Author: by Gyöngyvér Barcs
A MotherNature – Nature Association (Mother ) competition in the autumn, we want to introduce the inspiring women who run the winning organisations to everyone who has even a little hope in this country. These women are helping others with their lives and their vocations. What motivates them, what gives them strength in these difficult times?
Inflation, war, the state of health care, the situation of teachers, the aftershocks of the covid, the mental health of children and adults, the commentators who comment on atrocities without reason and for money, hatred, hunger, poverty, poverty. I could go on and on, but I can’t. I want to close my ears, I want to close my eyes. I want to hear and see something beautiful, something human, something that gives me hope. Something that will pull me out of my impermanence. Because it can’t be all we have.
And indeed, that’s not all we get. We also need to see the beauty in life that gets us through the hard times. Notice a smile, a hug, the warmth when we step out of the cold and into something. Notice the people who are not liars, not soulless profiteers and petty, but quite the opposite. People who care not only for themselves, who make helping others their life.
We are lucky here in the newsroom. Every day we get to meet women and mothers who give us strength and hope. We have highlighted seven of them.
Liza Baranyai, Executive Director of MotherNature-Anyatermészet Association
What can we know about you? Please introduce yourself briefly!
I have worked in the civil sector for more than 20 years. I am an international non-profit consultant and project manager, mainly working on sustainability and donor management strategies. I have lived and worked on several continents in environmental protection, humanitarian aid and women’s empowerment. I am one of the founders and CEO of Mona Association, which is my “love child”. Here I have found a community, a home.
I’m a mother of two boys, a chronically ill teenager and a kindergartener, divorced and currently living in Budapest.
I believe that it is the strength and skills of women, the resilience and care that our motherhood gives us, that Mother Earth needs most now to regenerate. We women need to recognise in ourselves the capacity to care, to heal, to regenerate, to bring things together, is what we are very good at and is what is the key to our survival now.
What do you consider a success?
I consider it a success:
- if my children can become playful, righteous adults who stand up for themselves and others,
- that I can be honest and true in my relationships, when I know exactly what I feel and think, and can act in accordance with that,
- if women who feel the call find us and find partners and support, they will be empowered and set out on their own journey. Towards themselves through self-discovery, towards partners in motherhood, towards starting a business with our support, towards community through our training. If they are on their way to fulfillment.
- I would consider it the greatest success if a day could go by without a woman thinking that she is not good enough. In fact, they would feel strong and capable of anything. Because they are.
What motivates you?
I am motivated by the possibility that the world can still be changed. That there are authentic, honest people, young people, women, mothers who can do this. I am motivated by the realisation that we women have incredible strength and tenacity. I’m motivated by the thought that if we all realised this, the world could be a better place – for each and every one of us. And if we work together, we could turn around not only our own destiny, but the world’s.
I am motivated by the idea of a world where we don’t have to conform to rules, schedules, and frameworks set by others, where we don’t have to divide our time and tasks based on our roles, but can unite them according to our own pace and feelings.
What and/or who inspires you? Who do you look up to as a role model?
Women’s destinies motivate and inspire me the most. Women who get up from difficult situations and keep going. Women who are able, for example, to survive a bereavement, a divorce, the loss of a child, to survive spiritually and to feel the world, our fate, to grow and to move beyond their shadows. This is what millions of women are doing in the world today. They work three jobs in one lifetime, provide physical, spiritual and mental nourishment for their children, look after them and the elderly of the family, the house, the garden, the husbands. And on top of all this, they usually find themselves when it’s hardest. These women inspire me. Women who feed off their own pain and fears and give a voice to others who don’t yet have a voice, a hope to those who don’t yet see that there is hope. There are many such women around us. Women who struggle through all the difficulties of everyday life, the huge burdens and yet make their own way even against the world, creating value, community, a future in the process. These women inspire me. Fortunately, there are many of them.
If you want to know more about Liza, you can read our interview with her here:
Zsanett Bitó-Balogh, professional leader of the Somnakuno Drom Roma Women’s NGO
What can we know about you? Please introduce yourself briefly!
My name is Zsanett Bitó-Balogh, I am a 29-year-old married woman of Roma origin with one child.I graduated from high school in 2012 and in 2017 I graduated with a degree. Currently I am a full-time organiser at a large foundation and I am employed as a coach by the Municipality of Miskolc. I also work as a trainer occasionally, teaching community organizing.
What do you consider a success?
The concept of success is very relative. For me it certainly is. It’s also a success that you chose me for the Inspiring Women article series, because I didn’t think I could be an inspiration to anyone before. I consider it a success that I have held my own in a covid situation despite all the difficulties. After all, the One More Bite campaign, the Save to Live campaign and the Chance for a Cure campaign are all credited to me, among others. Through them, over 30 million forints were raised and distributed to people in need, about 15,000 people were able to register and access the vaccine, and the Chance to Cure campaign made covid 1 forint nationwide.
I count these as successes, as I can say that I was the visionary behind all three campaigns.
What motivates you?
Mostly my little boy. I want him to grow up in a world where his beautiful creole skin is an asset rather than a liability. I fight for him, and for children, young people and women like him, who are precious and beautiful, but less fortunate. I think all people are beautiful, and race makes the world a colourful and special place. Just think if all people looked the same, how boring and grey it would be here!
What and/or who inspires you? Who do you look up to as a role model?
My role model is my grandmother, who was taken from me by my covid despite all my struggles.
My inspiration and guide is Ágnes Daróczi. Her life path is a model for me and her wisdom is always a compass for me. Those I am very proud of are my parents, because they let me become such a person and were patient with me. I also owe a lot to my husband, because he loves me and supports me in all areas.
If you want to know more about Zsanett, read the interview below and the article about our day at the association here read our interview with the association here.
Anikó Cserjés, President of the Tükrök Foundation
What can we know about you? Please introduce yourself briefly!
I am a hopeless nature and community lover.
What do you consider a success?
When in a flash we can feel the experience of another being: be it a tree, a small squirrel, a fellow human being.
What motivates you?
To experience being in community, creating. And even if it is not always easier together, it can have an inimitable power.
What and/or who inspires you? Who do you look up to as a role model?
A teaching that found me in Mexico. I asked the shaman uncle if he needed help fixing up the Temazcal (ritual sauna). This was his reply, “I don’t need it. But if you want to be part of the process, you can join.” Helping
is an opportunity to be part of life and change.
You can read our interview with Aniko here:
Ági Domonkos, founder of the Hungarian-Ukrainian company PTAH Theatre, performer
What can we know about you? Please introduce yourself briefly!
I am Ági Domonkos, creative actor, movement and drama teacher, trainer. I live in Badacsonytomaj with my husband and our daughter. I create, teach, play, help, move, sing, care, walk in nature, love the environment where I live.
What do you consider a success?
When something that I have planned comes to fruition and I can see that it makes sense, it works. It could be cooking a meal, my child’s values, a theatre performance, or anything else.
What motivates you?
I am an eternal optimist. I am motivated by life itself. That there is always forward and good things can always be created. Even if on rare occasions my energy is running low, the feeling of being a mother gives me a superpower that always wakes me up.
What inspires you?
Nature, art, play, movement, children, but also human stupidity.
What and/or who inspires you? Who do you look up to as a role model?
Different areas of life are different. For example, several of my masters from my theatre schools. I’m always amazed by people who are active, optimistic, physically fit, creative, some of them moving like cats. I always decide that I want to be one of those people. I am particularly inspired by stories of yogis of this age. My child: I am inspired by her clear, non-judgmental and creative thinking. My husband is also an inspiration when we create together. I could go on and on because I am inspired by many people, I consider myself quite open-minded.
You can read our interview with Ági here:
Dóra Laky, volunteer programme coordinator of the GoodSoul Workshop Association
What can we know about you? Please introduce yourself briefly!
My name is Dóra Laky, I am a tourism and hotel industry economist, a dedicated guardian of people’s physical, spiritual and mental values and well-being, an outdoor dancer. LEMangURIA® navigator and volunteer programme coordinator of the GoodSoul Workshop Association, I support women/children/families connected to me in life guidance, learning to act, releasing creative energies moved by inner inspirations.
What do you consider a success?
For me, leading a life based on the wisdom of the heart holds the potential for success as a woman, as a mother, as a partner, as a human being. I believe that the point is not to always feel good in our own skin, but to avoid sadness forever, to never experience something that hurts again. I do believe that if we base our lives on these idealised ideas, we are building a house of cards beneath us that can collapse at any time. Because life is change. If we can accept this and commit ourselves to creating warmth, care and appreciation in every situation in life, and consciously seek common ground with our fellow human beings, then our relationship with ourselves and with each other will be the foundation that will sustain us in times of crisis.
What motivates you?
Happiness, joy, enthusiasm, creativity, inner peace – these inspire me.
What and/or who inspires you? Who do you look up to as a role model?
Happiness, joy, enthusiasm, creativity, inner peace – they inspire me. I feel very fortunate to have many women in my life who are authentic, deeply feeling and understanding in their profession, who I can rely on, both professionally and personally. It is a true network of women, which invisibly nourishes me, keeps me going and helps me to become my own person. My mother is one of the links in this web, with whom we have managed to find each other in the shadow of a loss. Angelika Semsei, the founder of the LEMangURIA® Community, is my mentor and teaches me to respect and honour the human being in everyone, including myself, and to live a wholehearted life. I receive friendship from Katalin Mikiténé Kiss, the president of the GoodSoul Workshop Association, and confidence and support from Emese Dömösi, the founding member of the Mother Nature Association, to do my work. They are all inspiring to me, I see their lives as an example and I am grateful to work with them to build the women’s network.
You can read our interview with Dóra here:
Réka Makula, President of the XXI Century Roma Women’s Association
What can we know about you? Please introduce yourself briefly!
I was born in a roma village, but my father took me away from there when I was a baby, because he wanted a different life for me. The minimum expectation was a high school diploma. I didn’t even know I was roma origin until my schoolmates saw my mother and, with the resentment that some people have, they gypsyised us. In search of my roots, as a teenager, I visited the settlement a lot, I got to love the people there, the Roma culture. I became a volunteer and later an MP. I was a family worker for 8 years, developing Roma children. Then, together with several of my colleagues, I founded our association, where I have been working passionately ever since.
What do you consider a success?
I can see the success, the positive in every little thing. But the biggest success is when I can help young girls to realise their dream of being themselves before they become mothers. I also see success in the fact that the children who come to me are happy to tell me their problems that they don’t share with their families at home.
What motivates you?
We are motivated by the feedback we receive from our community, from children, adults, Roma and non-Roma alike. It gives us the strength, despite all the difficulties, to do it because our work is needed.
What and/or who inspires you? Who do you look up to as a role model?
I have an image of looking at a magazine as a child and seeing a woman in a costume. Then I imagined that I would be like that. I would have a nice suit and an office. I have achieved that, but that image still inspires me to this day.
Our interview with Reka below, and our article on the Ukrainian Roma refugee family supported by their association here here. They have published three beautiful books on Roma culture, about which here read about them here.
Nikoletta Végh-Nagy, the HajráAnyu Mothers for Each Other Association of Hajdúszoboszló
What can we know about you? Please introduce yourself briefly!
I am 42 years old, mother of 2 boys, happily married. I have lived and worked in many places in the country and the world, I have studied several subjects and had numerous jobs before I finally founded the HajráAnyu Association, where I feel really in my element. I have countless plans and goals that my family and friends support me in, but the mothers and children always remain the focus of the association because they deserve so much more, real attention than what they are getting now.
What do you consider a success?
When I can make a difference not just for individuals, but for a whole community, my work can have a transformative effect. It’s uplifting to see people get to know each other through our help, through our programmes, talk, connect and later help each other without our mediation.
What motivates you?
The bright light in the eyes. When I can give something, show something, teach something to someone that makes them more, it’s always empowering. There is a great strength and solidarity in mothers, we can literally and figuratively move mountains for our children, to make the world a better place for them, for them, for them. We draw on this strength every day.
What and/or who inspires you? Who do you look up to as a role model?
My children are my greatest teachers. They inspire patience, perseverance, openness, creativity, curiosity every single day, and they have taught me to give from the heart. I am especially inspired by women who, for whatever reason, have to struggle much more than the average for their child’s development and well-being, because they are tireless in their search for opportunities and answers, and yet, even with all this, they are still the cohesive force in their family.
You can read our interview with Nikoletta here:
I think there are a lot of women with that mentality still in the country. And there are millions of women, men and children with beautiful souls, thoughts and actions still living in this country. That’s what motivates me, that’s what gives me strength.
The discussion on MotherNature-Apenatermature Association and MINE, Mother Centers International Network for Empowerment.