Pro Cserehát Project - Ároktő

On the right is the mayor of Ároktő; on the left in the
center is Melinda Kassai, our partner on this project

Today, we visited Ároktő. This is a small village in northern Hungary with a population of about 1100 people with over 50% unemployment.  The mayor of the city in partnership with Melinda Kassai (founder of the Pro Cserehát Organization) are trying to help those who are unemployed to improve their lives through working and cooperating with other members of the community.  They work together in a very large community garden.  After our meeting, we toured the village and the plot of land where they will be doing their gardens.  We were impressed and amazed at how large their gardens will be. We were expecting small backyard gardens, but instead we were shown acres of land.  This organization, in addition to teaching farming, also provides counseling and community activities for the families that are chosen for this project.  We will be joining them about once a week to assist the families and engage them in arts and craft and sewing activities. 

Crossing the river to get
to the farmland

Elder Moser and Melinda Kassai looking at
plot of land where herbs will be grown.

This project was started by the couple that was here before us, the Lunds. The project here in Ároktő is in its second year.  Another village will soon be chosen for another project in addition to this one.

Leaving Aróktő