Students of Babits helped a family in need

2025

Feb

05

The students of the Mihály Babits Primary and Secondary School of the University of Pécs (PTE) participated in an exemplary initiative again this year, aiming to help a disadvantaged family. As part of their 50 hours of compulsory community service, the students "produced" enough heating paper briquettes from waste paper, sawdust and water to last for a whole heating season.

PTE, as the greenest university in Hungary, strives to be at the forefront of sustainable community building, and has recently provided several good examples of this. The briquette-making project of the students of the Mihály Babits Primary and Secondary School of the PTE is a precedent and shows that even a small collaboration can improve the lives of others, this time a disadvantaged family. The institution's priority is to promote social awareness and sustainability.

„We were pleased to support the initiative, which, in addition to serving a noble purpose, promotes waste recycling and plays a major role in promoting environmental and social responsibility and creating openness and receptiveness among students. We are delighted that we have been able to work together with our partners to achieve the same goal. The project was implemented in cooperation between the PTE Chancellor's Office, the Mihály Babits Primary School and Secondary School of PTE, the PTE Green University, Mecsekerdő Zrt. and Agro-Porta Kft. from Szentlőrinc" said István Decsi, Chancellor of PTE.

Chancellor István Decsi also helped to deliver the briquettes to the family

„The concept of the PTE Green University is based on the concept of shaping attitudes towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is of utmost importance to develop and expand the green philosophy and promote environmentally conscious thinking. In order to develop awareness, the University of Pécs pays special attention to and provides space for targeted education of students, so that the "green" approach can be a fundamental element of their everyday life" - emphasized Tünde Kulcsár, Head of the Green University of PTE.

The institution is in the process of going digital, but still a significant amount of paper is thrown into the school's recycling bins. Compressed paper bricks are an excellent heating alternative to wood, coal or pellets.

The students produced quite a few briquettes...

"The briquettes were made with the help of Babits students in the community service hours. The work was coordinated by a colleague in physical education who has a passion for this.

This is the third year we've been working on the briquettes, and this is the second batch we've launched.

The heating material will provide warmth for the family in need until the end of the heating season. It is important to mention that the Hungarian Educational Authority also took notice of our good practice when auditing our community service practices, which is a big part of the reason why we will receive the National Teachers Chamber's "Outstanding ICS Program" award in Budapest on February 14. The Chancellor of PTE, István Decsi, has supported this good cause from the very beginning, and I would like to express my thanks on behalf of our institution", said Andrea Sulyok, Head of the Mihály Babits Primary and Secondary School of PTE.

„It is perhaps not so much what we do, but the purpose for which we do it. We wanted to help the most disadvantaged families. When the energy crisis was announced in the summer of 2022, everyone was wondering what would happen. The two worst things in life are to be hungry and cold. I thought of an idea that might work, to help our school and its students who won't be able to afford gas or firewood and will be left without heat on their own. Thanks to this project, students here at school can complete the mandatory 50 hours of community service that is a requirement for graduation.