The Grand Hospitaller of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Josef D. Blotz, paid a visit to the Hungarian Association and the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, touring their most significant humanitarian programmes – social, healthcare and educational initiatives – and meeting with members, staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.
The programme began in Bicske with a visit to the Hungarian Charity Service’s Healthcare and Logistics Centre, where the Grand Hospitaller was introduced to the centre’s integrated healthcare and logistical operations, which play a crucial role in supporting the Charity Service’s nationwide humanitarian response.
On the following day, the Grand Hospitaller travelled to Göd, where he visited the Home for Persons with Disabilities and met residents and caregivers, witnessing first-hand the personalised care and inclusive environment offered to adults living with disabilities.
At the headquarters of the Hungarian Association of the Order of Malta, preparations for the 2028 International Summer Camp were presented. Bringing together young people with and without disabilities from around the world, the camp embodies the Order’s spirit of friendship, inclusion and international solidarity—values that remain at the heart of its humanitarian mission. The Grand Hospitaller attended the Saint John’s Charity Ball, hosted at the Hungarian State Opera House, which raised funds in support of the event.
A significant part of the visit was devoted to the Hungarian Charity Service’s innovative programme addressing poverty and social exclusion. In Kálló, the FeTe (Emerging Settlements) Programme assists families living in disadvantaged conditions through long-term community presence, education, and social support, fostering opportunities for children while strengthening local communities.
In Tarnabod, the Grand Hospitaller explored one of the Charity Service’s most comprehensive models of integrated social development. Particular attention was also given to the social enterprise developments, which create employment opportunities while promoting sustainable local development and economic inclusion.
Throughout the visit, the Grand Hospitaller expressed his appreciation for the professionalism and dedication of the Hungarian Charity Service’s employees and volunteers. Meeting beneficiaries of all ages, he witnessed how the Order’s works extend far beyond immediate assistance, accompanying vulnerable people through long-term programmes that restore dignity, foster self-reliance and build stronger communities.
By combining healthcare, social inclusion, education and community development, the humanitarian initiatives implemented by the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta stand as a remarkable example of the Order’s commitment to putting faith into action.
