The international consortium led by Gyöngyös City Deveépment non-profit Ltd. won a total of EUR 210 480 in the framework of the project. The consortium includes the Municipality of Gyöngyös, the Municipality of Lucenec (Slovakia), the Municipality of Lodygowice (Poland) and the Municipality of Targu Secuiesc, with the Municipality of Lendava (Slovenia) and the Municipality of Sanok (Poland) as its follower cities. The aim of the project is to present EU values, to get to know each other, to build new economic and social relations and to submit further joint applications. During the implementation 8 local and 4 on-line events will be organised. The competition focuses mainly on NGOs in cities, with the aim of creating new collaborations and joint projects based on European values.
Projectnumber: 101138259
What is
Citizens4Towns?
Consortium members:
GYÖNGYÖS,
HUNGARY
With a population of approximately 27.000 inhabitants, Gyöngyös is the second biggest town in Heves County and the centre of the District of Gyöngyös. The first written record of the name of the town dates back to the 13th century but according to the latest historical research, the area was already inhabited at the time of the Hungarian Conquest, in the 9th and 10th centuries. The history of Gyöngyös is tightly interwoven with viticulture and wine-production that provide a living for a lot of people in and around the town to date. Gyöngyös is the centre of the Mátra Wine Region, which is the second largest wine region in Hungary and of the Hungarian mountain wine regions, it has the largest territory. The town, which is situated on the boundary between the Great Hungarian Plain and the North Hungarian Mountains, is also referred to as the Gate of the Mátras, and efforts have been made in recent years to render the settlement the capital of the Mátras. Kékestető, the hight peak in Hungary, and Sástó, the highest lake in the country, are located within the administrative division of Gyöngyös. With their excellent characteristics, fresh air and high-quality accommodations, the Mátras are among the most popular tourist destinations in Hungary.
TÂRGU SECUIESC,
ROMANIA
The name ‘Kézdivásárhely’ was first mentioned in 1407 and King Sigismund of Luxembourg declared it a market town in 1427. The town had an extensive network of guilds in the Middle Ages. A unique characteristic of Kézdivásárhely is its main square, originally the market square, surrounded by buildings whose gates are all the ends of streets. These are called “court squares”. Today there are 70 “court squares” in the town. Kézdivásárhely has been called the town of guilds, cobblers, “court squares” and Paris of Háromszék.
The majority of the buildings in the main square of Kézdivásárhely was erected in the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Incze László Museum of the History of Guilds is housed by the former town hall, built in 1857. The exhibitions of the museum comprise artefacts of the local handicraft industry, traditional costumes on puppets as well as relics of the 1848/49 war of independence.
ŁODYGOWICE,
POLAND
Lodygowice is in Southern Poland and has more than 14 thousand inhabitans. The settlement, situated in a picturesque natural environment, has a direct connection to Zywieck Lake. Due to the well-developed mountain road network, the town is easily accessible for tourists. There are several architectural monuments in Lodygowice, namely the neogothic Castle and parks or the Roman Catholic wooden church built between 1631 and 1634. The town is famous for its folk-dance group called Magurzanie and choir bearing the same name. The folk-dance group has performed 550 times and the choir has performed 720 times since they were started.
LUČENEC,
SLOVAKIA
Lučenec is the cultural and economic centre of Nógrád County and the centre of the Southern parts of Mid-Slovakia. Its first written record is from 1247 where the town was described as an important junction of trade routes and the cultural centre of the historical Nógrád region. Due to the development in the 19th century, T. G. Masaryk Street is lined with beautiful secessionist buildings. Numerous banks, mercantile buildings and the Nógrád Library are also based here. The heart of the historical centre of the town is Kubínyi Square, which was built in the location of the old market, probably in the Middle Ages. The building of the historical ‘Vigadó’, two churches, the Nógrád Museum and Gallery are also here, and the old Town Hall is nearby. One of the most frequented and fascinating buildings of our town is the renovated Synagogue. If you wish to sit and relax in a beautifully arranged natural environment, you must visit one of the most marvellous parks in Slovakia, built in French and English landscaping styles. You are cordially invited to Lucenec!
NEWS
The opening event of the Citizens for Towns project (#CFT) was held in Losonc, Slovakia, on 27-28 July 2024. Delegations from all four cities attended the meeting. Hungary was represented by Gyöngyös, Romania by Targu Secuiesc and Poland by Lodygowice, alongside the host town of Lucenec. The event - Artistic Days - Competition of Creativity took place in the framework of the International Novohrad Folklore Festival 2024. During the festival, there were a number of performances, craft fairs, family activities and gastronomic events. ADuring the opening conference on the first day, the partners discussed the details of the project, followed by a joint press briefing. The mayors of the participating cities discussed the results they expect from the project. The workshops included presentations by NGOs, craftspeople and a craft fair.
1. Project opening event in Lucenec
Events implemented
EVENT DESCRIPTION SHEET
2. NGO training in Gyöngyös
Leaders of civil society organisations from four cities met in Gyöngyös in the framework of the Citizens for Towns project, 09-11 August 2024. At the Hungarian meeting, delegations from Gyöngyös, Targu Secuiesc (Transylvania, Romania), Lodygowice (Poland) and Lucenec (Slovakia) took part in a full-day training session, in addition to cultural and gastronomic programmes. The programme started with a city quiz on Friday, during which foreign visitors had to answer questions about the city in a playful way, and ended with dinner and wine tasting. On Saturday, the programme continued with a full day of training. With the help of trainers Katalin Fekete and Katalin Sabján, the present members of national and foreign NGOs took part in a one-day training in a playful way. The aim of the programme was to enable the members of the delegations to get to know each other better and to brainstorm and create a development strategy together. During the morning, the towns were organised into teams, and in the afternoon, with the help of the trainers, the training continued in mixed teams, with the organisers occasionally adding team games. In the programme, the trainers focused primarily on what can be achieved by the civil society organisations of a city without any special financial investment, simply by joining forces. During the programme, it soon became clear that the protection of the environment and the improvement and beautification of their immediate surroundings was a priority for the civic community. By the end of the day, they had created a joint project repository of ideas for improvement that they had developed together. The programme ended with a gala performance by the Tomory Gábor Folk Dance School, where members of the delegations themselves joined the dance on stage at the end of the evening.
EVENT DESCRIPTION SHEET
Sajtómegjelenések
https://www.we4eu2022.hu/post/gy%C3%B6ngy%C3%B6sre-l%C3%A1togattak-a-civilszervezetek
https://www.facebook.com/krisztina.toth.7737
https://www.gyvt.hu/citizens-for-towns
Citizens For Towns - Gyöngyösi civil találkozó
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122132431664383038&set=a.122132429876383038
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122132432546383038&set=a.122132429876383038
3. City Days in Lucenec
The Citizens for Towns project (project number: 101138259) continued in Losonc, with the third event taking place in the framework of the Losonc Town Days Festival (Slovakia). This time, the visiting delegations were able to learn about the cultural traditions and tourist good practices of Losonc. The project included a visit to local tourist attractions renovated with the help of EU funding, such as a veteran car meeting, a visit to the renovated building of the old municipality, now a museum, and a visit to the new interactive exhibition of the town's history. As part of the workshop, they also visited the village of Gács, where, in addition to the famous castle, they had the opportunity to see the interactive exhibition in the new Csontváry Kosztka Tivadar Memorial House. The famous painter spent part of his life in the village, and during the guided tour the participants were also informed about some of the most interesting facts and secrets of his life. The consortium partners also took part in the City Days programme, where the Polish partner Lodygowice's folk dance group Magurzanie was also presented on stage. The meeting ended with the presentation of the Novohrad local product trademark.
EVENT DESCRIPTION SHEET
Sajtómegjelenések
INTERNET:
https://www.lucenec.sk/mid/359910/2024-16-2024.html#m_359910
Közösségi média:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/EQMmbmBqfTR2ZHdP/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/cAiYgXkGrXPhosLr/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/zb3MVQbCjqd1LNJT/
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/qJiUjGxdBDCePrFJ/
WEBOLDAL:
https://www.lucenec.sk/kalendar-podujati/ca/197473/ma0/2024-08-23/.html
https://www.lucenec.sk/citizens4towns.html
https://www.folklorfest.sk/17204-xi-lucenecke-hodovanie-2024-lucenec/
https://www.ajdnes.sk/lucenske-hodovanie-2024/lucenec/139155
Újság:
Mestské noviny, 20/16, 30.08.2024
4. Lodygowice Harvest Festival
On September 7-9, 2024, the penultimate stationary event in 2024 took place in Łodygowice, hosted by the Łodygowice Commune. Three foreign delegations came to Łodygowice: from Hungary (Gyöngyös), Slovakia(Lucenec) and Romania(Targu Secuiesc), a total of over 75 people represented by representatives of social organizations operating in their area. The topic of the meeting was called: "Through culture to friendship." The organizations participating in the project included entities dealing with: culture, sports, education, health prevention, and grassroots social initiatives, which had the opportunity to present their activities during the opening conference of the "Citizens for Towns" project on September 7 2024. The conference participants included representatives of organizations from Łodygowice commune who actively participated in the partnership project, taking part both in trips abroad this year as well as in planned events in Łodygowice commune. During the Conference, the participants symbolically created a work in the form of a common tree, which was a reference to the trees planted as part of the partnership in the city of Gyöngyös. The first day of the project ended with a joint sports event in which all delegations took part. Integration through sport was an opportunity to build cooperation, despite the language barrier.
The second day of the guests' visit was an opportunity for them to participate in the Municipal Harvest Festival organized this year in Pietrzykowice, which gathered many residents and observers. The project participants took part in the Parade and then in the official harvest festival ceremonies. They had the opportunity to meet residents and organizations from the Łodygowice area again, this time acting as hosts who proudly presented their local heritage during the Municipal Harvest Festival. Then the delegations went together to visit the Żywiec Brewery Museum, exploring the traditions of brewing, and to know good practice to use these traditions in the tourism. The event in Łodygowice was an opportunity to get to know each other about Polish, Slovak, Hungarian, Romanian and Slovenian cultures, and for non-governmental organizations it was an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation. The aim of the project is to create opportunities to deepen cooperation. Project participants took advantage of this opportunity during project events in Łodygowice.
EVENT DESCRIPTION SHEET
Videos
Sajtómegjelenések
Újság:
https://beskidzka24.pl/wiadomosci-z-gminy-lodygowice-wideo-zdjecia/
https://beskidzka24.pl/wiadomosci-z-gminy-lodygowice-zdjecia/
Közösségi média:
https://www.facebook.com/gminalodygowice?locale=pl_PL
Rádió:
https://www.radiobielsko.pl/wiadomosci/przyjechalo-ponad-70-osob/60506
5. The civil organisations visited Târgu Mureș
As part of the "Citizens for towns" programme, a three-day meeting was held in October 2024 in Târgu Mureș (Kézdivásárhely), attended by representatives of Hungarian civils organisations from Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary. The aim of the event was to promote international cooperation, strengthen relations between civils and deepen the partnership between cities. The programme of the event included a conference, a professional civil organisation forum, a visit to local small producers and a folklore lecture.
Detailed programme: an opening conference on Saturday 5 October, where the lead partner will present the project, followed by a presentation by delegations from the participating municipalities. Presentations were given by NGOs from the host municipality, followed by a round table discussion on networking opportunities. This was followed by a city tour. On Sunday, the participants visited the local civil organisation founded by Stephanie Szentkereszty in 1872, where they learned about the workings of the institution. This was followed by a visit to the gingerbread-making workshop of József Szántó to learn about traditional cake-making, a feature of the town and part of its cultural heritage. In the evening, the delegations were treated to a gala evening of folk dance and music performed by the Gábor Áron Folk Dance Ensemble, with performances by the delegations. On Monday, the final discussion of the event was held, in preparation for the next meeting.The event created valuable links between civil organisations, laying the foundations for future cooperation and sharing best practices that can support long-term partnerships and development initiatives between cities.
The meeting provided an opportunity to foster links between cities and local civil organisations and to discuss possible areas of cooperation. The cultural activities, the shared meals and organised visits all strengthened trust and partnership between participants. The programme was successful and contributed to strengthening the links between the participating cities, with a particular emphasis on the involvement of local civil society.
EVENT DESCRIPTION SHEET
Sajtómegjelenések
https://www.kezdi.ro/hirek/osszefoglalo-a-citizens-for-towns-eu-s-palyazat-programrol/
https://www.kezdi.ro/ro/cultura/rezumatul-programului-citizens-for-towns/
Közösségi média, videó összefoglaló vagy dokumentumfilm a Green Sun Egyesület által:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHQ1Z8M67So
6. First online Citizens 4 Towns meeting in Gyöngyös
On 5 February, the first Citizens 4 Towns event of the year took place, which was also the first online meeting in the history of the project. The aim of the event was to introduce Gyöngyös-based civil organisations and to network with representatives from the twin towns of Târgu Mureş, Łodygowice and Losonc. The online partners were thus given the opportunity to gain an insight into the diversity of civil life in Gyöngyös and the work of its active communities.
The programme was opened by Tamás Kobzi, the new head of the Gyöngyös Urban Area Development Nonprofit Ltd. and as the new lead representative of the consortium, who stressed the importance of the Citizens 4 Towns initiative and the fact that this event is an excellent opportunity for civil organisations to present themselves and to think together. In the first block of the event, four civil organisations were presented, each active in a different field but all playing an important role in the life of the local community.
• „Vachott Kör Irodalombarát és Alkotói Egyesület” – (Vachott Circle Literary and Creative Association)
Founded in 2022, the organisation is still young but already boasts a large number of literary and creative members. Their aim is to boost the local literary and artistic life and organise community-building programmes.
• BlackJam! Dance Association
The leader of the dance club spoke about the difficulties they have faced during the pandemic and their plans for the future, in particular their desire to start new groups for different age groups. He stressed that dance education is not only about movement, but also about community building and personal development.
• Anti-Cancer League of Gyöngyös
In a sensitive yet inspiring presentation, the president of the organisation stressed that cancer is not a taboo subject and that it is important for everyone to participate in regular screening. He confirmed that among the members of the League there are many people who have successfully overcome the disease and set an example to others through the power of hope and perseverance.
• Mátra Large Family Association
The association's leader gave an insight into the challenges and beauty of life for families with several children. He also used scientific and historical examples to illustrate the important role that strong extended family communities play in society and the benefits for children of growing up in a supportive family environment.
In the afternoon, three more organisations were presented, which are involved in the preservation of urban traditions, amateur art and environmental awareness.
• Friends of the City of Gyöngyös
This long-established association is the organiser of many local events, such as the 19th century market and the annual Opera Gala Evening. Their work was recognised by the city with the Pro Civitate award in 2016.
• CASINO TEAM Amateur Arts Association
The troupe operates in the Mátra Honvéd Casino, where they create vocal and stage productions that are performed not only in Gyöngyös but also in several places in the country. Their performances range from classical pieces to rock music, including Queen songs.
• Environmental Association for a Livable Mátra
Representatives of the organisation stressed the importance of sustainability and environmental protection. They talked about their achievements so far, such as the tree planting programmes and regular litter picking activities. They stressed that inland afforestation is a particular challenge, as without proper aftercare the long-term success of initiatives is not guaranteed. The organisation is open to cooperation with other civil organisations with similar objectives
Summary and lessons learned
The day clearly showed that the civic life of Gyöngyös is extremely rich and diverse. Organisations from different fields contribute to the development of the community, be it culture, arts, social issues or environmental protection.
One of the important achievements of the Citizens 4 Towns project is that it not only helps to build links abroad, but also strengthens cooperation between local organisations. During the event, several organisations expressed the need to get to know each other better and to meet regularly, and this event was an excellent starting point.
All in all, a successful and inspiring day was concluded, confirming that the commitment and cooperation of civil society is essential for the development of the city and its region. The programme will continue next time with a presentation of Losonc's civil organisations.
EVENT DESCRIPTION SHEET
7. Second online Citizens 4 Towns meeting - Lodygowice
The morning was opened by the representative of the organising country, and then Tamás Kobzi, as the leader of the consortium, welcomed the participants.
The first presenter NGO was the ERASMUS+ at the School and Kindergarten Complex in Lodygowice. As part of the Erasmus+ Accreditation awarded in 2020, the school implements educational projects for students and teachers throughout Europe.
Activities:
• Educational mobility: Students and teachers go abroad for short-term exchanges, courses, training or work observations in other schools.
• Cooperation projects: Schools implement educational projects, including eTwinning, with other schools from countries participating in the program, e.g. projects related to environmental protection or culture.
• Professional development of teachers: Erasmus+ supports the professional development of teaching staff by organizing trainings and courses in Poland and abroad, and also enables work observation in other schools.
The next NGO to present was „Magurzanie” a regional band. The Regional Band Magurzanie has been operating at the Municipal Cultural Centre in Łodygowice since 1984. It is led by Elżbieta Konior, Karolina Bałaś and Krystyna Mikociak, who is its founder.
The band consists of almost 150 people: a group of about 60 teenage and adult dancers, vocalists and musicians. An almost equally large children's group and a group of about 30 older people, the so-called Oldboy.
The band has dynamically developing singing groups (girls', women's and men's) and three bands. In addition to the native dances of the Żywiec Highlanders, the Laski and the Żywiec Burghers, the Magurzanie present programs: the Eastern Krakowiacy, the Łowicz dances, the Lachów Sądeckie, as well as national ones, such as: krakowiak and kujawiak with oberek.
After the launch break in the afternoon, the next NGO was The Country Housewives’ Association „ZARZECE”.
The association has been in existence for 48 years. They organise activities to spend their free time together, such as flower arranging, making drinks and cakes, embroidery and cooking to help their community. They also took part in a nationwide civic action where they baked doughnuts and donated the proceeds to save children's lives.
They were followed by another association of housewives called BIERNA.
It also has a long history, having been in operation for 57 years this year. They currently have 39 members, 5 of whom are men. They are also active in charity events, producing and selling local products, and have participated in the national doughnut baking charity. Every year they take part in the Easter Festival, the Children's Day, organise a gingerbread baking course for children, and hold a Christmas Eve for lonely people, so they are an important part of the community life of the village.
At the end of the day the last civil association was the Local Sports Club "SŁOWIAN" in Lodygowice.
The sports club has been in operation since 1947. In the 90s the club was in difficulties and merged with another club to overcome the bad years caused by the lack of numbers. Training sessions are held in schools and sports halls and they are actively seeking foreign contacts and potential sponsors.
EVENT DESCRIPTION SHEET
8. Third online Citizens 4 Towns meeting - Târgu Secuiesc
As before, the morning started with a welcome to Târgu Secuiesc, followed by the consortium leader who drew lessons from the previous two presentations and wished all participants success.
The first presenting organisation was the „Zöld Nap Egyesület” (Green Day Association)
Zöld Nap is a professional environmental science organisation founded in 2009. Its members are ecologists, economists, artists, teachers, engineers, sociologists. It is politically and religiously independent
Its mission is to promote environmental awareness; to foster civil society engagement; to promote sustainable education and healthy lifestyles and to build a more active, aware and responsible society. They organised the Green Spring Days, during which 600 participants planted 1153 tree saplings. A charity event was organised, the proceeds of which were used to build a playground. They are involved in awareness-raising campaigns, promoting sustainable consumption through the “Buy local” campaign. They support young people in building their careers through volunteering.
The next was the „Erdélyi Lovaskaszkadőr Egyesület” (Transylvanian Horse Scout Association)
The Association was founded in 2016 with 5 members. In the beginning, the lack of professional equipment and the establishment of partnerships caused difficulties.
Since then, the association has expanded its activities widely:
- They hold riding courses with qualified instructors, trained horses for beginners and advanced riders, without age limit.
- The Lemhény-Rét Riding Camp is organised every year. The six-day, full-service camp takes place in a magical forest setting, where, in addition to theoretical and practical riding lessons, there are riding and veterinary lectures, “Horse Crafts” demonstrations and creative activities.
- Horse stunt demonstrations are held with 9 horses and 25 participants from all over Transylvania. They have already had more than 100 performances.
- In equestrian theatre performances, they present historical theatre plays with unique sets and choreography.
- They organise 1-7 day horse riding tours with a qualified guide in the most beautiful landscapes of Transylvania.
- Every year they organise the Horse Riding Days of the Háromszék. During the two-day event, nearly 10 horse races and the same number of cultural and traditional events await the visitors.
Next was Motorcycle Association (Free Frog’s Riders)
The central event of the association is the International Motorcycle Meeting, which has been held since 1999 and is being organised for the 22nd time this year. At these motorcycle meetings, around 1200 portions of bean goulash are distributed to the participants, free of charge for everyone. One of their traditional events is the carnival, open to all ages. This is a good opportunity to involve younger age groups in the life of the association and have fun together. Young motorcycle stuntmen are given the opportunity to perform in Târgu Secuiesc and other municipalities. The president of the association, “Mr Frog”, has been the town's Santa Claus for more than 20 years.
As the closing of the online event there was last 2 NGO’S:
First was the KreaKids Studio.
The KreaKids Studio is a design workshop, which was dreamed up by interior designer Sándor Erőss and fashion designer and educator Réka Babás-Máthé in the autumn of 2011. The dream became a reality and since then, KreaKids Studio in Târgu Secuiesc has given nearly 1000 children the opportunity to create. Hundreds of events, camps, professional excursions abroad and at home, university visits are organised for professional adults who show young people the way and the direction. The studio is a family and playful education for children and young people aged 4-18 years old, with everything from design and drawing to fashion design and DIY. The learning process is based on collaboration, experiential and experiential learning. There is a strong emphasis on individual workflow- everyone working at their own pace, but teamwork is also part of the “creations”. In addition to arts and crafts, visual arts and visual education, they aim to build community.
Tha last presenter was the „KÖSZ” association
The Trei Scaune Secondary School Students' Association was founded in 2023 with 22 founding members from 5 vocational schools. It is an active student organisation whose main objective is to bring together and organise the community life of secondary school students. Its most important event is the Student Days, a three-day programme with over 200 participants. They regularly organise fundraising campaigns. They have a very active online presence, regularly posting events and videos on Facebook, tik-toko and instagram.
EVENT DESCRIPTION SHEET
9. Fourth online Citizens 4 Towns meeting - Lucenec
The first topic of the event was the Slovak-Polish relations in Lučenec during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union: 1 January - 30 June 2025 - ED ŽILINA
During Poland's presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2025, Slovak-Polish relations in Lučenec and the broader Banská Bystrica region were marked by deepened cooperation in regional development and cohesion policy. A key initiative was the signing of a cooperation agreement between Poland and Slovakia, aiming to enhance the management and implementation of EU funds. This agreement focused on sharing experiences and best practices, particularly in the utilization of cohesion policy funds, which are vital for economic development in both countries.
ŽIVENA - Slovak Women's Association
Živena – Slovak Women’s Association (Slovak: Živena, spolok slovenských žien) is a historic women's organization in Slovakia, active since 1869. Its local chapters – such as the one in Lučenec (Losonc in Hungarian) – focus on the following areas:
- Education for Women and Families
- Cultural and Community Life
- Publishing and Public Awareness
- Recognition and Awards: They recognize outstanding community and social work through awards such as the “Elena Maróthy Šoltésová Memorial Medal.”
In addition to the central organization, local chapters like the one in Lučenec operate as active grassroots community groups. They participate in local cultural events, support women and family education, host public forums and community events, and build on shared values and traditions.
KLUB SENIOROV - SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB
Lučenec’s Senior Citizens’ Club (in coordination with Europe Direct) offers seniors a rich array of activities that include:
• Cultural gatherings — singing showcases, concerts, and musical evenings
• Educational events — quizzes, lectures on digital consumer rights, health technologies
• Social spaces — a day-care centre where older adults can gather, socialize, and access support
Together, these programs aim to engage seniors intellectually, emotionally, and socially, helping them stay active and connected.
The Youth Parliament
Lučenec’s Youth Parliament is a municipal forum where teenagers come together to represent their peers, develop civic engagement, and coordinate local youth initiatives. The group meets regularly and elects its own leadership—mirroring a democratic structure at the municipal level.
“Europe for Youth” Events
•April 2023: Europe Direct Lučenec organized the regional round of “Mladý Európan”—a quiz focused on EU history, policies, and institutions—for high schoolers
Purpose & Roles
• Empowering youth voices in municipal matters—giving young residents a platform to propose ideas, plan events, and interact with local officials.
• Skill-building in communication, civic responsibility, teamwork, and leadership.
• Fostering European awareness via quizzes, debates, and EU civic education events.
TRH Halič - market of producers and craftsmen
The Trh Halič is a regular market in Halič that showcases local producers and craftsmen, offering a variety of high-quality regional foods and handmade goods. Visitors can find products like homemade jams, fresh bakery items, honey, flowers, and traditional crafts. The market is part of the Slow Food movement, promoting sustainable, fair, and authentic food production. It also features local wines and craft beers, creating a vibrant community event supporting local agriculture and artisans.
ALTERNATIVE - Independent Lifestyle Centre
The Lifestyle Centre is an NGO registered in Lucenec in 2020. Their main activities are:
1. Early prevention (0-7 years with developmental risks or disabilities, and their families.)
2. Social Rehabilitation: Offers both ambulant and field-based rehabilitation services under the law §21 for adults with severe health limitations or in crisis.
The key programs:
“From School to Life” Transit Program
Serves young people aged 17–29, mainly from Roma or socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Aims to ease their path into social and working life through:
• Non-formal education
• Assisted employment (with workplace counselors)
• Cooperation with employers
• Legal advice & financial literacy training
The Centre got the „Roma Spirit 2024” award.
THE ANIMAL SHELTER LUČENEC
The Animal Shelter in Lučenec, operated by the nonprofit Sloboda zvierat, is one of Slovakia’s largest and oldest private no-kill shelters. It provides care, veterinary treatment, and rehabilitation for around 450 dogs and 40 cats annually, focusing on rescuing strays and abandoned animals. The shelter works closely with local authorities to capture stray animals and offers adoption services with thorough support for new pet owners. Their mission emphasizes lifelong care, community engagement, and promoting responsible pet ownership.
EVENT DESCRIPTION SHEET
Gallery
Contact
Gyöngyös City Development Non-profit Ltd.
3200 Gyöngyös Fő tér 10., Hungary
Mobile: +36302323704