{"id":119,"date":"2026-01-06T13:01:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hmcn.hu\/hu\/?p=119"},"modified":"2026-02-18T13:23:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T13:23:30","slug":"caring-community-in-janoshida-a-grandmother-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hmcn.hu\/hu\/2026\/01\/06\/caring-community-in-janoshida-a-grandmother-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Caring Community in J\u00e1noshida: A (Grand)Mother Center in the Heart of Rural Hungary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In rural areas across Europe, demographic shifts are reshaping community life. As populations age and mobility patterns change, care responsibilities once shared among structured systems are increasingly shouldered by local families \u2014 especially women of all ages. In Hungary\u2019s small villages, this trend is particularly visible: care for the elderly is becoming as central a social task as childcare once was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this transforming landscape, the traditional concept of a \u201cMother Center\u201d is evolving too. From nurturing mothers with small children, these community hubs are becoming intergenerational spaces that support the wellbeing of everyone who needs care: children, adults, elders, and those living with vulnerabilities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One inspiring example of this evolution is taking shape in the village of J\u00e1noshida \u2014 a close-knit settlement in the historical Jasz region of Hungary, with around 2,500 residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Village Built Around Care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J\u00e1noshida is not just another rural community. With an active local government, long-term strategic vision, and a strong sense of local identity, the village has been working for years to create a culture of mutual support and sustainable community wellbeing<\/strong>. The municipality\u2019s J\u00e1noshida2030<\/em> <\/a>vision, developed together with Hekate Conscious Ageing Foundation<\/a>, anticipates an elderly-friendly, ecologically mindful, and socially inclusive future \u2014 positioning care at the heart of community life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The village\u2019s demographic profile reflects wider European trends: an ageing population, shifting family structures, and increasing care needs. In this context, traditional civil society models, including Mother Centers, have a unique opportunity to adapt and meet these emerging challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The St. Norbert Elderly Club: A Foundation for Intergenerational Care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 1998, the St. Norbert Elderly Club<\/a><\/strong> has been serving the J\u00e1noshida community as a key space for older adult engagement and social activity. As part of the Mothers for Peace & Ecology<\/em> project, this long-established institution became the physical and symbolic home of a new intergenerational initiative \u2014 the J\u00e1noshida (Grand)Mother Center<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of creating a separate institution, local mothers and grandmothers chose to expand the existing Elderly Club\u2019s mission, promoting cooperation between generations and deepening community ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Women-Led Partnership and Local Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the core of this development is Regina Foundation<\/a><\/strong>, a local women-led NGO that brought passion, organisation, and community networks to the effort. Together with the Elderly Club staff, the JANOSHIDA2030 partner Conscious Ageing Foundation<\/a>, and the enthusiastic support of Mayor B\u00e9la Eszes<\/strong> and the municipal team, they created a space that reflects both community needs<\/em> and local values<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayor Eszes has been instrumental in steering J\u00e1noshida toward a future where care and sustainability are strategic priorities. Under the J\u00e1noshida 2030<\/em> framework, the village aims to build a model of community life that responds to the care crisis, fosters active ageing, and supports ecological wellbeing \u2014 all while creating opportunities for young families to stay and thrive locally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Living, Growing Mother Center<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The J\u00e1noshida (Grand)Mother Center has quickly become more than just a meeting space. It is a living, evolving community hub<\/strong> that offers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n