Közélet Iskolája / School of Public Life

About Közélet Iskolája / School of Public Life

Democracy is not a noun, but a verb. It only exists when we do it. At the School of Public Life, we have been working as a community education center since 2014 to strengthen the culture of civic participation in Hungary. We are working towards a world where everyone can participate in public life and in the decisions that affect them, regardless of their social background. Our goal is to make the knowledge and skills needed for civic participation and self-organization accessible to everyone. We support civil society organizations and movement groups in becoming more effective. We build a diverse community where critical thinking, democratic participation, and solidarity are valued. What do we do to achieve this? We provide civic education to more than 1,000 people every year across Hungary. Our participants are people who want to stand up for a more just country and organize their local communities. Through our Politicians’ School, we offer learning opportunities for people who are transitioning from activism into decision-making roles and want to help build a more equal future. Our goal is for politics to reflect the diversity of society, which is why we work to strengthen the participation of women, Roma people, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. We support civil society organizations and movement groups through strategic planning and organizational development, helping them work effectively and sustainably for social change. We publish books on organizing, activism, and social justice.