Organizational Profile – Amenca – With Us to Europe Association

Founded in 2003, the Amenca – With Us to Europe Association (Hungarian: Amenca – Velünk Európába Szervezet) plays a pivotal role in supporting the social inclusion and empowerment of disadvantaged and Roma communities, especially in the North Great Plain region of Hungary. The organization is rooted in civil society values, and its mission is to reduce social inequalities and promote inclusive, non-discriminatory education and cultural development.

Amenca operates with a multidisciplinary and community-based approach through a network of educational, cultural, and social programs and institutions.

🔹 Key Institutions and Programs

AMENCA Community Learning Center (Tanoda):
Provides informal and non-formal afterschool educational support for children at risk of early school leaving (math, science, digital literacy, foreign language learning), talent development, early childhood support, sports, and recreational programs. The Tanoda also operates a scholarship system for talented Roma and disadvantaged students.

Tündér Lala Sure Start Children’s House:
Established in 2017 with EU funding (EFOP 1.4.3), this early childhood institution in Nagyrábé provides developmental services for children under 3 and their parents, promoting equal opportunities through parental involvement.

FAUTOR Institute:
Conducts interdisciplinary research and practical programs related to sustainable development, social capital, inclusion, and psychosocial wellbeing. The institute operates in Budapest, Debrecen, and Bükkzsérc.

HÉTMÉRFÖLDES Programme:
A unique Amenca innovation that supports individual and community competencies through personalized interventions, street social work, and diagnostics-based mentoring. The program is based on seven key principles beginning with “E” in Hungarian: Cooperation, Equal Opportunity, Health Preservation, Lifestyle Development, Value Creation, Value Preservation, and Life Education.

FITT Community House (Földes):
A multifunctional community space targeting disadvantaged youth and families with day programs, youth clubs, parenting circles, peer mentoring, and seasonal educational activities.

OUTDOOR Classroom (Nagyrábé):
A 700 m² open-air learning space that utilizes experiential and outdoor pedagogy for the personality development of students aged 6 to 21.

🔹 Educational and Cultural Impact

Amenca has produced several acclaimed cultural products:

• Szívpiros Anthology: A bilingual collection of contemporary Roma and non-Roma love poems (Hungarian-English)
• Music CD of contemporary Roma poetry interpreted by Roma and non-Roma musicians
• Azt hiszitek… (“You Think…”): A 40-minute documentary on Roma literature
• Napkeleti hidak (“Eastern Bridges”): A publication showcasing drawings and essays by elementary school students
• Kirekesztés színe (“Color of Exclusion”): A national photography competition for high school students, resulting in a traveling exhibition
• Phare Phaka – Heavy Wings (2024): A contemporary Roma literary anthology featuring short stories, poetry, and visual work that explore themes of resilience, identity, and social inclusion

🔹 Flagship Programs

🎓 PályaTárs – PathPartner Educational Support Programme

A national educational initiative developed by Amenca to reduce dropout rates, support school success, and promote independent learning among disadvantaged youth aged 11–19. It provides:

• Mentoring by trained Roma university students
• Mini research-based learning focused on heritage and identity (e.g., local history, family stories)
• Capacity-building for 50 mentors and deployment of 25 mentors across the program
• Teacher training workshops on inclusive pedagogy and experiential learning

🛡 Polgárőr Tanonc – Youth Civil Guard Mentorship Programme

A civic mentoring initiative for children aged 6–14 that combines safety education, community responsibility, and behavioral development. In collaboration with local civil guards, teachers, and social workers, the program fosters:

• Early crime prevention and safety awareness
• Emotional and academic mentoring
• Youth participation in community service The program has shown strong results in building local identity, self-confidence, and community cohesion among Roma children in vulnerable neighborhoods.