Debrecen offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities. Whether you want to volunteer in education, youth work, the environment or community development, there are many organisations to choose from.

Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta 

The Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta is a highly charitable organisation and a Hungarian Catholic charity network. The Service is a member of the international family of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, under the supervision of the Knights Hospitaller of the Hungarian Knights of Malta. Its founding president is Imre Kozma.

With a history dating back to the late 1980s, a period of significant political upheaval, the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta has been a steadfast beacon of hope for those in need, both at home and abroad.

United under the symbol of the eight-pointed Maltese cross, the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta operates as a network of regional organisations, each covering two to three county regions. This collaborative approach extends to their partnerships with governments and social organisations, ensuring that they work together to make a difference in the region.

Information on volunteering

The organisation offers volunteering opportunities by prior arrangement, for more details click here.

Volunteering tasks include:

• Caring for older people, elderly care,
• Caring for the homeless,
• Childcare and assistance with family activities,
• Caring for the disabled,
• Food service,
• Relief work in crisis and disaster situations,
• Health work,
• Other activities.

An agreement is required to start volunteering.

Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta (Debrecen Group)

Address: 4025 Debrecen, Erzsébet Street 24/A
Phone: +36 (52) 311 749
Leader: Barnabás Szél
E-mail: szel.barnabas@maltai.hu
Website: Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta (Debrecen Group)

Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA)

Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA), founded in 1991, is one of Hungary’s largest, internationally recognized charity organizations. The founding churches’ initiative grew into a community of professionals, volunteers, donors and responsible corporate partners to help people in need, wherever they may be. Apart from social programmes in Hungary, Hungarian Interchurch Aid also carries out humanitarian and development work in over 50 countries, helping those in need regardless of nationality, religion, or worldview while meeting the highest professional and transparency requirements.

Information on volunteering

The organization cannot accept volunteers permanently, only for specific actions. The following actions will take place in December 2024.

Volunteers can help by prior agreement on the organization’s Family Day on 8 December and support food distribution at the organization’s Simonffy Street headquarters between 24 and 29 December 2024.

Volunteers are also welcome by prior agreement at their premises on Monostorpályi Road for gardening work (weeding, hoeing, mowing).

Address: 4025 Debrecen, Simonffy Street 32.
Phone: +36 52 322 919
E-mail: debrecen@segelyszervezet.hu
Website: https://segelyszervezet.hu/

Dorkász Szolgálat

The Dorkas Service Foundation, with Dutch roots, was founded in 1991 by Dirk Jan Groot. In 1982, Groot was inspired to set up an international Christian aid organisation to help the oppressed in communist countries.

In 2016, the Hungarian organisation became independent from its Dutch parent organisation, with which it has maintained good relations ever since. The Board of Trustees of the Dorkas Ministry Foundation comprises interdenominational church and community leaders.

The Hungarian organisation, now called Dorkász Szolgálat, is located in the Dorkász Centre in Debrecen-Erdőspustán. The centre provides 5.5 hectares of land for sports, camps, and conferences, mainly for church groups and disadvantaged people. With the help of its supporters, it implements its development programmes in 6 municipalities in cooperation with more than 40 churches and institutions.

They primarily support groups, including families in need, disadvantaged children and elderly people living in difficult circumstances.

Through its diaconal programmes, it distributes an average of 22 tonnes of clothing and 22 tonnes of food annually to around 10,000 beneficiaries.

Information on volunteering

Volunteering tasks include:

• Communication tasks (managing tik-tok, editing videos, etc.),
• Outstations (stand operation, information provision, etc.),
• Landscaping (gardening, planting flowers),
• Donations (preparation of food packages, distribution of leaflets, etc.),
• Carrying out social tasks (running camps, helping with play development afternoons, etc.),
• Physical work (Playground renovation, garbage collection, etc.).

An agreement is required to start volunteering.

Address: 4002 Debrecen, Erdőspuszta, Dorkász tanya 1.
E-mail: onkentesseg@dorcas.hu
Phone: +36 30 480 6088
Website: https://dorkasz.hu/en/

ReFoMix Nonprofit Közhasznú Kft.

ReFoMix, founded in 2001, is one of the largest homelessness service providers in the North Great Plain region, offering a wide range of services to homeless individuals and families (especially Roma families with children) threatened by homelessness. As the professionals of ReFoMix, they strive to make Debrecen a city where nobody is forced to sleep outside and where they can provide accommodations for people without homes.

Their values include:

• Respect for human dignity: The service user is at the heart of their work.
• Commitment: They believe that every person’s life can be improved.
• Flexibility: They can meet the changing needs of service users.
• Creativity and innovation: They are constantly developing new ideas to improve the lives of people without homes.

Their priority is to make the lives of service users more human and liveable by meeting their emergency and basic needs (shelter, laundry, medical care, food, etc.). They then provide services that offer a way out of homelessness by providing job opportunities and a regular income.

Information on volunteering

Volunteers can organise a fundraiser on their own to collect cleaning supplies, materials for creative activities and non-perishable food for people without a home. They can also collect toys for children in temporary homes.

Occasionally, volunteers may also teach English to young people living in an institution. To start this joint work, a certificate of good conduct valid within one year is required, and a minimum level of Hungarian is an advantage.

All voluntary assignments require prior consultation and approval.

Address: 4030 Debrecen, Bégány Street 4.
Phone: +36 52 530 817
E-mail: peter_bakos@refomix.hu
Website: https://www.refomix.hu/english

Mosolyvirág Association of Large Families in Debrecen

The association, founded in 2000, is a steadfast ally for families and children growing up in families. It is deeply committed to protecting the interests of large families, ensuring their health is preserved, and organizing community activities. Its dedication to health preservation provides a sense of security to our members.

Their members are families with three or more children.

Since its inception, the Mosolyvirág Association has seen a remarkable growth in its membership, doubling every year. They are proud to have 250 member families, a testament to the increasing support for their mission. The association is growing dynamically, with almost no members leaving.

Their core values and activities include:

• Values research ( the values of families and children growing up in families),
• Advocacy and protection of interests,
• Community building and development.

They organize regular discussions and lectures on various topics for adults every two weeks, while for children, they organize craft activities and sports programs. Self-awareness trainings are also provided for adult couples.

A series of health programmes are held every two weeks, involving doctors, nurses, dieticians, nutritionists, and physiotherapists.

They are also working with several NGOs.

Information on volunteering

Volunteers can help at their warehouse at 46 Kishegyesi Road every weekday between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tasks include packing food, packing clothes, and folding clothes.

Volunteers can help at their meeting every two weeks by making crafts with the children between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. while the parents listen to a presentation; or help with packing and registering.

Their next event (“Find Santa!”), where volunteers can help, will be in early December.

No qualifications are required to volunteer, but volunteers must have some knowledge of Hungarian. An agreement is required to start volunteering.

Address: 4031 Debrecen, Angyalföld Square  11.
E-mail: debreceninagycsaladosok@gmail.com
Website: http://mosolyvirag.hu/

Association for Children in Haláp

In 2006, the association’s founders travelled to Transylvania, where they visited the St. Francis of Deva Foundation’s Children’s Home in Szárhegy. They saw that the children desperately needed help, so they asked friends and acquaintances back home to help them collect surplus clothes, shoes, and old schoolbags if they could. Many donations were collected. With poverty on the rise, more and more children need help from across the border and beyond. Because of the increased tasks, they thought this would not work efficiently enough with family and friends, so they founded the Association.

The Association aims to initiate, promote, and support all activities that support social, cultural, and health-promoting activities for disadvantaged people and individuals.

Within this framework, the primary objectives of the Association are:

• Helping disadvantaged children and families, improving their living conditions,
• Organising regular (weekend) activities to facilitate the integration of disadvantaged children,
• Developing children’s skills,
• Maintaining contact with Hungarians living beyond the border,
• Learning about and appreciating our nature.

To achieve its aims, the Association cooperates with all national and international public, social, and business organisations, other associations, and federations that help it operate effectively and achieve its aims. It shall pursue these objectives as a public benefit, non-profit-making Association. It seeks to achieve the objectives set out above through applications, grants, and paid membership fees.

Information on volunteering

Volunteers at the association can help with physical work (gardening, yard work) and IT. Volunteering does not require a degree, but volunteers must have some knowledge of Hungarian. An agreement is required to start volunteering.

Address: 4078 Debrecen-Haláp, Sármány Street 11.
Phone: +36 20 343 3467
Website: https://halaponagyermekekert.hu/

„HAJRÁ FUTÁS” Youth, Cultural and Sports Association   

The “HAJRÁ FUTÁS” Association was founded in 2015 with 14 founding members. Currently, its membership is 16.

The association has two main objectives:  

• By organizing the HAJRÁ FUTÁS Nagyerdei running race series, they would like to promote a healthy, sporty lifestyle and achieve a better quality of life. 
• They celebrate the names and achievements of athletes who once made it big. This is achieved first and foremost through posts on the Facebook community page, the annual ATHLETIC MEETINGS for outstanding athletes, and invitations to their competitions. Great athletes are showcased, and their achievements are highlighted, setting an example for young people.

Information on volunteering

Their association organises races from April to September. Volunteers can help manage the races. The next race will take place in April 2025. All voluntary assignments require prior consultation and approval.

E-mail: istvancseke55@gmail.com
Phone: +36 30 6953 880
Website: https://hajrafutas.hu/

Debrecen Citizen Guard Association (Debreceni Polgárőr Egyesület a Cívis Városért)

The main goal of the Debrecen Citizen Guard Association (Debreceni Polgárőr Egyesület a Cívis Városért) is to increase citizens’ security. The guards detain the perpetrator if a crime is detected until law enforcement officials arrive.

In addition to their guard duties, the association regularly organises litter picks and forest cleaning, distributes non-perishable food, and works with young people.

Information on volunteering

Volunteers can participate in the litter picking and forest cleaning programme. The next event will be on 22 November (assembly at 12:30 p.m. at Bánki Tájház). No qualifications or language skills are required to volunteer. All voluntary assignments require prior consultation and approval.

Address: 4028 Debrecen, Kinizsi Street 55.
Website: Facebook – Debreceni Polgárőr Egyesület a Cívis Városért