Auróra Climate Garden is an agroforestry pilot project in the heart of Budapest’s 8th district. Over the course of five years, the garden’s volunteers transformed a gravel-covered parking lot into a self-sustaining and self-sufficient green infrastructure. Using only urban waste, community composting, and volunteer labor, they created fertile soil from which an urban, edible “pocket forest” has emerged.

Today, there are over 200 trees on the site, which have been irrigated solely with rainwater collected on-site since 2024. By promoting nature-based solutions, the initiative encourages people to recognize the importance of local, small-scale interventions in building climate-friendly cities.

The Climate Garden hosts walks, workshops, and other programs for both children and adults, offering hands-on, practical knowledge. It is an open space where people can learn from each other—and from nature.

Since 2009, the Biztos Kezdet Gyerekház (Sure Start Children’s House) has been operating in the heart of Józsefváros, in Magdolnanegyed. As a unique form of child welfare service, it provides a safe and loving environment for young children and their families. Its goal is to support the development of innate abilities from early childhood with the active involvement of families, thus fostering successful integration into kindergarten and school.

At the Children’s House, children can socialize in a cheerful, family-like atmosphere. In addition to free play, they regularly take part in developmental activities, storytelling, singing, nursery rhymes, and arts and crafts. The Children’s House also focuses on supporting parents by offering skills development programs, group discussions, and practical knowledge — from cooking to sewing. When needed, it also provides access to laundry facilities, hygiene services, and assistance with administrative tasks.

The everyday work of the Biztos Kezdet Gyerekház contributes to improving the life chances of children in Józsefváros. Its loving and inclusive environment, along with its dedicated staff, offers a reliable source of support for many families facing hardship.

Fehér György, program coordinator at the Kesztyűgyár Community House, works with outstanding dedication for the Roma community. Even his university thesis focused on Roma community building, and ever since, he has been tirelessly organizing programs, supporting children’s development, employment, and social integration.

As a sociologist, he has always seen his work as a calling: he conveys values and empowers young people to find the right path even in difficult circumstances. He has worked both in government and in child welfare institutions, but it was at Kesztyűgyár where he found a community in which he can provide the most direct support.

He is also a role-model athlete and father, who inspires those around him through his personal life as well. Beyond his everyday work, he actively represents causes that promote inclusion through lectures and conferences. His sincerity, openness, and perseverance define him — he is often present in the lives of young people even at the expense of his own comfort.

His work is not only significant for the Roma community, but also contributes to building a more accepting and inclusive society.

Földi Tiborné Kővári Éva, president of Józsefvárosi MÁV-telepért Egyesület,  has lived in the Kerepesdűlő neighborhood, in the small MÁV housing estate, since 1996. She is well known and respected in the area for her willingness to help others: as a volunteer, she supports the elderly by shopping for them, handling administrative tasks, and during the pandemic, she was a source of strength for many.

Her persistent efforts played a key role in the renovation of the estate’s water and sewage system and in enabling residents to become property owners instead of municipal tenants. In 2018, she was unanimously elected president of the association (JÓME) in recognition of her decades-long community work.

Community life is close to her heart: she is an enthusiastic organizer of events such as the Neighbourhood Fest, Christmas Toast, sports activities, and litter clean-up campaigns. Thanks to her dedication, the small MÁV housing estate has become a united and vibrant community.

For Éva, it is natural to devote her time and energy to serving the community — her dedication, faith, and humanity serve as an example to us all.

Gerencsér Dalma,head of the Ciklámen Senior Club cares for the everyday life of Józsefváros’s retired community with exemplary dedication and compassion. As a leader, she is known for her outstanding conscientiousness, and her warm smile, kind personality, and empathetic attitude make her work truly exceptional.

The Ciklámen Senior Club is one of the most active retirement communities in the district, and Dalma curates its programs with creativity and attention to detail. Members enjoy a wide variety of activities, including music and dance events, discussion circles, exercise sessions, excursions, as well as museum and theatre visits. These programs bring joy and strengthen the sense of belonging within the community.

Beyond her professional expertise, Dalma places special emphasis on ensuring that everyone feels valued and heard. Her work is a living example of how a senior club can become a true community — where social connections, care, and the joy of life are part of the everyday experience.

Her devoted and heartfelt efforts make the lives of many elderly residents in Józsefváros more fulfilling and joyful.

Gólya is one of the best-known entertainment venues and community spaces in Józsefváros — but it is much more than that. It is operated by a cooperative founded in 2012 as a community enterprise. Its members organize their work based on shared goals and a common mission.

The cooperative’s most recognized activity remains hospitality — Gólya Presszó, an iconic venue in Budapest’s 8th district. However, the Gólya Cooperative also engages in a wide range of public-interest initiatives. Its spaces are open and inclusive, serving as a base for allies, local residents, and grassroots groups.

In 2019, Gólya moved to its current location on Orczy út. This move allowed other organizations to join the space, and together they established a broader institution called the Kazán Community House. In 2020, Gólya launched new services: Gólya Builders and the Gólya Courier Service.

The Gólya Cooperative operates through a unique model: it creates member cooperatives, links them through a solidarity-based distribution system, and collectively manages the resources they generate. To strengthen the solidarity economy, Gólya actively builds partnerships and works toward creating a self-sustaining economic system — while promoting cooperative principles throughout its activities.

Since retiring in 2008, Andrea has been an active and engaged member of Józsefváros’s civic and community life. As a former mathematics and computer science teacher, she first taught computer literacy to members of a job-seeking group at the Family Support Center. A few years later, she joined the Kesztyűgyár Tanoda (after-school program), where she taught mathematics to students who had become private learners after dropping out of public education — offering much-needed support to those most at risk. She remained involved in the program until the private learner status was discontinued.

In parallel with her teaching work, from 2011 for ten years, she volunteered with the ERANUS Foundation, supporting many families in Józsefváros through direct, personal assistance.

Since 2015, she has been president and volunteer mentor of the Nyugodt Szív Foundation for Housing, a national organization that frequently assists with housing issues in Józsefváros.

Although she does not live in the district, her work and voluntary activities are closely tied to Józsefváros. She has been a committed local volunteer for many years. She is a founding member of C8 – Civilians for Józsefváros, an association working for the local community, which also fielded a mayoral candidate in the 2019 elections. She has actively participated in several election campaigns — including the Magdolnanegyed by-election, the 2019 municipal election, and subsequent campaigns.In 2022, she also helped establish the Barrier-Free Józsefváros civic team, working to make the district more accessible to all. As a passionate volunteer, she continues to work actively to make Józsefváros a more livable and inclusive place.

A Bérlői Érdekvédelmi Közösség is an advocacy group representing the interests of tenants living in municipally owned buildings and apartments in Józsefváros. The group has been organizing for several years and includes members from a wide range of housing blocks across the district.

Through ongoing advocacy and community organizing, the group has played a key role in pushing the local government to reform and improve the JGK, the municipal company responsible for property management — advocating for a more transparent and tenant-friendly operation.

They have also taken a leading role in raising awareness of the situation of residents affected by state-led expropriations in and around Diószegi utca. The group has organized multiple public forums with decision-makers and politicians, hosted numerous community events, and most recently, initiated a protest to defend the rights of those impacted by forced relocation.

With their persistent work, the Community is helping to build a stronger, more informed, and united renters’ movement in Józsefváros — one that can effectively represent its interests and demand dignified, fair housing policies.

Láthatatlan Tanoda works to ensure that as many disadvantaged children in Józsefváros as possible — primarily Roma children who are about to start school — are able to access high-quality education and succeed in school. They support this goal through regular skill development and compensatory services. The children receive weekly mentoring with the involvement of volunteers, and in addition to individual development, group sessions and community programs are also organized — all of which contribute to the development of the children’s abilities.

For high school students, they provide preparatory sessions for entrance exams and career orientation programs, helping them make more informed decisions about their educational paths.

The study hall has been operating in Józsefváros since 2013, and has worked continuously with around 37 families and 75 children since then. Through its dedicated work it contributes to giving more children in Józsefváros a chance at a fuller, more successful future.

A Lehetőségek tere  is a unique community space in the heart of Budapest’s 8th district, on Práter utca. For the past four years, it has offered an open, inclusive environment for shared thinking, creativity, and learning.

It is not a traditional community center, but a dynamic, co-created space shaped by its participants. People of all ages — high school students, young adults, middle-aged and elderly residents — actively contribute to building the community and its spirit.

The space hosts a wide range of programs: community art workshops, discussion circles, philosophy clubs, jam sessions, clothing swaps, neighborhood gatherings, public talks, and both local and out-of-town camps. These activities foster creativity, connection, and shared experiences.

Lehetőségek Tere also helps participants explore democratic and community-based practices, develop critical thinking, and form new friendships. For the neighborhood, it serves as a true meeting point — a place of learning, joy, and connection for anyone who walks through its doors.

Menedék – Hungarian association for Migrants for 30 years has been dedicated to helping foreigners arriving in Hungary find a place to call home. Through their comprehensive integration programs, language courses, and community activities, they support newcomers in getting to know and embracing Hungarian culture and customs, securing employment and housing, and navigating complex administrative procedures.

In addition, they organize awareness-raising training sessions on migration for teachers, social workers, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement officers who interact with migrants in their work. By implementing various educational and cultural programs, they strive to foster a more open and accepting Hungarian society.

Józsefváros and its residents hold a special place in Menedék’s work: their office was located here for many years, and they now organize here summer camps, children’s clubs, Christmas parties, and their now-traditional May festival for foreign children living in the district.

The Mira Intercultural Community was founded to help refugees and other non-Hungarian native speakers living in Budapest feel at home in the city. In addition to offering a wide range of cultural and community programs for its members, Mira also provides practical support for newcomers navigating daily life.

They organize discussions on topics such as education and healthcare and assist with job searching. With the involvement of volunteers, they run a mentoring program to provide ongoing help and support.

Mira also offers Hungarian and English language classes, leisure activities, and special programs for children and families. The community has welcomed participants from over 80 countries and has organized hundreds of community events.

Mira was established by the Artemisszió Foundation, which works towards creating a cooperative, solidaristic society in Hungary where cultural diversity is recognized as a valuable asset and resource.

The No Slum Community Office operates in a municipal rental building located at Kőbányai utca 22, which houses 186 apartments with many residents living in difficult circumstances and poverty, including adults and children. In 2021, the social rehabilitation of the building began through a collaboration between the Budapest Municipality and the BMSZKI, with this supportive office as a central element of the project.

The goal of the office is to ensure that residents receive all the necessary assistance for their daily well-being: information about social services, benefits, and cultural programs, as well as support with job searching, resume writing, administrative procedures, and mental health issues.

The office plays a key role in organizing the community life of the residents, supporting self-organized groups, and representing the residents’ interests towards the building’s management. Their work contributes to creating a safer environment where residents can find support as an active community on the path toward a more dignified life.

The community workshop place in Teleki tér is a flagship place in Józsefváros where fantastic professional work and community building take place every day. Thanks to the enthusiasm and expertise of the team, many people learn the basics of recycling, repairing, fixing, and DIY, while also adopting a more responsible and sustainable mindset.

One of the workshop’s greatest values is that it does not operate as a traditional repair service: everyone can personally fix what they bring in, with expert guidance. The team warmly welcomes everyone, patiently helps navigate the tools, and ensures a safe working environment. If something cannot be repaired on-site, they recommend trustworthy local professionals, strengthening community ties.

The atmosphere is filled with good humor, optimism, and mutual respect, where not only objects get a new life, but cooperation and practical knowledge-sharing also flourish. The workshop has become an important meeting place in the neighborhood—a great spot to drop by to learn, repair, or simply chat, as everyone receives attention and support here.

Zöld Palotanegyedért Egyesület is dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the Palotanegyed neighborhood and promoting its sustainable development. The group is best known as the most active organization opposing the state-imposed Pázmány Campus development in the area.

They are at the forefront of pushing for public consultation around the project and regularly organize protests. The association stands up for the rights of local residents, demands transparency in the investment process, and fought to preserve the historic Studio 6 building. A key priority for them is ensuring that green spaces are protected and remain central to any development plans.

Through persistent advocacy, they work to ensure that the Palotanegyed remains a livable, green, and value-driven community for all.