The Széchenyi István University is supporting the protection against the extraordinary flood wave on the Danube and its tributaries in a number of ways. Volunteer students from the North Transdanubia Water Management Directorate are helping by filling and packing sandbags, and providing accommodation for water experts from further afield in their Halls of Residence.

Over the course of a day and a half, more than 200 Hungarian and international students from Széchenyi István University responded to the institution's call to volunteer to help with flood protection in Mosonmagyaróvár and at the Győr-Bácsa site of the North Transdanubia Water Management Directorate.

"We are now in a situation where everyone needs to work together. It is extremely important that higher education institutions also play their part in the protection, and I am glad that Széchenyi István University is doing its utmost to support the work of the experts with its available resources," said Dr Veronika Varga-Bajusz, State Secretary For Higher, Vocational, and Adult Education at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation.

Eszter Egyházi-Máté, Head of the Service Centre and Hall of Residence, said that students play an important role in the flood relief efforts. "Volunteers are helping to fill sandbags in Mosonmagyaróvár and at the Győr-Bácsa site, the latter of which is being transported by our institution's buses. In addition, we have accommodated more than a hundred water management professionals who have come from different parts of the country in our Halls of Residence next to the Moson-Danube," she added.

"The Széchenyi University has been an excellent partner for many years, and in the current flooding situation our cooperation is even more important," said József Németh, Director of the North Transdanubia Water Management Directorate, thanking the University for its rapid assistance. "The students are working hard to fill and pack sandbags. It is also a great relief for our Directorate that the University is able to provide accommodation for so many of our colleagues," he noted.

Aerial photo, showing the high water level of the Moson-Danube near the campus of Széchenyi István University in Győr.

Every day, students work in rotation with other volunteers at the Győr-Bácsa water department's plant. One member of the group on Wednesday morning was Csaba Kalmár from Veszprém, who is studying Mechatronics Engineering at the University. In response to our question, he said that the flooding threatens many settlements, so he felt obliged to help with the flood relief efforts.

Béla Galsi, an Electrical Engineering student, and Réka Rebeka Erdélyi, a Community Coordination student, volunteered to support Hanna Málna Oros, who is also studying Community Coordination. "Hanna lives in Vámosszabadi, and her village is also at risk, so we are personally involved in this cause. It was important for us to be here with her and help," said Réka Rebeka Erdélyi.  

Anna Barbara Hegedűs, who is studying Transportation Engineering, was frightened by the footage of the flood from Austria on the news, so there was no question that she wanted to help. "If I can help to save communities, then a few hours of shovelling sand is not a big sacrifice on my part," she said.

Not only did the Hungarian students support the work of the water management authorities, but the international students of Széchenyi University also contributed. Delmi Mohamed Mehieddine, an Algerian student in the Electrical Engineering Master's programme, shared while filling sandbags that he saw this voluntary service as a great opportunity to do something good for others.