Community, Resilience, and Women’s Leadership in Action
The Hungarian Mother Center Network is proud to celebrate the successful launch of a new member center in Hajdúszoboszló, established by HajráAnyu Közhasznú Egyesület.
What began as a vision in early 2024 has grown into a vibrant, community-driven space that is already transforming local social life.
From Vision to Reality
Planning for the Hajdúszoboszló Mother Center began in February 2024. From the very first moment, the initiative was built on community participation.
Local families and supporters contributed significant in-kind donations:
- Furniture and interior elements
- Skilled volunteer work (carpentry, plumbing, tiling)
- Cleaning and preparation efforts
Water and sewage connections were installed for a fully functional kitchen. Safety improvements were completed, including protective adjustments to heating equipment. Donated and custom-built furniture was integrated to create a flexible, multifunctional community space.
This collective effort did more than prepare a building — it created a strong sense of shared ownership.
Overcoming Challenges Together
Originally, the center was scheduled to open in the summer. However, an exceptionally severe storm caused major damage to the building’s roof, leading to water leakage.
Because the building is municipally maintained, the association had to wait for official structural repairs before opening. The team made the responsible decision to postpone the launch until full safety could be ensured.
Repairs were completed in mid-October, and the Mother Center officially opened its doors on November 5.
This unexpected challenge ultimately strengthened the initiative. The community’s patience, commitment, and solidarity demonstrated the resilience that defines the Mother Center movement.
A Living, Growing Community Space
Since its opening, the Hajdúszoboszló Mother Center has been operating with regular opening hours supported by a stable volunteer “key-holder” system.
Visitor numbers are steadily increasing — and something important is happening:
The space is no longer used only by mothers with small children. It is gradually attracting a wider segment of the local community, proving that the need for safe, welcoming, low-threshold community spaces extends far beyond the original target group.
Emerging Community Initiatives
One of the most powerful outcomes has been the emergence of self-organised activities.
Participating mothers have moved from passive participation to active contribution. A weekly crochet club, initiated and led by mothers themselves, is just one example of how the space fosters empowerment and ownership.
Professional workshops have also been held, including sessions on movement development and speech therapy, supported by invited experts.
Everyday peer support — conversations, shared experiences, spontaneous mutual help — has become a natural part of the Centre’s daily life.
Building a Sustainable Model
From the beginning, HajráAnyu Association has worked toward a multi-source sustainability model.
In addition to grant funding, the Centre has introduced:
- A donation box system
- Donation-based room rental (open office use for coaches, dietitians, developmental educators)
- Space rental for children’s birthday events on a contribution basis
This model ensures accessibility while gradually strengthening financial resilience.
The Mother Center also received catalytic support from MINE, which provided not only financial assistance but also moral and professional encouragement during the establishment phase.
Insight into Local Needs
Through the operation of the Centre, important insights have emerged:
- Mothers deeply need safe, informal spaces to reduce isolation.
- Many women are eager to contribute actively when trust and opportunity are provided.
- Financial pressures make accessible community spaces especially valuable.
- Physical space matters — it enables empowerment to take root.
The Hajdúszoboszló Mother Center is now evolving into a sustainable platform for connection, confidence-building, and civic participation.
A Strong Addition to the Hungarian Mother Center Network
The development of the Hajdúszoboszló Mother Center demonstrates what is possible when:
- Civil society takes initiative,
- Municipal infrastructure provides support,
- Volunteers contribute skills and time,
- Women step into leadership roles.
As a new member of the Hungarian Mother Center Network, HajráAnyu Association is not only operating a successful local centre — it is contributing to a growing national movement that strengthens women’s community participation and grassroots empowerment across Hungary.
We warmly welcome HajráAnyu to the Network and look forward to continued cooperation, knowledge sharing, and joint advocacy for caring communities nationwide.
The opening of the Mother Center was supported by the Mothers for Peace and Ecology project, funded by:
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