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Demonstration of Sustainable Development in Rural Hungary
Region: Central and Eastern Europe, Hungary
Author: Natural Lifestyle Foundation
Consortium Member: EPCE Hungary
Status: Funded and Ongoing
Budget: $385
Collected: $385
Needs: $0
Result: To model organic farming, sustainable forest management, housing alternatives, and ecotourism. Civil servants “on loan” can provide full time staff to supplement volunteer efforts, if living costs are funded.
Donors: EurasiaGroupa (student NGO at Central European University in Budapest); Scott Link & Shannon Simrell; Mike & Alene Case [June 1999]
Comment: This project represents a creative partnership between a citizens’ group and local government. It also provides a creative and challenging alternative to growing consumerism in the region.
Brief introduction of the problem:
The Foundation`s mission is to establish possibilities for natural lifestyle of the individual, to develop a sustainable system on the community and regional levels with the means of environmental education, advising, settlement building and organic farming. These aims are based on human ecological principles.
The Foundation contracted for management of 130 hectares of land in the Tata-basin, and strives to cultivate it following the traditional land use methods in gardening, forestry, agriculture and green tourism. We built an eco-house to illustrate the possibilities of sustainable housing solutions. We help people begin a sustainable lifestyle.
The Foundation has no paid employees; its work has been based entirely on volunteer work. Therefore it is inevitable that we must assure full-time employment because the agricultural work demands continuous attention throughout the year.
Aims of the project:
- To create a model area for organic farming and sustainable forest management in the region
- To build methodological examples for sustainable housing alternatives
- To organize events, camps and training connected to the topic of sustainable living
- By having an employee, we can assure continuous work on our projects
Total budget in USD:
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Food expenses
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$1740
|
|
Salary
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$690
|
|
Clothes expenses
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$110
|
|
Travel costs
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$530
|
|
VF Administrative Cost
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$307
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Total
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$3070
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(The law on civil servants makes these expenses obligatory for Hungarian organizations.)
Implementation methods:
The Employment Centre of Komarom County provided us with the possibility to employ two civil servants for one and a half years. We intend to continue their employment if their work proves to be fruitful.
Their tasks will be:
- Field studies in natural and man-made environments
- Studying natural lifestyle as a whole
- Contribution to house building and land use
- Agricultural work
- Traditional handkrafts including house equipment
- Other lifestyle possibilities (kitchen, herbs, yoga, health care, etc.)
Expected results:
- By the end of their service the civil servants will be able to build an independent eco-life system around themselves
- We will continue to employ civil servants for the above tasks thus involving the wider public in our work
Time limits:
The employment started in March, 1997 and lasts for one and a half years, but we will plan to continue it after this trial period.
EPCE Hungary has already supported the project with fee for 6 months.
The project is continuous, and the group is constantly seeking for new civil servants.