The National Association of Large Families and the Mária Kopp Institute have signed a cooperation agreement
The National Association of Large Families (NOE) and the Mária Kopp Institute for Demography and Families (KINCS) have signed a cooperation agreement. The document was signed to formalize the long-standing cooperation between the two organizations.
Prior to the signing, Katalin Kardosné Gyurkó, President of NOE, spoke about the fact that the agreement had already been concluded by the two organizations with their actions, but surprisingly it was not laid down in writing. She recalled that numerous joint professional events have already been organized with KINCS, and they mutually participate in each other's events, where the “planners, analysts” of family policy and the target group, large families, can get information directly from each other.
The basis of their current collaboration is to be found in common goals and mutually supportive profiles, she added, noting that children and the family are valuable to both organizations, and while KINCS conducts professional analyzes, NOE helps KINCS in performing research tasks through its 15,000 member families. They are also “in the first line” in terms of evaluations and feedback.
She followed by saying that families with many children are the first to feel the impact of a measure and can indicate how they should be expanded or possibly changed. Based on the agreement concluded with KINCS, the feedback will be channelled in in a coordinated manner and strengthened with the professionalism of the Institute - noted Katalin Kardosné Gyurkó.
The president of NOE also said that their 10th European Family Congress has been delayed in 2020 due to the coronavirus epidemic, which will be organized in Keszthely in July this year, preceded by a joint research by KINCS and NOE. She noted that KINCS also helps the large family association to represent their views internationally.
She also spoke about the fact that NOE contacted the large family association in earthquake-stricken Croatia and offered them their help.
Tünde Fűrész, President of KINCS, was pleased to be able to formalize the cooperation, which has been ongoing since 2010. She recalled that at KINCS, the use and profoundness of family policy measures is monitored, in which they can cooperate with universities on a theoretical level, and with family organizations on a practical level, which latter can “be a source of inspiration” to the work of the Institute originating from practical life.
As she said, in Hungary, large families make up 12 percent of the families, and they raise more than a quarter of the children. In Hungary, three children are a “desired way of life”, in their survey 40 per cent of the respondents consider three children to be ideal, and almost 30 per cent have planned to have three children in their own lives.
The large family lifestyle is becoming more and more popular, it is in the desire of more and more people, she noted. She recalled that the government ruled in 2010 that anyone who decides to have more children should not face poverty, no should having children mean a risk of poverty. According to three-quarters of Hungarians, large families should be supported - added Tünde Fűrész.
The President of KINCS drew attention to the fact that there are elements of Hungarian family policy that give special support to large families, and has highlighted, for example, the family tax relief, Housing Subsidy for Families (CSOK), car purchase support for large families and the PIT-exemption for mothers with four children. She noted that the proposal to support car purchases for large families came from NOE.
As she said, the proportion of children born third has increased by more than 10 percent compared to 2010, and according to the Hungarian Central Statistical Office , those who raise three or more children have a net income per capita of 88 percent. She said large families are also counted on in terms of protecting family values, as the institution of marriage is important for large families, and among parents, those with large families are the most committed to environmental protection.
