Máltai Szeretetszolgálat

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This service can be done in the spirit of volunteering only. This is the divine dimension in man. In volunteer work one can realise that our life doesn’t belong to us only, but to others, too. Our life will be a success if we decide to donate it for others” Father Imre Kozma.

From the very beginning volunteer work has had a special role in the life of the. This is the basic principle of the Charity Service’s existence and identity. The today’s structure of the Charity Service – the groups, institutions and programmes – has grown out of a parish community. Volunterism was determining the first fifteen years of the organisation, this is the power which our moral capital is being derived from. Volunteering, the voluntary approach are basic values, that is why the involvement of volunteers in the Charity Service’s organisations and in its programme implementations is essential.

There are about 5500 volunteers doing regular work in the organisation, among them 2479 are full members. Thousands of occasional volunteers join their activity. Creativity and varied skills of helpers multiplies the power, the prospects of the Charity Service, that makes possible to more effectively concentrate resources on the assistance to the needy. This is the core of the organisation’s strength and revival.

Volunteer work is what benevolent people do voluntarily, devotedly in groups or individually for others, for the common good for no financial gain. However the Charity Service is something more. Both volunteers and staff members work in the sign and under the protection of the eight pointed cross. This shield, the Malteser Cross, the symbol of the eight beatitudes invites us all for an unconditional love that is open to everyone and that comes from the love for God. In the words of Father Imre Kozma the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta wants to visualise a civilisation of love in the world.

Local groups operated by volunteers are the smallest organisational units of the Charity Service. They help people in their surrounding with donations, organise special programmes and provide various forms of personal assistance. The national network of the Charity Service of the Order of Malta is based on the activity and responsibility of these groups.

Volunteers come to us with different motivations. Beside traditional volunteers who are motivated by Christian faith and the intention to help, there are many others who join the Charity Service to have a valuable activity, to make their knowledge and skills useful or to enjoy the feeling of belonging to a community, to live a life with love. Many young people are driven by the chance to learn, to get experience, to have practice. Doing volunteer work they can realise that they are helping an activity they can later identify themselves with.

Activities

ATTENTION TO THE ELDERLY, ELDERLY CARE

  • Visiting elderly people in their home, in elderly care institutions.
  • Home care: cleaning, shopping, administration, lunch delivery, transport, accompaniment.
  • Organisation of spiritual, community and cultural programmes.

HOMELESS CARE

  • Street outreach services, food and tea service for the homeless.
  • Community programmes for the homeless.

CHILD CARE, FAMILY PROGRAMMES

  • Organisation of community programmes for children and families: prevention, community building, crafts, cultural and spiritual programmes.
  • Organisation of events, cooperation in the meetings.
  • Organisation of summer camps, camping.
  • Child attendance.
  • Coaching of children.
  • After school programmes, involvement of volunteer masters.
  • Child welfare.
  • Distribution of teaching tools.
  • Children’s chance programme – Mobile playgrounds
  • “Prevention by playing” programme – Malteser Playgrounds

DISABLED CARE

  • Support for disabled children and their families.
  • Club programmes.
  • Transport service for the disabled.
  • Community and spiritual programmes for disabled adults, young and children.

FOOD SERVICES

  • Food services, lunch delivery.
  • Food for children.
  • Street outreach services for the homeless, food service, tea service.

RELIEF ACTIVITY IN CRISIS, IN DISASTER SITUATIONS

  • Disaster management, physical assistance, transport and distribution of donations.
  • Tea services in crisis situations.
  • Refurnishing the homes of families following disasters.

TRAININGS, COURSES, COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES

  • Festive occasions.
  • Club for the addicts.
  • Organisation of talks.

OTHERS

  • Assistance to people in crisis.
  • Home support to individuals with mental health problems and to families and persons in crisis.
  • Prison mission, visits, spiritual and reintegration support, bible class e.g. in Juvenile Prison, gift parcels for Christmas.
  • Participation in the actions of the Charity Service.
  • Legal, social, lifestyle, spiritual aid.
  • Joining the activities of institutions.

HEALTH WORK

  • Supply of medicines.
  • Medical equipment rental service.
  • Blood pressure checks.
  • Visiting the sick in their home, in elderly homes, in hospitals.
  • Physical and spiritual care of the sick in their home, in elderly homes and in hospitals, give a bath.
  • Volunteer work in hospitals.
  • First-aid provision.
  • Ambulance service.
  • Medical specialist care.