| Administrative History | Allocations: 1919-1941, 1957-1962 (refugees), 1946-1949, 1989; programme spending 1993/94. See later annual reports for any subsequent allocations.
After the First World War, Hungary experienced food shortages and famine conditions due to the Allied blockade. On 7 August 1919, SCF made its first grant to Budapest. From then until the outbreak of the Second World War, Hungary was one of the most important recipients of SCF aid. Details of the original aid given are not clear, although it is known that by the end of 1920 aid to Hungary had totalled £73,670, over 12% of the total. The money was given through a variety of agencies, including the Friends' Emergency and War Victims Relief Committee and the Theosophist Action Lodge, sometimes working with local organisations such as the Ligue Hongroise pour la Protection de l'Enfance and the Stephanie Association.
SCF's continuing work in the country centred around the 'workschools' pioneered by Julie Eve Vajkai. In October 1920, Vajkai opened workrooms for girls aged between 12 and 16, offering a mixture of education and work training for children between the school leaving age and the minimum working age. Boys were later included in this scheme. From 1921, day nurseries were opened by Madame Vajkai's sister, Rozsi.
In 1921, the American Relief Administration offered to feed 25,000 children in Budapest if the European relief movement undertook to feed another 25,000. SCF made this happen with a donation of £10,000 for the Red Cross via the UISE. An anti-tuberculosis campaign was also successful. In 1922 grants were given for the relief of Transylvanian refugees in Budapest, and to the Child Protecting League, Budapest, as well as the Elizabeth Sanatorium Annexe. Money was also provided to the workrooms and for child feeding in Budapest (the ARA scheme), through the UISE in Geneva. In 1923, money was given via UISE for relief in Hungary; this was mainly for the workrooms. In April, a Budapest local committee was formed to supervise the workrooms. In 1924 grants for various purposes, including milk distribution and hospital work, were also made, as well as some follow-up grants for children who had previously been brought to Britain immediately after the war. By 1924, the workschools were continuing to receive aid through UISE, but the Hungarian government were now contributing more than half the cost, and local factory owners were also supporting the scheme.
On 10 October 1924, the Weardale Home was opened in Budapest, for children sent from juvenile courts; this was also run by Madame Vajkai. The running costs were paid by the ministry of justice. In 1928, one workschool was closed, and five were transferred to local authorities. Two continued to be maintained by SCF, as well as the Weardale Home and two nursery schools.
Between 1928 and 1932, and 1934 and 1936, Budapest was the largest single recipient of aid from SCF. By 1931 there were five nursery schools. In July 1934, a Hungarian Children Committee was set up in London. Six small schools were opened. The outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 did not at once stop SCF aid, but when Hungary came under German domination in 1940, aid was restricted, although some did reach the country under the auspices of the UISE. After that time, contact was broken until the end of the war although the UISE continued to be involved in the work in Hungary. Rozsi Vajkai inspected Polish refugee camps in 1944 as a UISE delegate. Julie Vajkai was able to report to SCF in June 1945 on conditions in Hungary.
In 1945 SCF was again able to support work in Hungary. The Weardale Home was reopened at Pomaz, 20 miles from Budapest, and concentrated on the treatment of orphans. Food and clothing were also distributed. In 1948, the work of SCF was handed over to the Hungarian government as a consequence of the change of policy resulting from Communist rule. Gifts in kind to a value of £8,000 were given in 1989. |