WECAN · WomEn Change Agent Network · Hungary
Women who move each other – and their towns.
A training and mentoring programme for women who shape community life in small Hungarian towns. Working on a local cause of their own, they gain knowledge, tools and a nationwide network of peers.
The programme
It starts with local causes and grows into a community.
Női Együttható (in English: WECAN – WomEn Change Agent Network) is a training and mentoring programme that strengthens and inspires women in their role as community organisers.
Every participant works on her own Change Project – a local cause that serves the community and calls for broader citizen participation. Training provides up-to-date knowledge and tools; mentoring offers continuous support.
Our aim is for this first network of women active in small-town public life to remain a supportive community long after the programme ends. Participants are selected through an open call.
Training
Two 2-day in-person trainings and a closing event, with lectures, workshops and elective skills sessions led by recognised experts.
Mentoring
Eight 90-minute online mentoring sessions between the gatherings, guiding each participant through the development of her project.
Networking
Two groups of 15 learn together. Sharing experience builds a community of peers that lasts beyond the programme.
Three modules, 52 hours
Project management in service of the community
Planning, problem-solving and partnerships – how a local idea can come to life on a tight budget and stay alive in the long run.
Citizen participation and community building
How can local voices be heard? Volunteer coordination, working with decision-makers, equal opportunities, digital tools and participatory planning.
Skills development
Leadership and communication skills: assertive communication, voice and speech, presentation and media training.
Change Project
A cause close to your heart.
It can be an ongoing initiative or a fresh idea – what matters is a positive social or environmental impact and the involvement of the community. Its scale fits each participant’s means: anything from starting a women’s circle to building a playground.
Equal opportunities, participation
Involving women and other groups in local decision-making, participatory budgeting, crowdfunding.
Community building
Intergenerational gardens, coordinated donation drives, local business support for the arts, day care for young mothers.
Local development
Pavements, playgrounds, parks, gender-sensitive public space, participatory planning.
Nature and environment
Local natural heritage, clean-ups, swap events, community gardens, adopting trees.
Built heritage, local identity
Protecting local heritage, local history walks and education, town festivals, exhibitions.
Who is it for?
Women shaping local public life
- Living or working in a Hungarian town of up to 10,000 inhabitants
- Open to all ages – especially leaders of NGOs and businesses, opinion formers and local decision-makers
- A local Change Project the applicant is committed to
- Attending all three gatherings and the eight online mentoring sessions
- Non-partisan: party members and party-backed candidates are not eligible
Timeline
Six months, three gatherings
- 15 Nov – 15 JanApplications, assessed on a rolling basis
- 23 JanSelection
- 10–11 FebKick-off meeting and training
- Feb – MayOnline mentoring
- 12–13 MayTwo-day training
- May – JunOnline mentoring
- 23 JunClosing event and project presentations
Participants spend 4–8 hours a week on their project. Dates refer to the 2022/23 cohort.
Participants · 2022/23
29 women, 26 towns, 29 local causes
From storytelling trails to a local energy community: see what the participants worked on.
Flóra Adorján
Local food-basket community for small producers
Adrienn Bársony
“A place that sustains” – a craft workshop for people with disabilities
Viktória Bokkon
Parent-and-baby club and a storytelling trail
Erika Fábián
Community walks in Verőce, Nagymaros and Zebegény
Andrea Ferik
Holdudvar women’s circle
Anita Fűrné Mosoni
Art therapy for patients and their families
Ágnes Gecse
Caring for the soul in nature – themed hikes
Borbála Gonda
“Black Dog” self-help circle
Anita Iván
Senior dance performances in care homes
Orsolya Kiss-Bakucz
Wake up, Diósd! – a storytelling trail
Dalma Kovács
“School Monsters” children’s book series
Judit Kozma
“Civic Five O’Clock” event series
Emese Marcinka-Májer
Budaörs Talent – supporting young musicians
Kriszta Mátyus
Punktum community art workshops
Gabriella Nagy
“Balaton Kids” online information hub
Katarina Nagy
A community space for mothers
Szilvia Nagy
Zengő Talent Point for children
Zsuzsanna Nagy
Reducing the rural ecological footprint
Adrienn Nagyné Csík
Bodzácska educational trail
Ildikó Palcsó
Aventurin women’s circle
Ildikó Pásztor
Saving Drégely Castle together
Krisztina Pusztainé Antal
Youth club
Henrietta Szabó
Culture in the Danube Bend – community flag project
Réka Tokai
Globáltudás – learning methods
Dr. Viktória Torma
Győrzámoly storytelling trail
Dr. Tünde Tóth
Small Town – Big Family, a storytelling trail
Éva Tóthné Eszes
Women’s club
Beatrix Török Mezei
Network of women entrepreneurs in Szomód
Gabriella Zagyva
An energy community for blue zones
“Női Együttható is just like its name: women who have an effect on each other.”
Dr. Viktória Torma, Győrzámoly
“I got to know more than 30 strong, energetic women. We live far apart, yet we make an impact together.”
“She said the room was full of ‘sourdough people’ – the force that holds a community together, as needed as a bite of bread.”
Trainers and speakers
Who we learned from
About us
Acting apart, making an impact together.
All over Hungary, women are working to make life better in their towns – often on their own. We believe that when more women take part in local matters, they bring new perspectives and give a voice to those who are rarely asked. With Női Együttható we want to connect this diverse, scattered energy: to get to know each other, learn from each other and achieve more together.
The two of us met on a fellowship programme; the project was launched with support from the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund.
Éva Tétényi
Architect, urban planner, heritage expert
Over 25 years as a lead planner. As commissioned chief architect for several municipalities she develops new kinds of local plans through participatory planning. Formerly chief architect of Győr-Moson-Sopron County and of Budapest’s 6th district, Terézváros.
“Some causes can only succeed if someone takes them to heart and steps forward to lead them.”
Daniella Huszár
Urbanist, doctoral researcher, sustainable urban development expert
For more than a decade she has worked on urban and community development projects built on local participation. As a doctoral researcher at MOME (Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design) she studies sustainable urban transitions, and as an URBACT expert she supports European cities.
“There is great power in learning from each other and in supportive communities built around shared causes.”