A village beside the lake Balaton started to be crowded by youngsters from eight European countries. The main aim of getting together was this time not a wine festival, not swimming in the lake, not even hiking in the nice surrounding forests. Participants from Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and hosting Hungary gathered together in Felsőörs, in order to make favorable changes in their surronding society.

                After the funny and useful introduction games and ice-brakers, the training’s activities became more about its main topic, the self helping groups. Already in the first day, it became clear that people coming from different places, activities, ages can really transfer experiences and values between each other in a useful way. It was especially encouriging to talk about the wide variety of activities where self helping groups can be applied.

In spite of the different backgrounds, places where the participants come from, the main question of the training was raised several times by the trainers: „How do you think you can use this method in your own place, with your own circumstances?”

At the nightfall of the first full day, I would like to wish that this question starts to demand answers or raise new important questions in the participants. In this way, the great social proactivity which is „in the air” this week in Felsőörs will be able to manifest in practices really helpful for needy people in the society.

Picture: The first arrived group having dinner together