Annual Report 1997
Civil College Foundation
1997 was a crucial year for Civil College, the training institution of
community development in Hungary. Following its foundation at the end
of 1994, and preparatory activities in 1995 and 1996, the residential
training centre of the foundation was opened on 27th July 1997 in
Kunszentmiklós-Kunbábony, a small region in the Great Hungarian Plain,
which is situated 70 kms from Budapest to the South.
The building is suitable for training up to 32 people residentially,
and it comprises 8 rooms with bathrooms, a classroom, and a large living
& dining room. The one-time elementary school in the centre of the scattered
village-houses has finally preserved its original function: it is an
educational & community centre, even though it has been adjusted to the different
circumstances of today. Committed people, the members of civil organisations, and
elected representatives from the small region surrounding the school as well as from the
whole country come to the centre to study, while the inhabitants of tiny Kunbábony use the
building as their community centre.
Naturally, the organisation of community development training courses in
Hungary dates from much earlier than the training centre of Civil College
was opened, or the Civil College Foundation was founded in 1994. When
community development was only beginning to take roots in Hungary
during the 70s, it was already appearent that the promotion of local
interests entails the need for action techniques, and that local action
requires the continuous development of one’s existing knowledge and
skills. Nevertheless, the experiences we have obtained since the political
changes took place decided us to organise this learning process in a
regular and more effective way, and with a firm professional background.
The new Non-Profit Act 1997 has brought a number of new legal
opportunities for Hungarian civil society, and if the three sectors co-
operate in local action they can provide a local community with the
opportunity to meet success during their development. This new
challenge can only be owecome in novel ways. We believe that Civil
College has a bright future, and this belief is supported by the success of
our past projects.
Civil College Training Courses in 1997
The courses are practice-oriented, and they are aimed at encouraging
local development through presenting and thinking over new aspects.
I. 'Training Trainers' Programme
Self-education
Venue: the Community and Training Centre in the village of Kunbábony
Facilitators: Bihariné Asbóth Emőke, Boldoczki Éva, Cser Annamária,
Farkas Éva, Huszerl József, Kas Éva, Magyar Istvánné, Makk Katalin, Marsi
Péter, Mészáros Zsuzsa, Péterfi Ferenc, Pocsajiné Fábián Magdolna,
Pósfay Péter, Schmidt Melinda, Varga A. Tamás, Vercseg Ilona.
1-5 February 1997
- the new training centre and its surroundings - partnership building
strategy (s)
- meeting training needs
7-9 March 1997 - The methods of Civil College training courses
13-18 June 1997 - Launching the new Training and Community Centre
13-18 August 1997 - Preparation for the new pilot training courses
II. Pilot Training Courses
Venue: the Community and Training Centre in the village of Kunbábony
Sponsored by Westminster Foundation, London, U.K., the Hungarian
Children and Youth Foundation; United Way International - Network for
Democracy, Budapest; Local Labour Office in the Small Region of Felső-
Kiskunság.
Training courses for developing independent local media
Openly and democratically - the role of local media. How to produce a
local newspaper or run a community radio- or tv-station?
17-19 October 1997
18 people from the counties of Csongrád, Somogy, and Pest.
28-30 November 1997
20 community activists from the Small Region of Csepreg and its
surroundings
Courses for the representatives of civil organisations
Possible fields of operation for NGOs. Self-organisation and democracy.
The scope of democratic operation - constitution, board-meeting,
membership, etc. Citizen participation. Cooperation between local NGOs
and local governments.
2-5 October 1997
19 activists from Püspökladány, Nádasd, and Kecskéd
7-9 November 1997 - Organising alternative services with local volunteers
for small children and young parents.16 community activists from the 10 th
district of Budapest
5-7 December 1997
20 local people from the Small Region of "Mecsekalja" and "Principális"
Community Enterprise Courses - How to create local jobs?
9-11 March 1997
Members of the "Agrya" Youth Agriculture Association in the Small Region
of Mórahalom
15-19 December 1997 - Training for a future co-operative in Kunbábony
Participants: 16 local people
Facilitator: Mészáros Zsuzsa. Guest facilitator: Varga A. Tamás
III. Training for Community Activists:
Sponsored by local authorities, Hungarian foundations, and the PHARE
Programme
For Youth Council Helpers:
9-11 March 1997
16 activists from Western Hungary
16-18 May 1997
15 activists from South-Eastern Hungary
22-24 August
14 activists from the South-West of Hungary
17-21 September
19 activists from all over Hungary
Running a Community Centre Through a Local Association
28 February - 2 March 1997
13 members of the Cultural Association in the village Szőny,
Training course for the volunteers of the Village Centre of Győrvár - 4
occassions starting from April, on a monthly basis, for 15 local people
Involving Local Citizens in Public Life - Community Appraisal
10 occassions starting from January 1997 in the village of Nádasd for 25
local people
Youth Training
20-22 June 1997: Training for Youth Associations in the County of
Baranya, for 15 youth leaders
For Volunteers Working for Local and County Associations
26-29 June 1997
Venue: "Civil Academy" in Debrecen
Theme: Planning
"Civil Weekends 1997" in the City of Békéscsaba
16 February: Fund-raising Course (participants: 35 volunteers)
22 March: Partnership Building Course (participants: 32 volunteers)
30 May - Youth Day for Civil Youth Organisations (participants: 200
volunteers)
16 August - On the New Non-profit Act (participants: 91 volunteers)
Local Media
28 February - 2 March 1997 for 12 volunteers and
11-13 April 1997 - for 15 volunteers - "How to produce a local
newspaper?"
Venue: the village of Győrvár and its surroundings
25-26 April 1997 - "How to prepare news about ourselves?"
Participants: 22 local media representatives
Facilitator: Péterfi Ferenc
Venue: Budapest
25-26 April 1997 - Training for 68 local media representatives in the
Counties of Békés, Csongrád, and Hajdu-Bihar
9-11 May 1997 - On-going training course organised by the Civil Radio for
25 people
Venue: Budapest
24-26 October 1997 - On-going training course organised by the Civil
Radio for 22 people
Venue: Budapest
14-15 November 1997 - Training course for 13 local media
representatives in Budapest
Facilitator: Péterfi Ferenc
IV. Training Courses for the Elected Members of the Boards of
Representatives:
Sponsored by the Westminster Foundation, London.
Themes:
- Local authorities - local power or services for all? Increasing
participation and self-sustainability, preparation for decision-making
together with civil organizations. Partnership building, participation, and
cooperation.
7-10 April 1997
27 leaders (members) of the Minorities' Local Council
Venue: Tarján
3 July 1997 - Training for 15 youth council members from the North-East
of Hungary
Venue: Putnok
Small Regional Courses:
11 September 1997 - Training for 28 elected members from the
Meggyesegyháza Small Region.
14-15 November 1997 - Training for 30 elected council representatives
Venue: the Small Region of Levél
12-13 October 1997
Partnership building in the Counties of Békés and Bihar
For 25 elected members and NGO representatives
Venue: Zsadány
V. Community Development Training Courses
The following courses were organised in co-operation with higher-
educational institutions.
Jannus Pannonius University, Pécs
Evening Course for Adult Educators
Particiapants: 48 students
12-13 March 1997
Regular Course for Social Workers and Social Politicians:
14 students
Regular Course for Health Visitors and Carers - Spring 1997,
22 students
Eötvös Lóránd University of Sciences, Budapest
Regular course for 38 adult educators
Centre for Citizens' Learning
- Community development consultancy for 32 nonprofit managers
(2x2 days in Spring 1997)
- 30 May - 1 June 1997- About Local Media
Community Centre of the County of Békés
Professional Community Development Training Course
January-March 1997
13 people from the County of Békés
Venue: The City of Békéscsaba
College for Foreign Trade
Training courses for a better communication
Participants: 15 2nd and 3rd year students
Dates: 21-23 March, 25-27 April; 1-3, 4-6, 8-14 September; 4-6, 15-17
December 1997
Independent Course:
Training for 12 Social Workers in the Small Region of Hegyhát
8 occassions starting in May and ending in December 1997
VI. Seminars Organised in Co-operation with the Hungarian
Association for Community Development
Sponsored by the Hungarian National Employment Foundation; Charity
Know How, London, U.K.; United Way International Budapest, Hungarian
Institute for Culture
30-31 January 1997 - "What and How to Teach Community Development"?
Participants: teachers from 31 higher-educational institutions from all over
Hungary
Venue: Budapest
28-28 June 1997 - "Community Development and Economy in the
Community - the Role of Community Workers"
Participants: 62 community workers, volunteers, and professionalists
Venue: Kunbábony
31 October - 1 November 1997 - "Social Inclusion and Citizenship in Europe
- the Contribution of Community Development"
International seminar organised by HACD-Civil College and the Combined
European Bureau for Social Development
Venue: Kunbábony
