Family, relationships, inspiring women – KINCS at the Campus Festival
This year, for the first time, the Maria Kopp Institute for Demography and Families (KINCS) took part in the Campus Festival, which was held in Debrecen from 16 to 19 July 2025. Our colleagues contributed to numerous public and professional discussions at the festival, where important social issues were on the agenda, such as the social situation of Roma people and the role of Roma culture, women's leadership in public life, and the relationship dilemmas and challenges faced by young people.
"Roma families today – stories from the stage to decision-making"
Participants in the roundtable discussion organised by KINCS entitled "Roma families today – stories from the stage to decision-making" sought answers to questions such as what factors most help and hinder the social advancement of Roma people, how the mobility of Roma communities has changed over the past 10-20 years, and what role Roma culture plays in strengthening community identity.
Moderated by KINCS researcher and analyst Mónika Raffael, singer Gergő Oláh spoke about the importance of the biblical verse "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" in peaceful coexistence between Roma and non-Roma. This fundamental human attitude should also guide social cooperation, as it can break down prejudices and build bridges between people.
István Aba-Horváth emphasised that only together, as a community, can we change the image of Roma and our own destiny. According to the president of the National Roma Self-Government in Hungary, collective problems cannot be solved with individual solutions – we need common answers and shared responsibility.
Social politician Tímea Oláhné Balogh emphasised the importance of self-identity. The president of the Roma Láng Association put it this way: "It is our job as leaders to make others aware of this – to help them map out their abilities and their roots. Once they have done that, unexpected situations will not throw them off balance because they will have inner stability."
István Antal, advisor to the president of KINCS, pointed out that the social mobility of Roma communities has shifted tangibly in a positive direction over the past two decades. However, research clearly shows that behind successful life stories there is almost always a stable family background, a supportive community and the experience of someone discovering one’s own value. KINCS aims to contribute to the shaping of social policy thinking by exploring these patterns, so that we can talk not only about individual successes, but also about thriving communities.
Participants in the discussion agreed that issues affecting Roma communities have not only social policy dimensions, but also deeply human and cultural ones. Conscious identity building, accessible role models, policy responses based on research findings and the mobilisation of communities' internal resources are all essential for real social change.
"Together or alone? – Our relationship dilemmas"
The panel discussion entitled "Together or alone? – Our relationship dilemmas" was moderated by Prof. Ágnes Engler, head of the Kopp Mária Institute's Centre for Educational Research.
Imre Bedő, founder of the Men's Club, emphasised that children should be consciously shown that it is possible to thrive in the offline world, that they need to learn to live without gadgets and to form real friendships.
Eszter Bedő, programme director of the Men's Club, said that the power of communities is very important, with sport being an excellent medium for this.
Georgina Kiss-Kozma, research director at the MCC Youth Research Institute, said that according to their surveys, one in five young people feel lonely. This is why it is important for them to join communities where they can form genuine relationships.
András Székely, senior research fellow at KINCS and head of the Velem Lehet Beszélgetni (You Can Talk to Me) movement, emphasised that young people need to be encouraged to engage in conversations. Regular, high-quality communication is essential in relationships.
"Family and Work - Women Leaders in Public Life"
The roundtable discussion "Family and Work - Women Leaders in Public Life", moderated by Tünde Fűrész, president of KINCS, explored the issue of work-life balance.
Government spokesperson Eszter Vitályos explained that no distinction should be made between male and female leaders: hard work, dedication and perseverance always pay off. Family background and support are also key.
Zsófia Koncz, State Secretary for Families, emphasised that her parents are her role models and that she can still count on her grandmothers to this day. In her opinion, mothers are strong at prioritising, logistics and perseverance, which are also advantages at work.
Prof. Veronika Fenyves, Dean of the University of Debrecen, emphasised that empathy, humanity and attention are essential for leadership. The university's own kindergarten also helps working mothers to achieve a better work-life balance.
Prof. Ágnes Engler, head of the KINCS Education Research Centre, pointed out that family and career are not mutually exclusive, but rather mutually reinforcing factors. Referring to the research of Prof. Mária Kopp and Árpád Skrabski, she said that parents who consciously pay attention to their relationship with their children not only live more balanced lives, but also live longer.
