Finding our Local Powers – Apply to our autumn human rights course!
Do you want to:
– get to know how democratic power functions at the local level?
– be a part of a diverse, young team of refugees, migrants and Hungarians?
– explore human rights issues faced by refugees in Budapest?
– learn and have fun with interactive educational methods?
If yes, apply to the Hungarian Helsinki Committee’s Human Rights Course by 14 September!
What will we do?
- We will explore how a cool municipality works in Budapest.
- We will collect information about local human rights problems faced by refugees living in Budapest.
- We will turn these human rights problems into creative drama scenes with an exciting method called Forum Theater.
- We will invite locals to join us in finding powerful solutions to human rights problems.
How do we work with youth?
- We work using the philosophy of critical pedagogy:
- we respect youth;
- we treat youth as experts;
- and we allow youth to shape our programme.
- We use human rights focused interactive, creative and experiential education methods. So, we will count on your active participation!
What youth said about our courses:
- “The course was a very good experience for me. I have never met a group where the members were so open to refugees or foreigners. It is so cool to be a part of the teams and the workshops, because it is the participants, us who come up with ideas for our projects together with the mentors. New members don’t need to worry about not having experience because the mentors are there to help and they teach the things that participants need to know.” (Basbibi, 19-year-old Afghan participant)
- “I would say to others that you can feel important here. You are dealing with important topics. And our HHC mentors make us feel important. It is a whole new experience. One year ago I was a lot shier, I wasn’t that confident to speak out in front of others. Nowadays I am much more confident. I think it is because of you, you taught me how to relax myself and to be more confident.” (Dávid, 20-year-old Hungarian participant)
- “Helsinki uses a new approach to human rights and what they do. Group projects, social rounds and open conversations might be the approach to multiple things at different places, but making a human sculpture of a concept, or describing yourself through a toy, or roleplaying a human right violation scene to actually see where the problem comes from are definitely not common. What I felt whenever we were doing a task was that I’m not memorising something or simply learning something, but I’m actually experiencing it and learning it by heart. Helsinki’s ways of teaching engage everyone and create a safe environment for everyone to express themselves and what they took from the task, and the effects of these ways of teaching would be evident, especially in the long-term; as it’s easy to forget words but hard to forget actions and experiences.” (16-year-old Iranian participant)
When?
- We will start in late September 2025 and have 12 weekly sessions. We will meet every week between 5:30 – 8:00 pm.
- We will have our Forum Theater performance in the beginning of December 2025.
- We will meet every Wednesday or Thursday – please indicate which days you would be available.
Where?
- Most of our sessions will be in Budapest, in the Helsinki Committee’s office between Blaha and Astoria: 1074 Budapest, Dohány Street 20.
Who can and how to apply?
- We take applications from youth who are between 16-22 years of age.
- Refugees, migrants and Hungarian youth are all welcome to apply.
- English speakers are needed, because we will work in English.
- Apply by sending us an email, or a video with your answers to the following questions:
- How would you describe yourself?
- Why do you want to take part in our course?
- What languages do you speak?
- Do you have any previous volunteering experiences? If yes, what was it?
- What is the worst human rights problem in Hungary currently in your opinion?
- How would you make use of the knowledge and experiences you will gain with our course?
- Which day(s) of the week would you be available to participate in the course – Wednesdays or Thursdays?
Application deadline: 14th September 11:59 pm.
Apply by sending your written or video answers to: zoltan.somogyvari@helsinki.hu and laura.armstrong@helsinki.hu
The course is funded by the European Philanthropic Initiative for Migration (EPIM) in the framework of the Youth as Actors for Change project.
