Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog inaugurated the TKKI Csillagpont Service House in Ózd on 30 July. The inauguration marks the conclusion of a successful project to facilitate the social inclusion of families living in extreme poverty within the framework of a comprehensive programme.

On this occasion, Pál Andó, the President of the István Türr Education and Research Centre (TKKI) responsible for implementation held the inaugural speech. The project is part of the Trust and Work programme launched last year with a total budget of 410 million forints, with full national financing.

At the Velence housing estate in Ózd, 3 rented social flats have been completely renovated and in the newly inaugurated TKKI Csillagpont Service House, new premises suitable for community programmes and consultations have been established with the help of 36 local residents taking part in the construction maintenance training program. As part of the community areas, a new playground was also built.

At the Hétes housing estate, 45 rented social flats have been equipped with electric metering in cooperation with ELMŰ and ÉMÁSZ. This exemplary cooperation between the state and the private sector has ended the area’s longstanding electricity problems.

The ’Kiskert’ gardening programme was successful at both estates. Under this programme, experts from TKKI provided seeds and horticultural training to 60 households so that they may produce basic foods themselves. A total of 151 people received certificates having successfully completed the horticulture or construction training programs.

The programme element focusing on community development was particularly successful. A number of youth clubs, sports programmes, study rooms and media workshops have been established, thus contributing to the development of individual skills and community life.

The Trust and Work programme aimed at the social inclusion of families living in extreme poverty was elaborated by the State Secretary for Social Inclusion, under the leadership of Zoltán Balog in 2011 and has been implemented locally by the Ministry’s professional institute, the TKKI. The model programme is part of the National Social Inclusion Strategy adopted at the end of last year. Those involved in the complex programme saw their housing and neighbourhood conditions improve and they were also given the possibility to develop their individual skills. They were provided with vocational training in the framework of which they themselves took part in renewing their own environment.

The programme was implemented in various parts of Hungary, including the Huszár housing estate in Nyíregyháza, Komló, Vajszló and its micro environment, Szolnok and Tiszaroff as well as the above-mentioned estates in Ózd. The programme is the result of wide-scale social cooperation involving the private sector, NGOs, municipalities and the church, and provides great impetus to the social inclusion of families living in extreme poverty.

(Prime Minister’s Office)