Education
The ‘100 Poorest’ (2009)
The aim of the project entitled 100 Poorest is to make the recipients more informed, open and responsible regarding the different types of poverty with the help of objective information, personal stories and suggestive pictures about poverty. The publication created as part of the project is considered groundbreaking in its structure as well as its approach towards poverty. Abstracting from material destitution, the publication also included those who got into a situation where they needed help due to physical, cultural, health or other types of disadvantage. Instead of differentiation, similarities were emphasized: the motto of the programme ‘poverty is near’ points out that we do not need to go to ravaged, segregated settlements on the edges of villages to find poor people. It is enough to notice our old neighbour trying to make ends meet day by day, or the person in a wheelchair not able to use public transportation. On the other hand, the goal of the project is to make people realize that they might find themselves in such situations. Anyone can be involved in a defaulted bank loan, an accident or a broken relationship, which is very difficult to get out of without any help.
Creation of an ethical code in Békéscsaba against institutional exclusion (2008-2009)
The Kurt Lewin Foundation developed a signalling system that is based on active and voluntary conversation between the different social actors, and that prevents the drop-out of disadvantaged (e.g. Roma) children. We also distributed information on the open and inclusive attitude traditionally present in the town of Békéscsaba, in order to reinforce to the locals that this value should still be regarded as the pride of the town. As an impact of the programme the first domestic town-level ethical code was produced that was voluntarily undertaken, included the perspectives of those affected and served the purpose of reducing discrimination in education. The Roma and non-Roma workers of the different institutions of the town were given the opportunity for democratic debate, for getting to know each other. This might be the key to a long-term democratic cooperation of equal opportunities.
Auxiliary material for the modern Roma ethnic studies (2009)
The auxiliary material made by the Kurt Lewin Foundation gives assistance not only to the teachers teaching Roma ethnography but to other teachers as well in their everyday work. Differently from the cultural history standpoint determining current education, the material focuses on the actual social knowledge and problems as well the method of learning. It is important that secondary school students should tell disadvantageous living conditions and the phenomena of Roma culture apart. The auxiliary material is prepared for students of 7-12. classes includes lesson-plans, exercises, explanation of concepts, multimedia tools and methods suitable for collective work and democratic discussions.
Conqueror for the equal opportunities (2008)
The Conqueror interactive quiz game, which has unprecedented success in the history of Hungarian internet usage, mostly draws its questions upon the topics of subjects of common knowledge. Owing to the Kurt Lewin Foundation, the thousands of young and not so young participants of the contest in February also had to give the proper answer to questions emerging during employment concerning equal opportunities. These were questions that define our lives but we cannot hear about them much at school. The participants of the game could obtain valuable information concerning equal opportunities at workplaces in a playful form because of the program.
First Lovari audio course book (2008)
The Kurt Lewin Foundation prepared the first Lovari audio course book in Hungary, which has been available on the www.romapage.hu website since then. Language learners can learn the proper pronunciation and intonation and the usage of the language easier with the help of this tool.
Kurt Lewin Booklets (2004–2006)
The Foundation conceived a series of booklets to disseminate information concerning subjects like poverty, racism, school rights, providing the disabled with easy access to institutions, addictions, and multiculturalism in a language students find easy to understand. The initiation is based on the recognition that for children from poor backgrounds written information about the world is none other than an impenetrable mountain of characters, which fact further excludes them from the mainstream of society.
Tolerance-training for policemen (2005)
On 6 December 2005 ten policemen from the National Police Headquarters participated in a training session offered by the Kurt Lewin Foundation with the aim of providing participants with new, up-to-date information about the Hungarian Roma, the stereotypes associated with the Roma, the mechanism of prejudice, and what the RomaPage has to offer.
Training on school rights offered to child protection officers (2005)
A one-day training on school rights was held by the Foundation in cooperation with the Catholic Institute for Pedagogy, Organisation and Continuous Education for elementary- and secondary-school teachers who work in institutions run by the Catholic church.
xeno.hu (2004)
The Kurt Lewin Foundation compiled a provocative 48-page booklet to present today’s Hungarian irredentist, anti-Semite, anti-Europe ideologies and publications. Our aim with the booklet was to try to make people immune to extremist ideologies.
Sulinet Digital School Material (2004–2005)
The Kurt Lewin Foundation was awarded first prize on two occasions in the grant competitions announced by Educatio Kht. SuliNet Program Office. Consequently, the Foundation was responsible for the creation of two digital subject modules, one entitled “Cultures and People in Hungary (the Roma)” and the second called “European Studies”.
Támasz (Shoulder) (2003)
The aim of the “Támasz” column, established by the Foundation, is to disseminate civic knowledge widely among the general public. As a result, there is extensive information concerning twelve subject matters including school rights, sexuality, drugs, and employment for readers wishing to understand the rudiments of these and similar fields. Breaking away from the conventional teaching of civic education, a wide range of legal rules, interviews, book reviews, bibliographies of scholarly literature, film and belles-lettres extracts, and links make the learning process enjoyable and thought-provoking. The column was brought to life with support of the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Education, and the “KAP”-Programme of the Netherlands Embassy. The column was compiled and edited primarily by disadvantaged university students.
Mentorship (2000–2004)
The Mentorship Programme has been running since 2000. The aim of the project is to reduce drop-out rates among disadvantaged university students. Under the framework of the Mentorship Programme, university students are given the opportunity to work in their chosen profession, which does not only mean financial rewards, but it is also an opportunity to gain professional experience and make very important professional contacts.
University admission preparatory programme (1996–2004)
For eight years the Foundation was successfully running a free university admission preparatory course for disadvantaged students who wanted to continue their education in colleges or universities.