Debrecen4U July 31, 2026

Debrecen Supports Families as School Year Approaches

At a press conference held on 30 July 2026, Deputy Mayor Diána Széles and Edit Bódor, Chair of the Debrecen Charity Board, provided information on the municipality’s back-to-school support scheme and the Debrecen Charity Board’s school supplies collection campaign.

As Diána Széles explained, although summer is still in full swing and the municipality’s holiday childcare programme offers a wealth of experiences for primary school-aged children, it is already worth drawing the attention of parents and families for whom the start of the school year presents greater-than-average difficulties to the fact that the municipality is able to provide assistance. Moreover, this information is particularly timely because, in addition to municipal support, state back-to-school assistance is also available. The Deputy Mayor emphasised that the municipal support has been available for many years and may be claimed on the basis of financial need. The only change introduced this year is that back-to-school support may now be claimed not only until the child reaches the age of 18, but up to the age of 20. The amount of support is HUF 50,000 per primary school pupil and HUF 40,000 per secondary school pupil.

Information and the necessary application forms can be obtained during office hours from the Social Affairs Department at the City Town Hall (11 Kálvin Square) or online.

Diána Széles repeatedly stressed that the municipal back-to-school support is available on the basis of financial need. This means that the per capita income within the applicant’s household must not exceed a net monthly amount of HUF 110,000, or HUF 145,000 in the case of a single parent. Applications may be submitted to the Social Affairs Department of the Mayor’s Office from 1 July until 31 October, meaning that there is still ample time to apply; however, the Deputy Mayor encourages all those who meet the eligibility criteria to seek information and submit their applications as early as possible.

Diána Széles also spoke about the government’s back-to-school support scheme. This assistance is granted as an entitlement to those within the specified categories of eligibility. Where the relevant eligibility criteria are met, both the municipal and government back-to-school support schemes may be claimed, as one does not exclude the other.

The Debrecen Charity Board has also launched its traditional school supplies collection campaign. According to Chair Edit Bódor, it is psychologically beneficial for children to begin the school year with new, or at least nearly new, educational materials and equipment. They therefore encourage everyone who is able to do so to donate new or gently used school supplies in good condition for the children of families in need.

The Debrecen Charity Board’s permanent collection points are located at the Family and Child Welfare Centre of Debrecen (2/A Thomas Mann Street, behind the Malompark Shopping Centre on Füredi Road), the Karakter 1517 Bookshop and Café (in the Memorial Garden behind the Great Reformed Church), and the Sziget-kék Playground (19 Nagyerdei Boulevard, entrance from Oláh Gábor Street). The Board has already collected school supplies at this year’s Campus Festival and is currently accepting donations at an additional location. Between 30 July and 4 August, the Municipality of Debrecen is organising a drinking water distribution initiative in the city centre between 11:00 and 15:00 on both weekdays and weekends. Volunteers from the Debrecen Charity Board are participating in the initiative and are distributing drinking water to passers-by at the junction of Hatvan Street and Kossuth Square, near the Lőrinc Szabó statue. Edit Bódor drew attention to the fact that school supplies donations are also welcome at this location. During Carnival Week, which accompanies the Debrecen Flower Carnival, the Board’s collection campaign will also be linked to the programme entitled The Memorial Garden Tells Its Story.

Diána Széles, also serving as Co-Chair of the Debrecen Charity Board, added that through these material donations the organisation aims to assist families at the start of the school year who, for one reason or another, are not eligible for either municipal or state back-to-school support, yet are nevertheless considered to be in need. This year, particular emphasis is being placed on supporting pre-school children, as the beginning of the educational year can also place a considerable financial burden on many families.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu