#IOMThroughTheirEyes
Living in a foreign country is never easy, especially as a refugee. At IOM Hungary, we understand that learning the local language is vital for the social inclusion of those arriving from Ukraine.
At the Budapest Helps! Information and Community Centre, IOM Hungary’s language teachers are dedicated to helping new arrivals gain the skills they need to feel part of Hungarian society. From basic conversations to advanced proficiency, both children and adults can learn Hungarian and English to better navigate their new lives.
“For me, it was crucial that my daughter learn the local language to overcome the language barrier in school,” says Viktoriia, who arrived from Kharkiv. “When we found this community center, I saw how quickly my daughter was picking up the language, so I decided to join the adult Hungarian class myself.”
“This course is far better than any I’ve taken before. Here, I feel truly cared for. Our teacher reassures us every lesson that Hungarian isn’t as difficult as it seems. It probably is, but he gives us the confidence we need to start speaking,” she adds with a laugh.
“This place has become more than just a learning center—it’s a community. Since we don’t know if we’ll ever be able to return home, it’s essential to build connections, not just with fellow Ukrainians, but with locals too. I absolutely love this place,” Viktoriia concludes with a smile.
Matyas, the Head of Direct Assistance Unit at IOM Hungary shares, “Learning the local language is a milestone on the path to social belonging. Finding a community sharing similar experiences is a source of motivation and support for refugees arriving to Hungary.”
IOM remains dedicated to supporting refugees arriving from Ukraine and building pathways to their social inclusion. To enroll in IOM Hungary’s language courses, please visit Budapest Helps! Information and Community Centre.
Language courses are made available thanks to the generous support of the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.
