Support to young volunteers

Types of support

A list of support types available for volunteer activities are specified in the Act LXXXVIII of 2005 on Public Interest Volunteer Activities (Volunteer Act) (2005. évi LXXXVIII. törvény a közérdekű önkéntes tevékenységről). The Act ensures that young people can participate in solidarity activities without financial burden by allowing host organisations to provide various reimbursements that are not considered taxable income The support type can be work clothing, protective equipment; travel, accommodation, meal costs; vaccination, medical examination; extracurricular training related to the volunteer activity; aid equipment; life, health and accident insurance; compensation for damage caused by a volunteer; daily allowance for a volunteer in Hungary from abroad or for a Hungarian volunteer working abroad and rewards.

Specific target groups

In 2025–2026 specific target group included students in vocational education and training in the 'Profession with Heart and Soul' ('Szívvel lélekkel szakmát') programme. It specifically targets vocational centers to foster a culture of service among students who might otherwise have less access to formal volunteering frameworks. Furthermore, through the university admission system, students from disadvantaged backgrounds can leverage their volunteering hours for institutional points, further enhancing their participation.

Digital volunteering

Digitalisation has become a key tool in reducing barriers for those who cannot physically participate in traditional or international mobility. The 'How are you?' ('Hogy tetszik lenni?') programme was launched in 2020 in the online space in response to the pandemic and still works today. This programme continues to facilitate digital/telephone-based volunteering, where young people provide company and emotional support to elderly people remotely. This '50 Hours for Others' ('50 óra másokért') digital platform, launched under the UN Youth Delegate programme, serves as a high-tech matching tool. It allows young people with disabilities or limited mobility to search for and identify volunteering opportunities - including digital or local ones - that align with their skills and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Support to organisations promoting inclusion

Although, there is no single fund exclusively for organisations working with disadvantaged youth, the state uses weighted funding mechanisms to promote inclusion. In all grant applications under the Children and Youth Fund (Gyermek és Ifjúsági Alap), organisations receive extra evaluation points if their project involves young volunteers from disadvantaged backgrounds or targets groups at risk of social exclusion. Programmes like the above mentioned 'Profession with Heart and Soul' provide specific financial resources to institutions that successfully engage vocational students in solidarity projects. In case of the 'Register of Voluntary Organisations in the Public Interest' (Közérdekű Önkéntes Szervezeti Regiszter) the overall increase in the host environment - with 4–5 new organisations registering weekly - broadens the geographical and professional availability of volunteering, making it more accessible to young people living in disadvantaged rural areas.

Community building

Policy measures in Hungary increasingly recognise volunteering as a primary tool for fostering social cohesion and integrating young people into their local and professional communities.

European networks and mobility communities

The Tempus Public Foundation regularly organises events for those young people who are involved in European volunteering programmes to ensure they remain part of a supportive network even after their service. In 2025, the 'Go on an adventure!' ('Kalandra fel!') was a flagship event which provided an opportunity for participants of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), Erasmus+ or DiscoverEU programmes to exchange experience and become a part of a youth community. The target group of the event was 18–31-year-olds. Tempus also strengthens the background support system by organising annual three-day workshops for ESC mentors and coordinators, focusing on skill development and peer-to-peer experience exchange. The foundation also promotes the EuroPeers network, encouraging former volunteers to share their stories and inspire others to join international solidarity projects.

National initiatives for social cohesion and integration

Beyond cross-border mobility, significant efforts are made to build communities within the national volunteering framework. The University Volunteer Point, or 'KÖZÖS.' (the word itself means 'Common Point'), was launched in September 2024 on the initiative of the Deputy State Secretariat for Young People of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, with the cooperation of the National Youth Council (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Tanács). The programme aims to build university communities where volunteering and solidarity can become an experience available to all students. The objectives include promoting volunteering and social responsibility, as well as young people's personal and professional development, enhancing their labour market benefits, strengthening social contacts and supporting local NGOs. These volunteer points coordinate volunteer programmes at higher education institutions, provide mentors for students, and enable students to receive (in general 2) credits and institutional admission points for volunteering. By early 2026, the network has expanded to six active volunteer points. 

In 2025, there were other events aimed at community building, such as the 'Jókai200' (the name of the programme is coming from the name of a Hungarian poet), which was a 24–hour long reading marathon serving as practical example of community building between different age groups. By involving over 100 young and elderly volunteers in a shared cultural space at the Ministry, the initiative demonstrates how volunteering can bridge generational gaps.

Tackling societal challenges

There are various programmes for young volunteers to contribute to solving societal challenges. These are mainly related to environmental challenges:

'You pick it up!' ('TeSzedd!'), which is the most significant voluntary waste collection movement in Hungary, organised annually since 2011. The programme aims to reduce the amount of illegally dumped waste by involving the general public and to increase environmental awareness and the role of volunteering in society. The initiative brings together thousands of volunteers - individuals, schools, NGOs, businesses and municipalities - to clean up public spaces, forests, parks and roadsides across the country. The Ministry of Energy (Energiaügyi Minisztérium) supports the programme and is organised and coordinated by the National Coordination of Waste Management and Asset Management Plc. The last TeSzedd! 2025 campaign occurred between 7 and 13 April, with thousands of volunteers collecting illegally abandoned waste nationwide. (TeSzedd! – Önkéntesen a tiszta Magyarországért)

'72 hours without compromise' ('72 óra kompromisszum nélkül'), which is a three-day ecumenical youth volunteering event jointly organised by the Hungarian Catholic Church, the Hungarian Reformed Church and the Hungarian Evangelical Church. The programme encourages young people to help their communities and environment through community service activities while strengthening social responsibility and cooperation. During the event, participants are involved in various social, ecological, and development projects, such as helping the elderly, renovating playgrounds, cleaning up forests, and organising cultural programmes. In addition to the churches, the programme is supported by public institutions, including the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (Kulturális és Innovációs Minisztérium) and the Prime Minister's Office (Miniszterelnökség). The latest action, which took place from 9 to 12 October 2025, involved more than 8 000 young people from all over the country.

(For more information, see 9.4 Raising awareness about global issues.)