BAGÁZS Nonprofit Association

BAGÁZS Nonprofit Association is rated 3 out of 5 in the category civic & social organization. Read and write reviews about BAGÁZS Nonprofit Association. We believe that we all deserve the same chances in life - even if you were born in a geographically and socially segregated, deeply poor Roma settlement. We envision a society where Roma people can reach their goals too. We, a group of young criminal law professionals, sociologists and social workers founded BAGázs 5 years ago. Our aim is to bring significant change to the Roma settlement of Bag (a town near Budapest, Hungary) via implementing and organizing intensive and genuine social inclusion program. From the first day on, we build on our ground beliefs: partnerships with locals instead of aiding, improving abilities to reach goals and real empowerment. Local inhabitants have played an active and important role in the work of BAGázs ever since. BAGázs’s staff consists of 15 employees (4 of them are inhabitants of the settlement) and an additional 160 volunteers per year are involved in our various activities. We became one of the most well-known Hungarian NGOs, functioning as a model in the field of Roma integration. We have reached this reputation through our truly independent operation, while working according to democratic standards. Furthermore, thanks to our independence, we did not have to make unacceptable compromises under political pressure. We have partner organizations in Portugal, in the UK, in Romania and in the Netherlands, participating regularly at Roma integration roundtables across Europe. European Commission’s directive for taking steps towards integration has been signed by the government, but so far there are no signs of positive change in approach, methodology or even gestures. Unfortunately, current national values tend to become rightist and less inclusive. 15% of the children in primary school are Roma children, and this ratio is growing year by year. There's an urge need of successful social integration programs and projects, for the welfare of the Hungarian society.