Order of Malta

12 November 2018. Today, on the occasion of the Day of Social Work, the Secretary of State for Social Affairs conferred the Social Work Prizes and the Pro Caritate prizes during a ceremony in the main chamber of the Hungarian Parliament. Lajos Győri-Dani, Vice-President for Operations of MMSZ, received the Pro Caritate prize for his leadership in directing the extensive activities of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta in emergencies both at home and abroad. He  received his prize from the hands of Secretary of State Attila Fülöp and of the ex-Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Peter Harrach.

During the ceremony, Attila Fülöp remarked that this day emphasises the real meaning of social work: human beings are not created to exist alone, but in social relationships and communities, within which they bear responsibility for others. Nearly one hundred thousand people work in the social field in Hungary: they carry the message that our society embraces both those who need assistance and those who give it. He thanked social workers for their efforts. "This acticvity that we call social work requires faith, courage, openness and generosity." He reminded that on the eve of this day, we celebrate the feast of Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours, who during his soldiering days famously cut his cloak in two to give half to a beggar. He noted that, just as this did not remain a private transaction, but became a public story for the ages, today's social work should not remain a private matter, but should be the common cause of the entire society.  "Social workers do not just give away half of their cloak, they build communities and build nations through their work."

The prize recipients were greeted by Sándor Lezsák, deputy Speaker of Parliament, who reiterated the respect and appreciation due to social workers and to the tens of thousands of volunteers who assist their communities within the framework of foundations, NGOs and faith-based organisations.