Two hours northeast of Budapest by car is the small village of Tiszadob, Hungary. Within this town lies Tűzcsiholó Egyesület, which translates to Firefighters Association, a Hungarian nonprofit organization that supports families in which the parents grew up in state care. Their aim is to support parents so the disadvantages that result from being separated from family are not repeated in future generations. The organization's name symbolizes its goal of igniting change and empowering families to create security and stability.
As part of the Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad program, sponsored by the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact, two Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business students, Samantha Bolton (BSBA' 26) and Mallory Shurtz (BSBA' 27), spent six weeks in Tiszadob, Kecskemét, and Budapest, Hungary. Throughout their internship, Bolton and Shurtz collaborated with Tűzcsiholó Egyesület to create promotional materials showcasing the organization's diverse initiatives, including their charity shop, mentorship programs, family camp, and school supply distribution efforts.
"I was very excited when I learned about the organization's mission because it is an area I am passionate about. However, I was very hesitant because I had little experience in videography and marketing. I am so grateful that it pushed me to grow into someone with the mentality to overcome challenges and difficulties," said Shurtz.
The two created a detailed media strategy and organized video footage collected during their internship for a documentary. These resources will allow Tűzcsiholó Egyesület to continue their awareness and fundraising efforts effectively. Creating these videos wasn't easy, with the language barrier challenging the students and organizers.
"I learned so much about working around a language barrier and learning to put extra hours into things that matter. I have never made a documentary before, let alone in another language. I spent countless hours preparing, filming, editing, and translating," said Bolton.
Both students highlighted the personal and professional growth they experienced during the program. Shurtz developed her video editing skills, while Bolton gained insights into documentary filmmaking and working across language barriers.
"I feel like the most important thing I learned was connecting with individuals and people around you to do good in the world. Our team showed us hospitality when we stepped into the room to meet them, and they never stopped after that," said Shurtz. "From welcoming us into their homes, driving us around, and asking impactful questions, they never failed to make Hungary feel like home. I have learned the importance of treating others with kindness no matter what and how much a small gesture can make a difference in others' lives. The impact can start with a smile for someone hurting and can go to starting an organization dedicated to the people they serve, like Tuzcsiholo."
Their internship was part of a broader study abroad experience, which included staying in Prague and Vienna before settling in Budapest. There, students attended classes and worked on their projects. The close collaboration with organizations like Autistic Art, Association of Conscious Consumers, Beeco, Habitat for Humanity Hungary, GreenPro, and Kompania Alapitvany, provided student teams with transformative learning opportunities and global project experience, which strengthened their cultural agility. They also had opportunities to explore other European cities during their free time.
Bolton and Shurtz plan to continue supporting Tűzcsiholó Egyesület remotely and hope to apply their newfound skills and insights to future social enterprise work.
"It takes working with the locals of a community and being immersed in their lives to understand what they need. After working with this organization, I know that for any work I plan to do abroad or with disadvantaged communities, I have to either spend enough time there and learn from the people, or I can work with organizational and community leaders, to understand what they need, never just assuming that I know what a community needs," said Bolton.
They both highly recommend the Leadership for Social Good Program to other students interested in positively impacting the world.
As Shurtz concluded, "It is not a program for the faint of heart, but it will be an eye-opening and challenging experience that helps shape you into who you will become in your lifetime. If given the opportunity, I would do the program again to experience all I did during my time abroad. "
Learn more about Tűzcsiholó Egyesület:
