International Volunteer Day was established by the United Nations’ General Assembly through Resolution of 17 December 1985. The Resolution of 26 November 2002 adopted by the General Assembly of the international organisation calls upon national governments to support volunteering as a strategic instrument of economic and social recovery. It is not only the world organisation that pays special attention to the importance of volunteering, but it is strongly supported also at European level; 2011 was designated as the European Year of Volunteering by the European Union.
The Hungarian Government expressed its full commitment to the European Union’s initiative, organising and supporting volunteer activities promoting active citizenship for twelve months with the active participation of the State Secretariat for Church, Civil Society and Nationality Affairs.
The Government intends to strengthen the population's approach to social responsibility by introducing compulsory community service in schools. The aim is for students involved in volunteering to become conscious, responsible and active citizens. International Volunteer Day is celebrated every year on the 5th of December; this year, Minister of State for Public Education Dr. Rózsa Hoffmann, presented certificates of merit to schools which have been the best at introducing community service (11 secondary schools).
In these institutions all students have begun the performance of the fifty hours of community service, which will be a prerequisite for receiving the secondary school leaving certificate from 2016.
The measure laid down in the Act on National Public Education primarily serves to change of mindset of young people concerning their relation to their closer and wider environment, people in need and public welfare. One objective of this provision is to strengthen the feeling of solidarity and tolerance in the upcoming generation and develop students' cooperative and problem-solving skills.
Students may choose what type of community service they are interested in. They can help the work of professionals within the fields of public health, education, culture, environmental protection, conservation and disaster management, or perform social and charity work. Experience clearly proves that young people who have performed community service became more understanding of the problems of people who are in need of help in their communities. Sympathy and attentiveness to other people enriches not only the personality of future generations but also creates a better and more liveable world for all of us.
The following institutions received certificates from the Minister of State: Piarist Primary School, Secondary School and Secondary Vocational School, Mosonmagyaróvár; Saint Orsolya Roman Catholic Primary School, Secondary School, and Dormitory, Sopron; Jericho Christian Secondary School for Humane Studies and Secondary School Specializing in Pedagogy, Budapest; ADDETUR Baptist Secondary School and Secondary Vocational School, Budapest; András Hámori Vocational Secondary School and Vocational School, Tiszafüred; Ottó Hermann School for Vocational Education in Horticulture, Environmental Protection and Game-Economy, and Dormitory, Szombathely; Albert Szent-Györgyi Secondary Vocational School and Vocational School, Ajka; Páterdombi School for Vocational Education, Zalaegerszeg; Saint Stephen Secondary School Specializing in Music and Music School in the 14 district of Budapest; Secondary School and Vocational School Specializing in Technical Studies in Szolnok; Sándor Illéssy Baptist Secondary Vocational School and Vocational School, Kisújszállás.
(Ministry for National Economy)
