Debrecen4U November 17, 2025

Debrecen Honors Social Workers on Day of Social Work

On November 17, 2025, the Family and Child Welfare Center of Debrecen held a ceremony to mark the Day of Social Work.

During the event, staff members who had performed outstanding work received professional recognition.

In her welcome speech, Ibolya Aurélia Orosz, head of the center, recalled that since 1997, November 12 has been recognized as the Day of Social Work at the initiative of the International Federation of Social Workers, and since 1998 Hungary has also expressed gratitude to those who dedicate their lives to helping, caring, and supporting others. Since 2017, the day has been a public holiday for those working in the field, further emphasizing the profession’s social importance and esteem. She stressed that the day exists to draw attention to those who mobilize strength, patience, empathy, and a sense of vocation every day so that people in difficult situations are never left alone.

At the ceremony, she greeted all colleagues working in social and child welfare, praising their preparedness, commitment, and high professional standards. She described social work as a true mission — a service that combines professional knowledge with humanity, sensitivity, and boundless perseverance. Those working in this field not only provide answers to social challenges but also help build a more inclusive and supportive community through their daily work. The Family and Child Welfare Center represents Debrecen’s caring approach, offering support to all generations. Today, the center is a unified, well-functioning, and professionally strong community of 195 staff members — prepared, dedicated, and committed professionals who create value every day with their knowledge, experience, and humanity.

On behalf of the leadership, Orosz expressed gratitude for her colleagues’ devoted and persistent work, thanking them for making the institution a true support, a safe point, and an inclusive community for those who rely on it — serving the safety, dignity, and future of Debrecen’s people.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles, responsible for the city’s care policy, emphasized that the Day of Social Work and its related events are especially important to her, as they provide an opportunity to personally thank staff for their irreplaceable service in finding solutions to difficulties faced by children and families. She noted that in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the age of social media, this work has become more challenging than ever. According to her, those who dedicate themselves to others and to the community make significant sacrifices, often putting themselves second to serve families. She warned that such work can be exhausting, so professionals must also care for themselves to continue helping for as long as possible. Building a true community among social workers, rather than just a workplace collective, plays a key role in this.

She also highlighted a new mental health program to be launched in institutions of the Debrecen District Education Center, titled “The Power of Embrace.” The initiative aims to improve children’s mental health through cooperation, dialogue, and continuous contact between children, parents, and schools — for example, by reducing the frequency of self-harm. She stressed that the city seeks to support families in need through such collective efforts.

The deputy mayor thanked the staff of the Family and Child Welfare Center for their sacrifices in serving the community — supporting more than 40,000 children and caring for over 2,800 families in Debrecen — and for remaining dedicated despite challenges.

At the ceremony, Beáta Bódi, a social worker in kindergartens and schools at the center, was specially honored for receiving Debrecen’s Boncz László Award on October 23.

Based on their work in 2025, several staff members received professional recognition:

• Ildikó Sólyom, family support worker (Family and Child Welfare Service)
• Judit Varga-Kovács, case manager (Family and Child Welfare Center)
• Anikó Elek Tóthné, caregiver (Temporary Care Unit)
• Lászlóné Szabó, family support worker (Family and Child Welfare Service)
• Dr. Zsolt Urbán, economic administrator and legal advisor (Family and Child Welfare Center) — absent from the ceremony

The event also featured a surprise performance by Kira Nagy and Richárd Kránicz, artists of the Csokonai National Theatre of Debrecen.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu