🇭🇺 Hungary Team

Preparation Activities – DiGiSC Youth Exchange

Digital Storytelling for Social Change

As part of the preparation phase of the DiGiSC – Digital Storytelling for Social Change Youth Exchange, the team from Hungary explored several important social challenges affecting their communities. Through collaborative discussions, research, and creative poster development, participants analyzed complex social issues and reflected on how storytelling can be used as a tool to promote empathy, awareness, and positive change.

The Hungarian team focused on themes related to educational inclusion, mental health awareness, migrant worker integration, environmental justice, and human rights advocacy. These issues were explored through visual storytelling posters that present both the challenges faced by communities and the potential ways to address them.

Social Issues in Hungary

One of the main topics identified by the participants concerns the social exclusion experienced by children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in the Hungarian education system.

In theory, Hungarian law promotes integrated education, meaning that children with disabilities should be included in mainstream classrooms. However, the reality often reflects what participants described as "Island Integration."

This situation occurs when children with special educational needs are physically present in classrooms but lack the specialized support necessary to fully participate in learning activities. As a result, they may feel isolated, excluded, or unable to develop socially alongside their peers.

Several factors contribute to this situation:

Shortage of Specialized Professionals

Hungary faces a severe shortage of special education teachers and specialists. Low wages and limited resources have made it difficult to recruit and retain professionals who can support inclusive education.

Social Exclusion in Schools

Children with special needs may experience bullying, social isolation, or rejection from schools that feel unprepared to support them.

Structural Inequalities

Marginalized communities, particularly Roma children, are sometimes disproportionately placed into special education categories, which can reinforce social segregation rather than provide appropriate support.

These challenges highlight the need for stronger inclusive education policies and social awareness about disabilities and learning differences.

Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention

Another issue explored by the Hungarian team is the importance of mental health awareness, particularly among young people.

Hungary has historically experienced relatively high suicide rates, which has contributed to a culture where mental health struggles are often stigmatized or discussed in silence.

Recent initiatives are working to change this narrative by promoting emotional literacy and open conversations about mental health.

Programs implemented in schools encourage students to:

• discuss emotional challenges openly

• recognize signs of stress or crisis

• support peers experiencing mental health difficulties

By focusing on community-based mental health support, these initiatives aim to create environments where young people feel safe asking for help.

Through storytelling and awareness campaigns, participants emphasized the message:

"You matter – and your story deserves to be heard."

Third-Country Nationals and Labor Rights

The Hungarian team also explored the experiences of third-country nationals (TCNs) working in Hungary.

Due to labor shortages in several sectors, Hungary has increasingly relied on workers from countries outside the European Union, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Central Asian countries.

However, these workers may face challenges related to:

Work Permits and Legal Dependence

Many migrant workers have residence permits tied to a single employer. If they lose their job or report poor working conditions, they risk losing their legal status in the country.

Social Integration

Workers often live in segregated housing or worker hostels and may have limited interaction with the local population, which can create barriers to integration and mutual understanding.

Language and Information Barriers

Many migrant workers struggle to understand contracts, safety instructions, or labor rights due to language barriers.

Participants emphasized the importance of recognizing migrant workers not only as laborers but as individuals with stories, families, and cultural identities.

Environmental Justice

Environmental issues were another key topic explored by the Hungarian team.

Participants discussed concerns about industrial pollution near vulnerable communities, particularly in areas where large industrial facilities are located close to residential neighborhoods.

One example mentioned by participants involves concerns related to battery factories near the city of Debrecen, where residents have raised questions about:

• water usage

• chemical pollution

• potential health risks

• lack of community involvement in decision-making processes

Environmental justice emphasizes that all communities, regardless of income or social status, should have equal protection from environmental risks and equal access to a healthy environment.

The Role of Digital Storytelling

A central component of the Hungarian team's preparation activities was exploring how digital storytelling can be used as a tool for social awareness and advocacy.

Through storytelling, complex social issues can be presented in ways that are emotional, relatable, and impactful.

Participants developed several storytelling concepts, including:

"The Invisible Desk"

A narrative illustrating how children with special educational needs may feel invisible within classrooms that lack inclusive support.

"The Weight of Silence"

A story highlighting the emotional burden individuals carry when struggling with mental health challenges and the importance of speaking openly.

"The Person Behind the Permit"

A storytelling concept focused on migrant workers, presenting them as individuals with personal dreams, identities, and experiences beyond their job roles.

"Our Town, Our Future"

A digital story about local communities advocating for environmental protection and sustainable development.

Through these storytelling ideas, the Hungarian team demonstrated how narratives can help communities connect, empathize, and advocate for positive change.

Conclusion

The preparation activities carried out by the Hungary team illustrate the important role young people can play in addressing social challenges through creativity and critical reflection. The whole research of Hungary team is in the following file:

By examining topics such as inclusive education, mental health awareness, migrant worker rights, environmental justice, and human rights, participants gained a deeper understanding of the social realities affecting their communities.

Through digital storytelling, these issues can be transformed into powerful narratives that inspire empathy, dialogue, and collective action.

These insights will contribute to the DiGiSC Youth Exchange, where participants from different countries will collaborate to create stories that promote awareness, inclusion, and social change across Europe.