the biggest achievement of the past year and a half?

S.P.K.: Environmental concerns have clearly become part of the city’s discourse. Our topics and organization have made it onto the map.

(Iván Bardócz)