Volunteer Work
Volunteer coordinator: Márta Petrus
Email: petrus.marti@szocgond.hu
Why become a volunteer?
In today’s society, there is a great need for us to pay attention to one another and care for those who need help. Volunteer work is not only a source of support for people in need; it also shapes us and makes us better. When we do good for others, something special happens: we ourselves become richer, and we make not only our surroundings but also our own lives more meaningful.
The value of human relationships is immeasurable, especially in a world where the distance between people is growing. Volunteer work gives us the opportunity to find our way back to one another and build genuine human connections. A kind word, a supportive gesture or an hour spent together can bring joy and change to someone’s life — while also filling our own hearts with warmth. Volunteering creates bridges between people, restores the power of real relationships and helps us rediscover the cohesive strength of community.
You too can become part of this community effort. A small gesture, a little time devoted to others — and you can be part of the wonder that happens when someone smiles again because they have felt cared for. Volunteer work gives you the opportunity to grow, develop and become richer through genuine and meaningful human experiences.
If you would like to complete your school community service, you are in the right place with us. You can get to know many professions at once while learning from experienced professionals.
The Centre for Social Care in Érd offers many opportunities where you can support people who need help and assistance in various areas. Through your volunteer work, you can provide significant support at the following locations and in the following activities:
Residential Home for the Elderly
Conversations with older people: share your time with them, listen to their life stories and offer them companionship.
Support with library use: help older people use the local library and support them in choosing books.
Gardening activities: help with gardening tasks and support older people in maintaining the community garden.
Habilitation Centre
Ceramics workshop: help with making ceramic objects and supporting the activities of the workshop.
Support tasks related to people with disabilities: help service users with their daily activities and support them in everyday life.
Families’ Temporary Home
Planning and carrying out leisure activities for children: organise fun programmes and games for children.
Educational support: help children with homework and studying, and also provide support with language learning.
Centre for Social Care in Érd
Garden care and ornamental gardening: take part in maintaining ornamental flower beds and caring for ornamental and fruit trees.
Donation collection and distribution: help organise donation campaigns and distribute donations so that basic necessities can reach as many people in need as possible.
Community campaigns: take part in various community actions that support social solidarity and helping others.
School Community Service (IKSZ)
School Community Service is an organised individual or group activity carried out for the benefit of the student’s local community, without financial interest, together with its pedagogical reflection, in the areas defined by law.
The tasks carried out during community service are activities that serve the benefit of the local community and take place at the school or in its immediate surroundings — possibly within a few kilometres — or at the student’s place of residence or in its immediate surroundings.
Who is it compulsory for?
Under the Act on Public Education, for students participating in full-time secondary education, completing 50 hours of community service is a condition for starting the secondary school leaving examination. Students with special educational needs do not have to complete community service if, based on the recommendation of the expert committee, the head of the institution has exempted them from it by decision.
Students who obtain their secondary school leaving certificate in full-time school education at a secondary school preparing them for the final examination are also subject to the School Community Service requirement.
What does “without financial interest” mean?
During school community service, neither party may derive financial benefit from the student’s activity. Students may not perform any activity that is a prescribed duty of the staff of any institution, for which remuneration would otherwise be payable, which would be performed by qualified staff, or for which an assignment or employment relationship would be required.
The student may not take part in any activity connected to the business or economic activity of any institution. The activity performed by the student must be defined in such a way that, on the one hand, it corresponds to the student’s age, abilities and the rules and principles of community service, and, on the other hand, enables the student to experience selfless help and the joy of giving. When completing the tasks of school community service, neither the student nor the parent should have the impression of “free labour”.
Who is responsible for organising School Community Service?
The organisation and coordination of school community service is the responsibility of the school, as is the certification of the completion of the 50 hours. As an extracurricular activity, it falls under the responsibility of the institution. Community service must be integrated into the life of the institution in such a way that it appears to students as a process and as a regularly recurring concrete activity.
The school may also organise community service within its own institution; however, students must also be given the opportunity to perform various activities at different host organisations. It is preferable for the school to provide as rich a range of options as possible for its students, within which they can choose from several areas of activity — the law defines eight different areas of activity. The school may cooperate with several organisations, and there is no limit to their number. In cases prescribed by law, for tasks requiring a mentor, a separate cooperation agreement must be concluded with each organisation.
Further information
You can find further information about School Community Service on the website of the Educational Authority.
