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Partners Hungary Foundation

1027 Budapest

Frankel Leo u. 5.

Phone: (36 1)438-5260, 438-5270

Fax: (36 1) 438- 5271

E-mail: partners@partnershungary.hu

Partners Hungary Foundation was established in 1994 by Partners for Democratic Change (PDC) and its managers, Jim Isenberg and Raymond Shonholtz. The main goal of the organization was to prevent and manage conflicts stemming from the democratization process of the country. A whole Partners Network was being formed to accomplish this in the whole region through the work of independent but cooperating organizations. Similar organizations were established in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania and Croatia.

In Hungary the founders were four individuals: Kinga Göncz, Sandor Gesko and Istvan Herbai with a lot of support from the President of the Board, Sandor Kerekes.

While the political situation and the institutional system was rapidly changing and NGOs were developing fast, the importance of social dialogue was becoming apparent, to articulate and find common ground for the interest of different groups. New methods and techniques were needed to to do this. Partners Hungary has been trying to spread the culture ofcooperation and a new method of conflict managmeent. Its main goal was to change attitudes and to disseminate this different culture. How can we be more constructive in conflict situations? How can we reconcile different interests of all the steakholders and how can we find solutions to local problems in a cooperative manner?

Our American partners have brought the know-how, their experience, international experiences. Hungarians have brought local knowledge, knowledge of the region, their own views, professional experiences, openness and ideas to adopt the American methodology in Central Europe.

In the beginning the Foundation has mainly been preventing conflicts stemming from the co-existence of Roma and non Roma. Since then the range of activities have widened and we are working in many different sectory of society, trying to plant the seeds of cooperation.

Partners for Democratic Change International is an international network of 14 organizations from South-America to the Middle-East.