Helping others can take many forms - sometimes it is a material act, sometimes physical, and often it is through offering your time and labor in exchange for nothing but the joy of helping. Here are nine organizations in Budapest and beyond that welcome English-speaking volunteers to help their work in countless ways, with their philanthropic opportunities often involving fun activities.

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Artemisszió Foundation

Artemisszió is a multifaceted NGO that aims to bring different cultural, ethnic, and social groups closer to each other through mutual understanding. Applied arts are often used in their programs and workshops as means of communication.

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Bátor Tábor

Bátor Tábor is a camp in Hatvan for chronically ill children. By giving the kids special, empowering experiences, volunteers help them realize that they’re not defined by their illness. Bringing the happiness of childhood back into their lives is a unique experience that will change your life forever.

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Budapest Bike Maffia

A unique group formed by young bikers, the Budapest Bike Maffia is a philanthropic organization on wheels. They help homeless people and families in need by forging a strong community of helpers. If you like to ride and would like to do something for the local community, BBM might just be the perfect organization for you.

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Gézengúz Foundation

Gézengúz gives comprehensive help to children with birth injuries as well as their families, which means they help with everything from diagnostics and therapies to psychological services. They welcome volunteers for various tasks like event organizing, gardening, and assisting in therapy at their centers in Budapest, Budakalász, Győr, and Salgótarján.

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Háttér Society

Háttér Society, one of the largest LGBTQI organizations in Hungary, has various activities in the fields of LGBTQI human rights and HIV/AIDS prevention, just to mention a few. You can help their work in person, but also from home, either regularly or occasionally.

Website
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Hungarian Red Cross

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is one of the largest humanitarian movements of the world with millions of volunteers. By becoming one at the Hungarian organization (which operates all over the country), you can help manage disasters, do first-aid duty at Lake Balaton, or help with blood-donation related tasks.

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Migration Aid

Migration Aid played a huge role in giving assistance during Hungary’s refugee crisis in 2015; since then, the pressure points have shifted, so the organization mostly helps in other countries, but they are also active in refugee camps in Hungary. Help is always needed – you can find information about current tasks on their Facebook page.

Website
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Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter Foundation

This safe haven of abandoned and abused animals has been operating since 1992, and just like most foundations, they always welcome helping hands. There’s plenty to do at Noah’s Ark, which houses more than 1,000 rescued animals, but even if you can’t personally go to the shelter in District XVII, there are other tasks you can help with, like promotion or temporary adoption.

Website
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Rainbow Mission Foundation

The organizers of the annual Budapest Pride Festival, the Rainbow Mission Foundation, is an LGBTQI organization with a feminist and anti-racist mindset. Their activists work towards a more visible LGBTQI community in Hungary, while trying to create safe and supportive spaces for everyone within the community.

Website
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