Revitalising
Small Towns

It’s worth
staying!

Our goal is to strengthen community leaders who create an intellectual milieu in their small town and mobilize local resources to implement the ideas of those who live there.

WE SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STAYED

We support projects that are important to local people and show them their ability to take control of their own affairs, and thus strengthen their common values. We place great emphasis on mobilizing creative capacity and power, as well as strengthening autonomy and the ability of self-renewal. To this end, we provide 3-year financial and professional support to those who have applied to our programme successfully.

In recent years, the population of small towns has decreased by a third on average. The composition of society has also changed rapidly: the more affluent, educated and flexible have left. We want to support active participation by strengthening those who have stayed!

Alakítsuk együtt a kisvárosok jövőjét!

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WHAT IS THE REVITALISING SMALL TOWNS PROGRAMME?

Our aim is to empower community people living and working in small towns, creating an intellectual environment and mobilising local resources to realise the visions of the people who live there. We work with programmes that

are important to local people,
show that they can take control of their own affairs,
common values such as creative capacity, autonomy or the ability to innovate are strengthened.

To this end, we provide financial and technical support for 3 years to 7 community leaders in 6 small towns.

OUR GRANTEES

Andrea Baraksó-Kovács

“My dream is a community that is proud of its past, knows how to use its own resources well, and is capable of building a more livable common future.”

Janka Becsey

“I am motivated by young people, by showing how to create supportive communities and ensure safety in an inclusive, accepting environment.”

Alíz Martók

“I enjoy working with organizations. I want them to feel good in their roles and be able to move forward with confidence.”

Petra Sára Kiss and Zsófia Lázár

“As a lone green organization in the city, we want to introduce a mindset into public discourse that keeps the balance between humans and nature.”

Anita K.Nagyné Karácsony

“I am happy that we can help families, that children can grow up in a more predictable and secure environment.”

Szabolcs Márk Kis

“In my vision of the city, Roma and non-Roma young people build communities together.”

HOW DO WE SUPPORT?

This is a development grant, not a general purpose grant. It is intended to contribute to the implementation of development programmes in local organisations, organising and supporting local community cohesion and issues, through two strands: professional cooperation and accompaniment, and financial support.

Our professional support is designed to support local leaders and their groups to strengthen their local role, to give them a supportive function and to allocate local resources. The direction of the professional support is twofold. As well as strengthening leadership skills and professional networks, we are also working on local resources, identifying real local needs and mobilising resources on their behalf.
Our financial support is limited to HUF 4.5 million, which is available in decreasing amounts for 3 consecutive years. The use of the financial support by the GYSZA is open, apart from sub-distribution, and may be limited in the future, mainly for technical reasons.

The first funding period of our Foundation’s Revitalising Small Towns programme for 2020-2023 has ended. We evaluated its impact on the beneficiaries and the life of the local community with Gábor Héra, Senior Researcher at HOLO.

more about the evaluation

ABOUT THE HUNGARIAN COUNTRYSIDE

In recent years, the population of small towns has decreased by a third on average. There has been a strong fluctuation in terms of the composition of society: the more affluent, educated and flexible have left. Negative social and economic trends are strong, but we believe that there are local alternatives to turn them around!

Our main points of focus: