Since its founding in 2017, the Hungary Helps Program has provided humanitarian aid to over 500,000 people worldwide. As an international initiative launched by the Hungarian government and managed by Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hungary Helps extends financial relief to those caught in crisis, provides places of refuge for displaced peoples, and works to rebuild infrastructure.

The nation of Hungary values its thousand-year-old Christian heritage and believes it has a responsibility to stand up for those who are suffering. The government has repeatedly recognized the global persecution of Christians and has condemned the violence committed against believers internationally. 

Tristan Azbej, State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians in Hungary, has been consistently vocal about raising awareness of the violence and displacement that many Christians face today. He often notes that, while Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world, anti-Christian acts are often overlooked and justice is never brought to the victims. Hungary Helps aims to change that lack of justice and awareness with effective, sensitive, and sustainable solutions. 

Many of the projects initiated by Hungary Helps have focused specifically on Christian communities, including the recent reconstruction of a church in Mexico damaged by an earthquake and the delivery of emergency aid to a church burned by extremists in Nigeria. 

The organization has also played an important role in providing aid for Yazidi women affected by the 2014 ISIS takeover, including housing victims of slavery and horrific violence. Through Hungary Helps, the Yazidi women have access to psychological, social, and vocational assistance to support their futures as they reintegrate into their communities. Targeted interventions have also been carried out in Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion, and on-site in sub-Saharan Africa where the battle against malaria continues.  

Along with their emergency response, Hungary Helps administers a scholarship opportunity for young Christians living in crisis regions, giving them the chance to continue their education by taking courses at a Hungarian university. Since its inception in 2020, approximately 200 students from countries such as Syria, Nigeria, and Iraq have received a full-ride scholarship.

According to Azbej, the organization began out of gratitude for the international aid that Hungary received in the late 20th century. As he told persecution.org, “A few decades ago we were on the receiving end of international aid, but quite recently…we got in a position where we could extend our solidarity to the outside world, to the humanitarian crisis zones.” Azbej hopes the organization’s actions will encourage other countries to do the same.