Marist Presence in Karcag and Esztergom
The Marist Brothers of the Hermitage Province have been in Hungary since 1999, serving disadvantaged children and youth, especially the Roma (gypsies), in the cities of Karcag and Esztergom.
Their work began with the objective of advocating for equal opportunity for young people and improving the quality of life of the young Hungarian Roma living in the suburbs.
As part of their charitable activities the Brothers and Lay Marists of the Hermitage Province offer the children with education, social protection, medical services, psychological counseling and recreational activities. They also provide for social assimilation, equal opportunities and defense of the rights of children and young people.
Marists serve in three institutions:
- A children’s center, called A Mi Hazunk (Our Home), built in 2001, offering education to the Roma children living in a suburb of Esztergom
- A primary school, St. Paul Marist (Szent Pal Marista Altalanos Iskola), built in the city ofKarcag, 2008. The school has about 230 students, of which 99% are Roma.
- An open house (T.I.P.) in Karcag for students who are part of the Marist Network.
As part of their social and educational services, the Marists offer the poor families various programs of assistance and service, such as “Baba-Mama Foglalkozas” a daycare centerfor children up to age 3; a program “Mi Sulink”, for those children unable to attend the primary school. Similarly offered are workshops for women, and others that provide assistance to youth (intermediate group – 2009) via various courses of work training and job placement.